My discovery flight! And a question.

S

Spbeyond

New Member
I finally got into the air yesterday and I had a blast. It really made me KNOW that I was right in thinking that this is for me. We took a lap around the valley I live in and man the winds off those mountains really messes with you. Anyway I went up in a 152 and the instructor is a big guy and Im a big guy. And it was really tight. I was wondering how much more room is there for the pilots in a 172? It was expecially tight for me with my legs I could get to the rudders but I was jarred weird so it was hard to reach the toe breaks. Also It was tight because he has wide sholders and Im a fat guy. So it was tight side to side.
 
Spbeyond said:
I finally got into the air yesterday and I had a blast. It really made me KNOW that I was right in thinking that this is for me. We took a lap around the valley I live in and man the winds off those mountains really messes with you. Anyway I went up in a 152 and the instructor is a big guy and Im a big guy. And it was really tight. I was wondering how much more room is there for the pilots in a 172? It was expecially tight for me with my legs I could get to the rudders but I was jarred weird so it was hard to reach the toe breaks. Also It was tight because he has wide sholders and Im a fat guy. So it was tight side to side.
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Congrats and a 172 has quite a bit more room. I am 6'0 and 280 and fly 172 all the time with a 220lb instructor.
 
Spbeyond said:
I finally got into the air yesterday and I had a blast. It really made me KNOW that I was right in thinking that this is for me. We took a lap around the valley I live in and man the winds off those mountains really messes with you. Anyway I went up in a 152 and the instructor is a big guy and Im a big guy. And it was really tight. I was wondering how much more room is there for the pilots in a 172? It was expecially tight for me with my legs I could get to the rudders but I was jarred weird so it was hard to reach the toe breaks. Also It was tight because he has wide sholders and Im a fat guy. So it was tight side to side.
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Glad you enjoyed it? I am a big guy also, but did my training in a 172. Wider aircraft and didnt have to worry about full fuel and weight.
 
Congrats on the flight! I'm 6'1 230 lbs and I fly from the middle in a 152. You should be comfortable in the 172. Are you doing the USU program?
 
USU's program is nice but I dont like the idea of paying for it. Its 5 credits for the grounds schools. Then 2 I think for the flying. So I would have to pay that tuition on top of the flight fees that are expensive. Those diamonds are nice though. So I guess my answer is no. ;)
 
I'd heard that they were getting the Diamonds, didn't realize it would happen that quickly! Who are you training with?
 
You'll eventually get used to it, for a while it is wierd but then the amazement of flying makes every little discomfort go away.
 
Spbeyond said:
I finally got into the air yesterday and I had a blast. It really made me KNOW that I was right in thinking that this is for me. We took a lap around the valley I live in and man the winds off those mountains really messes with you. Anyway I went up in a 152 and the instructor is a big guy and Im a big guy. And it was really tight. I was wondering how much more room is there for the pilots in a 172? It was expecially tight for me with my legs I could get to the rudders but I was jarred weird so it was hard to reach the toe breaks. Also It was tight because he has wide sholders and Im a fat guy. So it was tight side to side.
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Ask your instructor to do a weight and balance for the C152 with both you in it, full of fuel. Unless you have only partial fuel it is unlikely 2 "big guys" can safely fly in a 152. With a max gross of 1670 and an empty weight of about 1180-ish (plane dependent), that give you room enough for about 340 lbs when full of fuel.

At any rate, I always recommend my bigger guys go with the 172, or if they are cost adverse, the Piper Cherokee.
 
Spbeyond said:
I finally got into the air yesterday and I had a blast. It really made me KNOW that I was right in thinking that this is for me. We took a lap around the valley I live in and man the winds off those mountains really messes with you. Anyway I went up in a 152 and the instructor is a big guy and Im a big guy. And it was really tight. I was wondering how much more room is there for the pilots in a 172? It was expecially tight for me with my legs I could get to the rudders but I was jarred weird so it was hard to reach the toe breaks. Also It was tight because he has wide sholders and Im a fat guy. So it was tight side to side.
Click to expand...


There is a lot more room in a 172.

When I was going for my PPL I had to go from training in a 152 to a 172 because my legs were so long they got in the way of the yoke, and I was not able to utilize the full range of control.

And I am only 6’3’’
 
There is quite a bit more room in a 172. Just don't discount the 152 all together. It may be small and you may be packed in, but it is a fun little airplane. I am 6'2" and I always hated flying a 152, especially as an instructor. That was before I learned to do barrell rolls!!!!!
 
Congratulations man. I know how you are feeling right now. Except I got to go up in a 172. I am 6'6" and 325.
 
i'm 6'2 and 190-200lbs when i'm watching what I eat... with a smaller instructor we fair out ok... I go with the 152 because its a bit cheaper to fly in then a 172... but yeah, it does get kinda tight
 
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