Things I fly
Cessna 172
I have a private pilot's license which I earned in July of 1997, passing my FAA check ride with 40.4 hours in my logbook. I spent 15 months learning to fly, becoming airborne an average of once every 16 days during that time. I did all of my flying at Tacoma Narrows (TIW), a 5000' x 150' blacktop runway. Most of my instruction was at a place called Davis Aviation, which was a great experience. At some point the Davis family decided to cease renting planes and training, so I followed my instructor down the runway to Pavco. All of my training was in a variety of Cessna 152 two seat trainer planes with the exception of a handful of hours flown in the very similar Cessna 150 (less engine, more flaps).
Though many consider it the doormat of avaition, I loved the C152 and still do. It's not what I'd call roomy inside, but it's okay. I guess I just like the predictable feel and light control responses and the fact that I was always able to land exactly where I wanted to. With a climb prop it also turns in pretty respectable short field take off and climb performance. Basically, if there were general aviation aircraft landing and departing a particular runway along my route, I knew I could get in and out of there too.
The day after getting my PPSEL (Private Pilot, Single Engine, Land) my instructor introduced me to the Cessna 172. It packs two more seats in back and 35 more horses up front. It cruises about 15 knots faster and burns another 2 gallons per hour of expensive gasoline. It does not climb faster than a climb prop equipped C152 and it does not land shorter. It is more expensive to rent (a mystery to me, because the true operating expenses would differ only by the additional fuel burn. The 172 engine is cheaper and both engines are extremely reliable. Otherwise their parts count and system types are very similar) and the controls are heavier in feel. It just hauls more junk, that's all.
I have eventually made friends with the C172. I can now get it into almost as short a runway and take off in about the same distance. I can make nice landings, but a true spot landing still eludes me. I think that is a critical point however. The ability to plant the mains on a specific spot would be very important should the sound of silence enter the cockpit. It could make the difference between watching yourself on the 5 pm news, or just being on it.
I do enjoy the additional cruise speed, the hands off stability and the much better view over the nose. The seats of the C150/152 are on the floor and when you are climbing in "good air" there is nothing to see but cowling. The seats of the C172 are up higher, more like a mini van. I was taught to nail the edge of the cowl on the horizon for the desired 80 knot climb speed and it seems to work out well.
