Transitioning from a 150 to 172

montanapilot

montanapilot

Well-Known Member
Ok so tommorrow i m gonna go on a flight with my instructor to transition from flying 150's to a 172. What are some of the main handleing characteristics that are different. Any tips anybody has on making the switch? Also how long does it usually take to switch airplanes.


Thanks
Kelly
 
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Ok so tommorrow i m gonna go on a flight with my instructor to transition from flying 150's to a 172. What are some of the main handleing characteristics that are different. Any tips anybody has on making the switch? Also how long does it usually take to switch airplanes.


Thanks
Kelly

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No more than an hour, if even that. For me, they were pretty much the same. The 172 was easier to land due to the increased weight and is a much better plane in my opinion.
 
From what I remember they handle almost exactly the same. When I first went from the 172 to the 150 I thought the 150 was easier to land, but when I went back to the 172 I thought it was easier again.....

There really aren't many differences, other than the V speeds and other numerical differences (fuel capacity, max gross weight, etc). You might need a little more right rudder on takeoff and climb because of the larger engine on the 172.
 
The nose will be a LOT lower in all phases of flight; otherwise you will enjoy the increased stability and speed; have fun
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Here's my take...On takeoff youll notice that you dont have to Pull the airplane off the ground so much as you do with the 150 with 2 aboard. The 172 has good enough power with only 2 pax aboard that just a light back pressure will do the trick. Once airborne the 172 is a little less flimsy then the 150/152. On landing I think youll need less back pressure again for a good greaser. In the 150 You almost have to have the yoke all the way in your lap to get a good one, in the 172 this wont be the case. Also the instrument stack is normally 3 leveled whereas the 152 is two level. So that may take some getting used to, based on how many hours youve spent in the 152.
 
I recently made that change as well except from a 152-172. It went very smoothly and I really enjoy the 172 and basicly there isn't much else to add, everyone else has covered it. It didn't take me long at all to get used to it either. Good luck and have fun.
 
The landing flare will take a bit longer. You're approach speed in the 172 is 65 knots and you actually land around 40 knots...so there is a longer period of level flight just above the runway while the speed dissipates. If you don't take that extra time you will tend to land very flat and many students who first transition have a tendency to hit the nosewheel on the first couple o' landings.

The controls are also a bit more "spongy". They aren't quite as effective and the airplane isn't quite as nimble as a 150/152.

The nose is a bit "droopy". That is why everything seems to be much more nose-down than a 150/152. The cowling actually slants downward and you sit up higher in seats that seem like they came out of a minivan compared to the low-slung seats in the 150/152. If you take a look at your AI though the pitch attitudes on there are about the same.

Other than those small differences, it is a very easy airplane to fly.
 
Hmm, been a long time, but as I remember I found the nose on the 172 to be noticeably heavier than the 150-152. Trim it up some.

Stephen
 
In my opinion, the 172 is heavier on the controls. Also, its stalls are less dramatic then the 150s. The 172 I fly only has flaps 30, not 40 like the 150. So, you float down the runway a lot more. But its almost the same airplane, very easy transition.
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The 172 I fly only has flaps 30, not 40 like the 150. So, you float down the runway a lot more.

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Oh, man...nothing like a Skyhawk with 40 degrees of flaps...LOVE IT!!!!
 
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Oh, man...nothing like a Skyhawk with 40 degrees of flaps...LOVE IT!!!!

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I don't know why Cessna took that extra 10 degrees out on their newer models. That flaps 40 setting is great if you need to slow down a lot or land on a short field. It's like throwing out an anchor.
 
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Oh, man...nothing like a Skyhawk with 40 degrees of flaps...LOVE IT!!!!

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I don't know why Cessna took that extra 10 degrees out on their newer models. That flaps 40 setting is great if you need to slow down a lot or land on a short field. It's like throwing out an anchor.

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I've heard that it was a liability issue, and that some pilots have had trouble in a last-minute go-around because they got so far behind the power curve.

Again, that's only what I've heard, and I'm sure that it was from a hangar lawyer...
 
The p-factor will be more pronounced w/ the additional power. When you rotate the 172 will want to go left more so than the 150.
 
I wasn't a personal fan of the 40 deg. of flat in the 172. I've flown 172's with the 30 and the 40 deg. of flap and honestly prefer the 30 deg. I know that you don't HAVE to use 40 deg. of flap, but the instructor I trained with insisted on it.

Though I don't mind the 40 deg. of flap that Warrior's have, maybe it's because it only comes out in three incriments. Not sure.

Cheers


John Herreshoff
 
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I wasn't a personal fan of the 40 deg. of flat in the 172. I've flown 172's with the 30 and the 40 deg. of flap and honestly prefer the 30 deg. I know that you don't HAVE to use 40 deg. of flap, but the instructor I trained with insisted on it.
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I know that feeling. I grew up using 40 degrees of flaps, no matter what!! After flying for a couple hundred hours I realized that it wasn't always a good idea to do so!! Now, I really like the option of kicking them all out there - especially when there isn't much crosswind, or when I have to chop and drop it from 3000 feet on downwind, while keeping it fast for jet traffic following (Nashville has done that to me more than once....
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).
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Though I don't mind the 40 deg. of flap that Warrior's have, maybe it's because it only comes out in three incriments. Not sure.


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The flaps don't seem to be that effective on the Pipers to me. Sure help to slow you down though...

Anybody else? Or is it just me??
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...obviously just you
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Am I this mean in real life? Emily says I am
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Gawd I hope not!!!

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