Why flight schools are getting rid of C1

[Whirlwind]

We recently lost all our C-152s due to hail damage...

The insurance company totaled them out and they are not being replaced with more C-152s. Instead, they are buying C-172SPs to replace them.

Shame, because there are a few people who really could use the $20/hr less the C-152 costs.

Jason

 

[RedheadCFI]

What a shame, I hate to hear about 152's getting sold and scrapped. The 152 is the best VFR training airplane ever! I guess I can say that cause I'm 5'7" and 150lbs. The school I'm at had about 15 152's but now we picked up 7 new R models and ditched 7 old 152's. I hated to see them go, now we're doing most of the VFR work in the OLD 172's. I sure wish cessna would start making those 2 seater go carts again! Ok, I'm done praising the legendary 152. -Nick

 

[Whirlwind]

What a shame, I hate to hear about 152's getting sold and scrapped. The 152 is the best VFR training airplane ever! I guess I can say that cause I'm 5'7" and 150lbs. The school I'm at had about 15 152's but now we picked up 7 new R models and ditched 7 old 152's. I hated to see them go, now we're doing most of the VFR work in the OLD 172's. I sure wish cessna would start making those 2 seater go carts again! Ok, I'm done praising the legendary 152. -Nick

Yea, they are otherwise very nice planes, but it would cost more to fix them than they are worth.

Same reason Cessna isn't building more 152s... They cost about 80% as much to build, but cannot be sold for much more than half the price as a 172.

It makes zero sense to make more of them, from the financial point of view anyway.

Jason

 

[CFI'er]

Students/CFI's Are Geting Bigger

The increasing size (weight/height) is the real reason that most schools and FBO's are going more for the C172's. Let’s face it; it is a bigger market for a four place aircraft than for a two placer. I for one am too big for that little C152. By the time you add the CFI and a full tank, the envelope is out the door. For a few dollars more, I vote for the size of aircraft and comfort.

 

[RedheadCFI]

RIP Cessna 152's

Yes.. I know that all the numbers point towards the scrapping of 152's but those little birds are so much fun to fly. I mean where else can you get the feeling of a kite with a lycoming strapped on the front?
I know when I'm at work I like to get out of the RG's now and then to enjoy flying VFR with a new student pilot in those little birds. I'm going to miss the 152's when they're taken out of our fleet and I hope I'm not the only one that does!
-Nick

 

[Airpiraterob]

i can understand it...i mean c'mon with the increased portions at McDonalds and everywhere else of course two people arent going to fit in the 152 anymore. look at when it was designed....yeah...during the granola craze. c'mon everyone was smoke-happy and Yoga and martial arts hit bigtime. now with smoking going away people are turning to the new supersized meals to feed their munchies and the martial arts is all on video game.

wasnt too long ago (3 years?) when the medium now was the large then....

 

[SDdriver]

As far as insurance, YEAH big problem, after the fall of 2 of the main companies, the rates went through the roof. I think it cost around 5000 a yr to get insurance on a 172sp. about 2500yr on a 152. THat is crazy.

When I started flying, 152's were 30/hr wet 172 40/hr and a dutchess 115/hr

Now at the flight school down the road, 152 70/hr 172 115hr (SP/R/XP) dutchess 165/hr

Crazy thing, I can't even go get checked out in the dutchess cause the guys insurance requires 25 in type. Jesus, no matter that I have the multi hours I have, we want 25 in a dutchess. Amazing I can be insured to fly a 2 million dollar aircraft with couple of mil in freight on board, but I can't get insured to fly a dutchess alone? Go figure. Who do you think thought that one up?

SD

 

[KigAir]

The FBO I fly out of has 2 C172 Sp's, 1-2002 and 1- 2003, each rents for $98 per hour. Both are nice aircraft but i feel they are over rated.

 

[stillaboo]

Whatever 172 I flew in 2000 (brand new), it was called 'the cadilac of airplanes' by the instructors there. It was really nice to fly, really smooth (compared with the 1970's 172's and the 152's). Was it worth the extra $? Well, I paid to use it for my long XC over Lake Oakachobee and paid the extra to use if for my PPL ride. I'd rent a caddy for the examiner any day of the week.

'Course my ride now is way more pimp than any 172. Nothing says pimp like FADEC!

-Boo!

 

[Khirsah]

It all depends on where you are. We charge $109/hr for a C172S Millennium Edition.

Guys on the other side of town charge $125/hr for a C172S. You can purchase an instructor there for another $45/hr. Yep. That's right, $170/hr for instruction in a 172.

But as to 152s. Dunno about other areas, but here we only have 1. We've got 4 172s. We'd put more 152s on line but no one rents them. On a good day we'll put 6 to 8 hours on our 172s and our Archer. We'll put about 3 to 5 on our Arrow. On a good day we'll put 1 to 2 hours on our 152.

I guess with our customers when given the choice between a 4 seat airplane with KLN89Bs or KLN94s, one or two-axis autopilots, and more speed for $105 to $109 or a 2 seat airplane with one navcom that cruises about as fast as I drive at $75/hr, they're willing to pay more for what they get. Not that the 152's not a great plane. It's just....who can resist the big flashy blinky gadgets?