First plane

I've got quite a few hours (including a winter coast-to-coast trip) in a
pair of '74 Pathfinders from a former partnership. I found the '74
Pathfinder to be a great "4-adults plus baggage and fuel to go
somewhere" airplane. The original founders of that partnership did a
lot of research before choosing the '74 as the best combination of
features and value. When I sold my share (I still miss those planes) I
built a web site to advertise my share that included a pair of
spreadsheets that I had been using for planning W&B. You're welcome to
plug in your own figures to see what the plane is capable of carrying.
(I still maintain those pages for other former partners to occasionally
sell their shares.)

http://www.4-fs.com/baja/performance.htm


Steve


Jay Honeck wrote:
Well, there is this:

http://www.grumman.net/cgrcc/aa5-180compare.html


Nice chart, but the information for the Cherokee 235 line is
inaccurate. To bunch that many 235 variations together from 1964 to
1977 into one performance category is wrong -- the plane changed
dramatically during that 13 year span, even changing names several
times.

For example, a pre-1973 PA28-235 has a smaller interior, fuselage fuel
capacity, and empennage size. The chart also shows 235s having a
fixed-pitch prop, which is wrong for anything after (I think) 1970.
The '74 Pathfinder that we own is a far different plane than a 1964 or
even '72 Cherokee 235, in ways that directly impact (or should impact)
the purchasing decision of any potential buyer.

These are not subtle differences. If you're looking for a true 4-place
plane, a post '73 Cherokee 235 is hard to beat. A pre-'73 Cherokee 235
is not suitable for hauling back-seat passengers, IMHO, and should be
avoided if you're really going to be hauling four adults.
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

: http://www.4-fs.com/baja/performance.htm

Sounds kinda cool, but requires Internet Exploiter. Unable.

-Cory

--

************************************************** ***********************
* Cory Papenfuss, Ph.D., PPSEL-IA *
* Electrical Engineering *
* Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University *
************************************************** ***********************

wrote:

: http://www.4-fs.com/baja/performance.htm

Sounds kinda cool, but requires Internet Exploiter. Unable.

Works with Netscape.

Flying your own airplane CAN be cheaper than renting, but only if you fly
quite a bit -- at least 150, and more likely 200, hrs per year. Very few
private pilots have the need for that much transportation. If you will be
flying a more typical 50-75 hrs/yr, if cost is a factor and you don't like
renting (and who does?) then the best options for you are joining a club or
co-owning an airplane with one or more partners.

What kind of plane? As a new pilot, you are probably looking at a basic 4
place fixed gear, fixed pitch prop model. If you feel you need more
performance than the ubiquitous Cessna 172 the next step up is something
like a Piper Cherokee 180/Archer. Of course, the newer 172s also have 180
hp engines like the Archer and have comparable performance.

Here is a link to a site that provides performance specs for a number of
popular models:

http://www.planeandpilotmag.com/cont...ecs/index.html

-Elliott Drucker

fred wrote:
: I'm a newbie working on getting a PPL.
: People tell me that if I'm serious about flying, I should seriously
: look into purchasing a plane - in the long run it'll be cheaper than
: renting.

It can be. If you are handy and find a mechanic who'll let you do a lot of your own maintenance, that helps.
Having a partner or two definately helps.

: If I buy (used, of course, but I'm open to the possibility of
: joint ownerships/partnerships),
: I'd need something that seats 4 adults and a small amount of luggage.
: Expected useage would be trips of a few hundred to about 500 miles.

If you need a plane that can actually *haul* four real adults on a trip with luggage and enough fuel to go 500
miles, you're talking about a pretty high-performance single. If you're looking at something with 4 seats that can
occasionally haul 4 people short distantances without luggage, then you options are much more varied.

: I'm learning in a Cessna 152. My gut tells me that I'd like something
: with a bit more speed than a C172, but I'm not seeking a high
: performance aircraft.
: High wing vs low wing is not a major issue.
: Cost could be an issue.

