I despise cessna 172's
Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: a shoe....a giant shoe.
Age: 40
Posts: 33
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I despise cessna 172's
I hate them! they are pieces of crap. Im too short for them, the damn armrests make it hard to flare because I have to move the seat so far forward.........PIECE OF CRAP!!! why can't they be like my (personal favorite) the 152? Which fits me like tailored suit? My back kills after flying these poor excuses for a chef boyardee can of soup! ok...that is all, Im just mad cuz Im short. All I need is an inch!! 
Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: a shoe....a giant shoe.
Age: 40
Posts: 33
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
well actually...Ive been thinking of this. The POH clearly states that rudder pedal extensions are available. Ive never seen them but I'm guessing its like some kind of rubber overlay thing? Where do you find these anyway? And can I just swap them within a couple minutes into a rented aircraft?
Upto The Buffers
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Leeds/Bradford
Age: 48
Posts: 1,112
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
You could always get a 177, the seats go up and down. Perfect for short people. And I'm sure you're not the only one who could use an extra inch.
The Original Whirly
Join Date: Feb 1999
Location: Belper, Derbyshire, UK
Posts: 4,326
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I'm 5ft 3ins and find most C172s horrible; I either can't see or can't reach the pedals or both. In fact I came fairly near to crashing one on landing very early in my flying career because of this. I was sitting on one cushion and had another cushion behind me, and one slipped. Didn't make for an easy landing! I didn't fly a C172 again for years.
However, the newer 172s have seats which adjustforwards and back, and also up and down, and are just fine.
You can also buy two piece cushions from some company in the USA; they have a part you sit on, and a part that goes behind you, and come in various thicknesses. They look rather good, though I haven't tried one. Bit pricy though. Can't remember who makes them, but you could always do a search.
But the other alternative is....fly something else!!! There are loads of other nice aircraft around. Leave this ridiculously designed, ultimately boring aeroplane for...those who want to fly it.
However, the newer 172s have seats which adjustforwards and back, and also up and down, and are just fine.
You can also buy two piece cushions from some company in the USA; they have a part you sit on, and a part that goes behind you, and come in various thicknesses. They look rather good, though I haven't tried one. Bit pricy though. Can't remember who makes them, but you could always do a search.
But the other alternative is....fly something else!!! There are loads of other nice aircraft around. Leave this ridiculously designed, ultimately boring aeroplane for...those who want to fly it.
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: The Burrow, N53:48:02 W1:48:57, The Tin Tent - EGBS, EGBO
Posts: 2,297
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
If you can find one which still has a diesel engine which is still in hours, try a DA40. It's a nice aircraft and has four seats. I'm shorter than Whirly and can reach (just) everything. I still also fly a 152 - they're great! 
Blah Blah Blah
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Malmesbury VRP
Age: 48
Posts: 927
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
So let me get this right.
Because you are short and cannot cmfortably adjust the seat the "Aircraft Type" is a piece of crap.
That totally makes sense.
Because you are short and cannot cmfortably adjust the seat the "Aircraft Type" is a piece of crap.
That totally makes sense.
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Maders UK
Age: 57
Posts: 806
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
C172s are truly the Ford cortina of the air. Great for those who have not quite mastered the ability to grease the wheels on at every landing, and also as a generic club trainer. They are as imperfect as a mass produced car also and have many minor gripes - but Mr Cessna still gets my vote.
Somebody once told me (and this may well be a myth) that there has never been a C172 lost due to in flight structural failure - which is reassuring considering how much they get bashed around.
C172s are very forgiving aircraft and I am sure your little C172 will forgive you all the bad things you have written about it.
SB
Somebody once told me (and this may well be a myth) that there has never been a C172 lost due to in flight structural failure - which is reassuring considering how much they get bashed around.
C172s are very forgiving aircraft and I am sure your little C172 will forgive you all the bad things you have written about it.
SB
)has jacked the seat up so high, my head almost touches the roof! 
