Cessna 150 & Hot, Humid weather

[orbiteleven]

[font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]First time posting here, just so ya know

I'm gearing up to start my private pilot lessons. When at the local airport FBO, I was given the rates of the planes. I was most interested in their 70's Cessna 150's for the obvious price reasons. Someone (not the instructor I was working with) said that the 150 would not work with someone my size during the summer months, and that I'd need to fly in their 172, which is $40 more. I'm 6'2" and around 195lbs, and the instructor was probably 5'6" and less than 150. This is in Iowa.

Does this make sense? Are they trying to move me into a more expensive plane, or will the 150 really have problems? I'm not really trying to be a cheapskate (though cost is an issue), but I'd like to know if this is a 'bait & switch'.
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[Gulfstream 200]

I bet it would "work" in the 150..

but go sit in both with the instructor and see what you think..it might be worth the extra money to be able to breathe...

150's are SMALL!

but yeah, just go try them on for size!

 

[Jedi_Cheese]

Iowa doesn't get all that hot and is fairly flat so aircraft performance isn't a major issue.

The size of the aircraft IS a comfort issue. Think about a cardboard box your fridge came in, think about you and your instructor sitting in it for 2 hours. Then add in a space heater. Comfortable? You might get an few extra inches in a 172.

I would ask to see if I could fly in both aircraft and see if I 'like' either one better from the space standpoint. Realistically, the 172 isn't all that more spacious but some people like the added room.

 

[Lead Sled]

FWIW, I'm 5' 10" and 200 lbs and I've given my share of dual in C150's at a 4400' MSL airport. Yeah, it will do it. Save the $40/hour and use it towards your advanced flight training.

Lead Sled

 

[JonJohn82]

Howdy, I'm 6'7 and weigh 215 pounds. I fly in a C-152 on occasion. To save $40.00 I would do it. It's pretty hot here in Oklahoma and that aircraft "works" fine with me in it. Just my two pennies...

 

[orbiteleven]

Howdy, I'm 6'7 and weigh 215 pounds. I fly in a C-152 on occasion. To save $40.00 I would do it. It's pretty hot here in Oklahoma and that aircraft "works" fine with me in it. Just my two pennies...

That's big (no offense)! I think they're saying that I wouldn't be able to do dual instruction in the 150, but they didn't rule out solo-ing. Can you dual in a 150?

 

[Jedi_Cheese]

That's big (no offense)! I think they're saying that I wouldn't be able to do dual instruction in the 150, but they didn't rule out solo-ing. Can you dual in a 150?

You will need to do some dual in the 150 in order to solo it IF you train in the 172.

You can do dual in a 150. It's totally possible. I am 240 lbs (5'10) and did my primary training in a 152 (much like the 150 that you are looking at). I went with my dad (about same weight and height) and flew on a hot and humid day. My ex-roommate at college is 6' and some odd inches and did his primary in a 150.

PS: to ex-roommate; I want to hear how the multi training is coming you lazy SOB! AIM me!

 

[Vladimir Lenin]

You will need to do some dual in the 150 in order to solo it IF you train in the 172.

You can do dual in a 150. It's totally possible. I am 240 lbs (5'10) and did my primary training in a 152 (much like the 150 that you are looking at). I went with my dad (about same weight and height) and flew on a hot and humid day. My ex-roommate at college is 6' and some odd inches and did his primary in a 150.

PS: to ex-roommate; I want to hear how the multi training is coming you lazy SOB! AIM me!

wow, did you fly with like two gallons of gas?

 

[Jedi_Cheese]

It works out to about 15 gallons of gas. The useful load is something like 566 lbs (stock 152). I used all 4k ft of runway.

For my checkride, we wouldn't have made it to the airport the DE gave me with the fuel on board...

 

[JB74]

The $1600 savings (40 hrs @ $40) will be worth the "rubbin shoulders" factor.

 

[Vector4fun]

[font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]First time posting here, just so ya know

Does this make sense? Are they trying to move me into a more expensive plane, or will the 150 really have problems? [/font]

Orbiteleven,

The C-150 will work, but it's gonna be tight in the cockpit, and the climb rate is gonna be about half or less than the C-172. If you can fly early in the morning, that will help. (It's cooler, the aircraft will climb better.) I'm 5'11 and 220 lbs, and I hate folding my old legs far enough to get in/out, but I fit fine after I get in one.


Do you have many Turkey Buzzards in Iowa? An old trick, if you see several circling in one spot, but not real low (food), it's a good bet there's a decent thermal there to help you climb. Just join the pattern and maintain visual separation...

 

[JonJohn82]

That's big (no offense)! I think they're saying that I wouldn't be able to do dual instruction in the 150, but they didn't rule out solo-ing. Can you dual in a 150?

I dual in the 152 everytime I go up in it. We typically fly with 14 gallons of gas.

 

[Snakum]

I HATE that $hit ... as a prospective student in the 90s I had a couple flight schools tell me I could only receive dual in the Skyhawks, that I was too big for the 150/152s at 6'1" 198 lbs. Total f@cking bull$hit. They're just trying to steer you toward a plane with a better $$$ margin. Nothing more.

Since that school search, I have about 160 hours in those little bugsmashers with CFIs, friends, and even a DE (PPL checkride) almost a big as I am. In all those hours I merely learned to use a little common sense with fuel/flight planning, and to keep an eye on the density altitude.

Keep looking. You can find schools out there with a customer service attitude, even with the high prices (fuel and insurance) and low margins. YOU are the customer!

Minh

 

[orbiteleven]

Just to keep things interesting, I posted the exact same question on studentpilot.com:

http://www.studentpilot.com/interact/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=14487

Interesting to compare the two sets of responses

 

[orbiteleven]

UPDATE I just went to a different field, with an "aero club" instead of a FBO. They were more than friendly, and said they do all of their training in 150s. They were sure that the "other guys" were just trying to boost up the prices. I agree.

I'll be starting at this new place soon. In 150's at $42/hr (vs $50/hr for the other place for 150s and $79/hr for the 172). They seemed much more interested in getting me my license (as opposed to getting my money). Since it's a club, they're "not for profit". I like that.

 

[FlyFastLiveSlow]

6'3, 200 pounds here. My CFI was 5'10 and 160. We flew 150's out of a 1950 feet runway.

 

[riceowl63]

I'm 6'3" and when I step on the scale I pass 250 with speed (between 275 and 285 depending on the last time I took a crap). My instructor was about 6' 200 and we fit inside fine. It was a little tight, but not too terrible. We did the weight and balance and couldn't fly on a full load of fuel. Waited 'til someone else burnt off some gas and then he checked me out so I could fly solo. So, I did most of my dual in a 172 and all of my solo in a 152. Saved a few hundred bucks. Just get the POH out and do the caculations yourself to see if you can legally fly. If you can then you're good to go. If my shoulders (which are pretty big since I play football) could fit in there with the instructors, I don't see why yours wouldn't.

 

[orbiteleven]

First 150 Flight, no problem

Just did my first flight on Saturday in a c150 with ~6' ~170lb CFI. Didn't seem to be a problem at all. I'm hoping the other place calls me and asks why I haven't shown. >

Thanks for everyone's input.

 

[DX Rick]

Why wait?

Call them and tell them you are flying else where.
I wish I can find those low prices around the Chicago area. 172's go for as low as $95 in the area.

 

[orbiteleven]

Call them and tell them you are flying else where.
I wish I can find those low prices around the Chicago area. 172's go for as low as $95 in the area.

Which is exactly why I'm doing this while I still live in Iowa!