NZ06AR
you are quite correct, a new C172 with the G1000 would be nice, and to be fair they do fly nice the old girls! But my motivation was probably not so clear, meaning the stick and ergoniomics. No yoke and throttle / mixture to get your charts and plans tangled up in.....dont try and tell me it does not happen, everyone I know comments about how much free space I have!
And yes at maybe $400K the new C172 will be nice, but even so, and i am not sure they realy get the performance figures (note website does not quote speed at 60% power) lets compare. Max speed 123kts V over 130kts, climb 720 V over 1000, Fuel...30+LPH v 20LPH, weights usable 360 V approx 335-345 (note if range is compared comparable kg for kg), TKOF dist 288 v 200.........
Sure the C172 would be nice if you give me one, but bang for buck at hourly cost of $40 V way more, and I have more load speed climb....I put up with the throttle in a funny place away from my charts
OK biased rants over lets see some more great pics, I promise to behave for a while
And HEL YEAH pics from the eastern states (NZ) are always nice to see
J