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Brussels - Twin Comanche PA39 - KA C90B
Age: 51
Posts: 647
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
they are pieces of crap
Moderator
Hey draccent,
bose-x, gcolyer, scooter boy, and sternone have it right in my opinion, so I’ll try not to waste space repeating their wise words. Clyde Cessna started something for which the entire world owes appreciation, and he was well over 6 feet tall. After having my head planted firmly into the ceilings, and knees into the instrument panels of many types. I appreciate the proper allocation of space in a 172. I will agree that rudder pedals can be hard to reach for some people, when the aircraft is not equipped with the Cessna clip on rudder pedal extensions. These well designed parts clip on and off in seconds, and add about 3” to the rudder pedal position. They are hardly detectable when installed, and I have flown a 172 with them installed with no difficulty, just a different seat position (I’m 6’3”).
So if you have chosen to fly an aircraft without the manufacturer’s recommended equipment installed, to make the aircraft safe for the intended flight, what does that say about you? Perhaps the aircraft should be criticizing you, rather than the other way around!
When you have come around to accepting different people and different aircraft for their various strengths and weaknesses, you might try a Mooney. They have many strengths, but I have found that ceiling to pedal total distance is not one of them.
Pilot DAR
bose-x, gcolyer, scooter boy, and sternone have it right in my opinion, so I’ll try not to waste space repeating their wise words. Clyde Cessna started something for which the entire world owes appreciation, and he was well over 6 feet tall. After having my head planted firmly into the ceilings, and knees into the instrument panels of many types. I appreciate the proper allocation of space in a 172. I will agree that rudder pedals can be hard to reach for some people, when the aircraft is not equipped with the Cessna clip on rudder pedal extensions. These well designed parts clip on and off in seconds, and add about 3” to the rudder pedal position. They are hardly detectable when installed, and I have flown a 172 with them installed with no difficulty, just a different seat position (I’m 6’3”).
So if you have chosen to fly an aircraft without the manufacturer’s recommended equipment installed, to make the aircraft safe for the intended flight, what does that say about you? Perhaps the aircraft should be criticizing you, rather than the other way around!
When you have come around to accepting different people and different aircraft for their various strengths and weaknesses, you might try a Mooney. They have many strengths, but I have found that ceiling to pedal total distance is not one of them.
Pilot DAR
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: The Burrow, N53:48:02 W1:48:57, The Tin Tent - EGBS, EGBO
Posts: 2,297
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Pilot DAR 
thank you! You may have just solved the problem for me. I really like the 152 but I can only take one other friend with me if I fly it so I did the conversion to the DA40 knowing that I couldn't reach properly in a Cessna bigger than a 152. Now, do you know where these clip-ons are available and an approximate cost?
thank you! You may have just solved the problem for me. I really like the 152 but I can only take one other friend with me if I fly it so I did the conversion to the DA40 knowing that I couldn't reach properly in a Cessna bigger than a 152. Now, do you know where these clip-ons are available and an approximate cost?
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Cloud Nine
Posts: 359
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
What about ....
Have you thought about one of these ? - perhaps as a Pitts Special substitute ? 
You might even be able to get extra cushions AND the pedals are non-slip ?
No worries either about getting bugs on the windscreen - just don't smile too much or you'll get them in yer teeth.
You might even be able to get extra cushions AND the pedals are non-slip ?
No worries either about getting bugs on the windscreen - just don't smile too much or you'll get them in yer teeth.
Blah Blah Blah
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Malmesbury VRP
Age: 48
Posts: 927
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Originally Posted by PH-UKU
What about ....
Have you thought about one of these ? - perhaps as a Pitts Special substitute ?
You might even be able to get extra cushions AND the pedals are non-slip ?
No worries either about getting bugs on the windscreen - just don't smile too much or you'll get them in yer teeth.
Have you thought about one of these ? - perhaps as a Pitts Special substitute ?
You might even be able to get extra cushions AND the pedals are non-slip ?
No worries either about getting bugs on the windscreen - just don't smile too much or you'll get them in yer teeth.
Draccent...do you feel welcome yet
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: .
Age: 36
Posts: 649
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Hmm, yet another typically important, mature and fact-filled discussion on Proon. 
So if the 152 is your favourite aircraft, then what's the beef? Why moan about the 172? Plenty of other aircraft out there to fly. Like your 152.
So if the 152 is your favourite aircraft, then what's the beef? Why moan about the 172? Plenty of other aircraft out there to fly. Like your 152.