Is a 152 a good start?

"George Patterson" wrote in message
news:0Sj9e.22012$nt3.3914@trndny04...
The cost of tie-downs or hangars varies a lot;
check locally. I vaguely recall spending about $5,000 one year on my 150
and
flew about 100 hours. That was in the early '90s.

GULP!!! It's less $$$ for a T-hanger around here.


--
Matt
---------------------
Matthew W. Barrow
Site-Fill Homes, LLC.
Montrose, CO

"AliR" wrote in
:

Is that a good first plane? I am wondering how much insurance will
run for such an airplane (I am IFR with 230+ hours, working on
Commercial ticket).

It's OK for purely building time (cross-country VFR, for example). I
have some actual IFR time in a 152 and "unsettling" best describes my
experience. I just felt there wasn't enough reserve power to help me
get out of a bad situation.

--

"Newps" wrote in message
news

Only if you live near sea level. Here at 3600 feet they are a joke.

Not quite. Yes, they are cramped...and the seats are not that comfortable.
But they are cheap to run (relatively). On the other hand, I commonly fly
my 152 across the Sierra at 12,500 or 13,500 feet. Of course I'm the only
occupant so it is around 200# below max gross. The engine is the standard
O235-L2C.

Yes I'd like more speed, power and comfort. But for building time on a
budget, a 152 is a good start. I bought mine 21 years ago, and still have
it.

J. Severyn
KLVK

My first airplane was a 1978 152. Bought it new in 78. Was a fun little
plane. Economical
to operate. Sold new for $16k. A Cherokee 140 would also be a good one to
consider.

"AliR" wrote in message
. ..
Hi Everyone,

I just saw an ad for an IFR 1978 152 with 5230 total hours, 370 SMOH for
$30K.

Is that a good first plane? I am wondering how much insurance will run for
such an airplane (I am IFR with 230+ hours, working on Commercial ticket).

How much is the operational cost of a 152?

AliR.

Years ago I had real problems using a 172 IFR in the northeast. If
there was a big messy front, the airplane didn't have the legs to get
to destination then to an alternate with enough fuel. It was OK for
training and very soft IFR. A 15X would be even more problematical.

Even with the M20J (Mooney 201) I replaced it with a reasonable
fraction of planned trips (maybe 10%) were cancelled because of
weather. Icing, embedded thunderstorms, stuff like that had a way of
keeping the airplane on the ground. Lack of range didn't often play a
role, though.

It depends on what you want it for. In my case, I had clients I wanted
to see on a reliable basis, so being able to say "be there at 10
tomorrow" had to be realistic.

AliR wrote:
Hi Everyone,

I just saw an ad for an IFR 1978 152 with 5230 total hours, 370 SMOH for
$30K.

Is that a good first plane? I am wondering how much insurance will run for
such an airplane (I am IFR with 230+ hours, working on Commercial ticket).

How much is the operational cost of a 152?

The cockpit is suitable for slim people, often uncomfortable for others.

If you and/or your passenger are heavier than the FAA Standard (170
pounds) you will likely be over gross weight if you fill the gas tanks.
If you weigh what I do your only possible passenger is a child,
fashion model or jockey.

- John (1.5 "FAA persons") Ousterhout -

Matt Barrow wrote:
"George Patterson" wrote in message
news:0Sj9e.22012$nt3.3914@trndny04...

The cost of tie-downs or hangars varies a lot;
check locally. I vaguely recall spending about $5,000 one year on my 150

and

flew about 100 hours. That was in the early '90s.


GULP!!! It's less $$$ for a T-hanger around here.

I meant five grand for everything.

George Patterson
There's plenty of room for all of God's creatures. Right next to the
mashed potatoes.

John Ousterhout wrote:
I just saw an ad for an IFR 1978 152 with 5230 total hours, 370 SMOH for
$30K.

Is that a good first plane? I am wondering how much insurance will run for
such an airplane (I am IFR with 230+ hours, working on Commercial ticket).

If you and/or your passenger are heavier than the FAA Standard (170
pounds) you will likely be over gross weight if you fill the gas tanks.
If you weigh what I do your only possible passenger is a child,
fashion model or jockey.


I have to agree with others: he's better off with a Cherokee 140 or (even
better) a Cherokee 180. I think of my wood working tools: the only day I
enjoyed cheap tools was the day I paid for them. I cursed every time I actually
tried to use them and found them inadequate for my needs. There have been too
many times in the past where I bought cheap only to buy again later what I
should have started with.

A Cherokee will carry two adults in comfort and more if necessary, as well as
being a more stable IFR platform.

If he can't afford better now, he should rent what he needs until he can.



--
Mortimer Schnerd, RN

VE