The airframe determines the speed you go. The engine power determines how much it will haul. If you want to go
much faster than a 172, you'll pretty much need to go retract or burn a LOT more fuel.

: What I seek is a table laying out performance and
: payload characteristics for your basic single engine prop planes.

: So what is the airplane equivalent of a Toyota Corolla or Honda Civic?

A Cherokee 140 and a Cessna 150.

: Thanks in advance.

-Cory

--

************************************************** ***********************
* Cory Papenfuss, Ph.D., PPSEL-IA *
* Electrical Engineering *
* Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University *
************************************************** ***********************

wrote in message
...
fred wrote:

: So what is the airplane equivalent of a Toyota Corolla or Honda Civic?

A Cherokee 140 and a Cessna 150.

Evidently you haven't priced/checked those cars lately :~)

wrote in message
...
fred wrote:

: So what is the airplane equivalent of a Toyota Corolla or Honda Civic?

A Cherokee 140 and a Cessna 150.

Evidently you haven't priced/checked those cars lately :~)

Lots of good info can be found at http://www.pilotfriend.com.

More than just airplane info, all kinds of things, from jokes to weather.

To see the info on planes click on the general aviation aircraft
database link.

KC

fred wrote:
I'm a newbie working on getting a PPL.
People tell me that if I'm serious about flying, I should seriously
look into purchasing a plane - in the long run it'll be cheaper than
renting.

If I buy (used, of course, but I'm open to the possibility of
joint ownerships/partnerships),
I'd need something that seats 4 adults and a small amount of luggage.
Expected useage would be trips of a few hundred to about 500 miles.

I'm learning in a Cessna 152. My gut tells me that I'd like something
with a bit more speed than a C172, but I'm not seeking a high
performance aircraft.
High wing vs low wing is not a major issue.
Cost could be an issue.

What I seek is a table laying out performance and
payload characteristics for your basic single engine prop planes.

So what is the airplane equivalent of a Toyota Corolla or Honda Civic?

Thanks in advance.

Fred,

Where do you live?

--Dan

fred wrote:
I'm a newbie working on getting a PPL.
People tell me that if I'm serious about flying, I should seriously
look into purchasing a plane - in the long run it'll be cheaper than
renting.

If I buy (used, of course, but I'm open to the possibility of
joint ownerships/partnerships),
I'd need something that seats 4 adults and a small amount of luggage.
Expected useage would be trips of a few hundred to about 500 miles.

I'm learning in a Cessna 152. My gut tells me that I'd like something
with a bit more speed than a C172, but I'm not seeking a high
performance aircraft.
High wing vs low wing is not a major issue.
Cost could be an issue.

What I seek is a table laying out performance and
payload characteristics for your basic single engine prop planes.

So what is the airplane equivalent of a Toyota Corolla or Honda Civic?

Thanks in advance.

I see no body suggested the C182. Now like Jay's pathfinder the 182 is a
true 4 adults plus baggage airplane. Fly's very similar to a 172 although a
little heavier feel to the controls than a 172 and there is LOT"S of them
out there for sale right now. I used to love flying my fathers 182, was a
dream to fly and I could take my freinds up for a weekend trip to anywhere
(almost)


"fred" wrote in message
ups.com...
I'm a newbie working on getting a PPL.
People tell me that if I'm serious about flying, I should seriously
look into purchasing a plane - in the long run it'll be cheaper than
renting.

If I buy (used, of course, but I'm open to the possibility of
joint ownerships/partnerships),
I'd need something that seats 4 adults and a small amount of luggage.
Expected useage would be trips of a few hundred to about 500 miles.

I'm learning in a Cessna 152. My gut tells me that I'd like something
with a bit more speed than a C172, but I'm not seeking a high
performance aircraft.
High wing vs low wing is not a major issue.
Cost could be an issue.

What I seek is a table laying out performance and
payload characteristics for your basic single engine prop planes.

So what is the airplane equivalent of a Toyota Corolla or Honda Civic?

Thanks in advance.