Longest flight in a C152 - my skills test, so around 2 hours.
The more general comment is that most people flying these things haven't got much of a clue as to the real range they have.
For starters, almost nobody in the UK is taught correct leaning, but there is a ~30% difference between full-rich, and ~ peak EGT which is a perfectly authorised cruise setting at/below 75% of max rated power.
I completely agree - I was told during my training that the 'red lever' is only needed when you fly above 3000' and as all training was at or below that, the mixture control was only used at engine start and engine stop.
I have never leaned an engine, never had training how to do it, and as I rent 'wet' there is actually no financial incentive for me to fly economically. Am I doing any engine damage by
not leaning? All my fuel calculations in a C152 are based on 6 gallons an hour.
Sounds like I could do with some leaning instruction.