CFI scared of 152s.

[j41driver]

Just watch out for bugs...

...smacking you in the back of the head.

:laugh:

 

[81Horse]

Hahahaha! A 172 drives like a truck ehhhh......

But it does -- just like one of these: http://www.pre67vw.co.uk/classifieds/uploaded/large/331.jpg

 

[iflyjets4food]

I've flown 152's in three different places. The place I first flew them had great maintenance. The airplanes were kept in about as new condition as is possible for a 28 year old airplane. I flew a 152 from Aero-Tech in Lexington. It was in decent condition. Not as pristine as the one I flew in the first place, but it flew great. Then I went and flew the 152s at KHUF. Those were some of the worst airplanes I ever saw or flew. Transponders falling out of the dash, maintenance squawks being signed off as fixed and finding the item still broken next time I got in, and radios on the fritz every time we got in. I think the 152 design was a good one, but some people have not given them the TLC that is required for an airplane that is old. You are a responsible adult who I'm sure is capable of making your own decisions. Best of luck in this one. The 152 is a great airplane, but some folks just don't like them. It doesn't make anyone less or greater than anyone else.

 

[Waldom]

Airway, some of these posts (including mine) were meant to be constructive.

Like any airplane, the Cessna 152 has limitations. Because it is a light airplane, it has lots of them. The design has proven to be well suited to the role it was meant for, but there's nothing wrong with just not liking the airplane.

Your initial post left the impression that you doubted the structural integrity of the aircraft and that you were consequently left with a fear of the act of flying. Subsequent posts have revealed the very tangible problem of an operator who's lack of maintenance leaves the aircraft in an unairworthy condition.

I have been in that situation myself and finally recognize the feeling you describe in your first post. I believe it is caused by the stress created when the desire to pursue a career you love and the need to eat comes in conflict with the feeling that you are compromising your integrity. Your statement regarding your responsibility for your student's safety demonstrates your integrity.

There is only one cure for it, and its a tough one. After taking the cure though, you will not only feel much better but also be a more self-assured and confident aviator.

Go to the boss today and express your concern that the poor quality of the maintenance has reached the point that the aircraft are unairworthy. Express your willingness to do anything you can to improve the situation. You have a responsibility to your students, yourself, and even your boss to do this. In a perfect world, the boss would appreciate your honesty and professionalism and know that improving this situation is in everyone's best interest. But we both know that he or she has already made a conscious decision to operate the aircraft in this condition and is not likely to change. If the person indicates that is the case, give them your two week notice.

Doing this without another job already lined up is a very hard thing to do. But when you walk out of there you will feel a great weight lifted off your shoulders. You now have the knowledge to accurately access the quality of your next prospective employer and the peace of knowing that your conscience will stop bothering you.

Or maybe I'm way off base and your concerns were the result of indigestion caused by the bean burrito you happened to have for lunch that day.

I actually do have a desire to help. My previous post was sincere and was not meant to deflate your ego or pump up mine.

 

[CrimsonEclipse]

It would be perfect if it had a pull starter.

A J-3 without electrical system still beats all.
(electrical start is for wussies)

CE

 

[81Horse]

A J-3 without electrical system still beats all.
(electrical start is for wussies)

On floats.

 

[Murdoughnut]

I fly a 152 and feel like I'm in a heavy when I see these guys flying around Tampa Bay in their ultralights. At least I don't have to leave my flight bag in the car to be under weight limits.

If you want to see a really nice cockpit on a 150, check this out ... http://darkroomwebdesign.com/FlyMesquiteAviation/322-2.jpg

I trained in her at HQZ (Mesquite, TX). She rented at $50p/h wet, but that was a year ago. She's IFR and has GPS. Flew slow as hell, but that just gave me longer to appreciate the Dallas skyline (much to the dismay of SWA pilots coming into DAL).

 

[dseagrav]

I was talking to another student and he told me that he personally knows a guy who moved over 450 pounds of luggage with a 152!












(He was busy reading a map and taxied into a baggage cart! ^_^)

 

[Wang Chung]

Like any airplane, the Cessna 152 has limitations. Because it is a light airplane, it has lots of them. The design has proven to be well suited to the role it was meant for, but there's nothing wrong with just not liking the airplane.

Great statement. It is what it is, and it will never be "everything to everybody" as a trainer. But it gets the job done for many folks. Maintenance is another issue entirely - bad MX can plague any airplane so it's not fair to judge the type by the MX condition of the examples that you are flying.

I did my Private in a 152, and later flew aerial photography in them for a little while. Even flew one in some challenging IFR on occasion (yes, it was IFR equipped and certified). It was a good primary trainer, but a lousy IFR ship!:erm:

 

[Metro752]

I was talking to another student and he told me that he personally knows a guy who moved over 450 pounds of luggage with a 152!


(He was busy reading a map and taxied into a baggage cart! ^_^)

The baggage cart won

 

[unipsycho]

Commuter

...I tell you a plane, trainer plane, that scares me is the Tomahawk. Go do stalls in a Tomahawk and look back at the tail shaking. You will go right back to the airport to land, and then run away from that pos.

I did all my private training and CFI spin training in a Tomahawk. It's a great plane ... until you take it for granted. If you respect the plane, it will treat you right. BTW, the tail does wiggle a bit in a spin too. Creepy.

I did some training in a 152 shortly after the Tomahawk. What a world of difference! The 152 really is a docile plane with great stall/spin recovery characteristics. The only thing I don't like about the 152 (and the T-hawk for that matter) is that stuffing my 6'2", 220 lb frame into that right seat just doesn't work well.

 

[coloneldan]

Flew slow as hell, but that just gave me longer to appreciate the Dallas skyline (much to the dismay of SWA pilots coming into DAL).

That is something I have never been able to understand. I used to work for an FBO that had a flight school. We had three 152s. One would cruise at about 90 knots, but was extremely stable in flight. One would cruise at 107. The third one was fairly normal. All the students wanted to fly the fast one on the x-countries. The problem was, the fast one would get around the trip so fast, they always had to fly another X-C to get the minimum time in. I kept telling them they needed to take the slow one so they knew they wouldn't have to make another trip. Nope, the fast one almost always went. The owner loved it.

Beautiful panel by the way.