F. Baum wrote:
I had heard this could
happen on the 150/152 when they are overstressed, but I never heard of
it on the bigger Cessnas. Always wondered how common this is, any
other RAP fans had this happen?

When I was a 172 owner, I had a Cessna service letter or service bulletin
in my file about the importance of windshield maintenance. It stated that
the 172 could not maintain altitude with the windshield out.

Soon after reading that, one of my fellow 172 owners at the airport proved
it. He managed to hit a turkey buzzard and took out the right side and part
of the left side of the windshield. He told me that the best he could do was
1200 fpm down, with full power applied. As I recall, he ended up landing (so
to speak) on the access road to a state park campground. He arrested some of
the descent rate by yanking back on the yoke at the last second, but the
plane destroyed itself when it ran through a low rock wall.

Apparently, knocking a big hole in the front of the 172's airframe makes
the fuselage act like a big, draggy parachute. I don't know if the larger
Cessnas have enough reserve power to overcome the drag.

John Galban=====N4BQ (PA28-180)

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