30,000 hour Cessna 172
 

A Cessna 172 manufactured in 1982 which has flown about 4 hours daily for Tropic Air in Belize has been retired from the airline with more than 30,000 hours flight time, with a few of it's factory-original components and in perfect flying condition.

It is probable that it be the highest-time Cessna 172 in the world. About 60% of it's components have been replaced since 1982, including various replacements of the wings, the tail, landing gear, and of course the engine which has been replaced over 12 times.

According to the airline, the decision to retire the aircraft came from the decision to aquire a new Cessna 172, this time, with a diesel engine.

The aircraft in questions is V3-HDN

http://img518.imageshack.us/img518/4852/cessnayc8.jpg

I have about 1000 hours in my logbook with V3-HDN entries... probably some of the most fun flying I've had yet!

farewell DN!

Also me i have flown with this fantastic aircraft for Tropic Air last year!Crazy fly between strips and cayos!!

cheers...

At 30,000 hours, it looks like an imaculately nice airplane. Was it as nice inside as it looks outside or was it showing its age?

metal fatigue
 

not wise to put that many training hours on that ac , also parts that can not be replaced suffer from metal fatigue

A&P

PJ - yes the interior was in great shape, the maintenance crew did a good job keeping her lookin good.

ricbur - this aircraft was not used for training - it was used for charters and on the scheduled services around Belize.

rivets
 

I see, still check all rivet bulkheads on airframe :)

By by delta slow-vember (tropic citation)
 

Did nearly a year and about 600 hours in that little work horse. A sad day but at least she didn't end her days in the water. Hope the new one continues to open the doors of aviation to many more budding aviators.
And to all the guys at Tropic happy New Year ! I know it sounds late but hell but chinese new year just happened over this side of the world.

Thats a nice looking plane!

First paycheque
 

FIrst bit of cash in aviation came off this plane for me!

Great start to the career, trusty old slovember.... Farewell!

Hope the Belize boys doing allright!

This is my first post here. I see that photo--and read some of your comments--and I am taken back 40-45 years. What a twisty road it has been, but I wouldn't have missed a turn. I started in 150's and 172's and have ended up flying just about everything from there to (now) the 777. I even got to fly the NASA Shuttle trainer, P-51's, B-25's, Howards and all the corprorate jets. But the days of the 172 were actually the best. 'Rosebud.......'

Enjoy the ride guys.

Cut my commercial teeth on a 11000 hour 172 flying over london doing aerial photography. Somebody wrote mine off. :( Wicked bird though. HDN looks like a pristine example glad to see she reached retirement.