Buying an aircraft and C172 Vs PA28

[Mickey Kaye]

Thanks for your reply. I worded it badly. I was planning of flying 300-400 hours a year. Doing the sums as considering setting up as a one aircraft flying instructor. PA-28 or C172 might suit my needs and with a couple of aerodromes near me having MOGAS at the pumps it could offer me some savings. Pretty sure that MOGAS is a no go with the PA-28 but ok for 172. Would want VFR in short term.

[BeechNut]

For Mogas, it depends which PA28 you were thinking of.

I don't know about the PA28-180 (whether Archer or earlier versions), and I believe you are correct concerning any PA28 with the 160 hp engine.

But I do know that the PA28-140E with the 150 hp Lycoming O320 has a Mogas STC. And since the early 150 hp Warriors had the same engine this may apply to them as well.

I know this, because I owned one. And I had a Mogas STC for it, although I never ran mogas because, until my last year or two of ownership, our field still had 80/87.

The 140 is worth a look. They are cheap and plentiful, cheap to run, not much breaks on them, and they are surprisingly quick, I used to cruise mine at about 128-133 mph. Their big drawbacks are low useful load thanks to the 2150 lb MGTOW, especially if you have a decent radio stack in it; lack of room in the back seat, and no luggage door. Some don't even have luggage space behind the back seat. But as a 2+2, they work great, and are fairly economical to run, and would make a decently stable IFR learner platform. Mine was in fact IFR certified, with heated pitot, ILS, alternate static, etc.

They don't have too many handling vices either, although they aren't as "short field" as a 172 and they don't exactly climb like a rocket. The standard fuel capacity is 50 gals, which is, I think, 12 more than the 172, and the tanks have useful tabs to be able to fuel to 36 gallons (if my memory is correct), so you can play with fuel load to reduce range but increase useful load.

[GSJMH]

Robin DR-400

I agree with the others' comments on the flying characteristics of the Robin: they are lovely aircraft to fly, much more responsive than a PA28 and with great visibility. However, with respect to SP6, you do not need to hangar the aircraft. We keep ours on the tarmac with full covers supplied by Cambrai. According to Guy Pellissier, who makes the aircraft, keeping them outside like this is a better trade-off than hangarage! For spares I suggest calling John Kistner at Mistral Aviation, the UK distributors ([phone]; [email protected]).

[sp6]

GSJMH - understood. Seeing DR400's left outside in France, and having been on the receiving end of a sales pitch from John Kistner on a new DR500, I understand that keeping a DR400/500 outside is ok as long as you fly frequently and inspect the drain holes on the trailing edges.

Having said that, when I leased one of John's own aircraft, one of the conditions of the lease was that it was hangared at all times!

As a previous customer of Mistral, I can recommend them as well as the DR400's. I just wish I had the money to source a DR400 with a 2.0 Thielert. Having flown the 1.7, and then seen the performance figures for the 2.0 (better than the 180hp lyco), a new DR500 would just be heaven!

[michaelporteous]

I fly Robins in France. Great aircraft, but impending problems re. spare parts availability,due to liquidation of Apex Aircraft. Threatened grounding of DR400's, which constitute half of the total club fleets here !

[mikehallam]

Mogas and the Cessna 172 Reims Rocket 210 h.p. engine ?

Does anyone have views both on outside parking and using Super quality 98 Octane Mogas ?

mike hallam

[Steve6443]

Originally Posted by Mickey Kaye

Could anyone who have a PA-28 or C172 give me a rough idea of what there running costs. I fly between 300 and 400 hours per year.

Am I also correct in thinking that it is possible to get approval for MOGAS on the 172 (depending on engine) and not for the PA-28.

I am UK based

I know of a number of Archers (both 2 and 3) which were modified to run on MoGas. The only issue they have is the risk of vapour locks if flying higher than, say, FL065 on a hot summer's day hence if they are flying in such weather, they often fuel up with AVGAS......

[9 lives]

Mogas and the Cessna 172 Reims Rocket 210 h.p. engine ?

I'm not aware of an STC for this. With no STC, do not attempt this. I believe that the 210HP (Continental IO-360 powered?) 172 has fuel pumps, which becomes a problem with any Mogas. This is a vapour lock hazard. If vapour lock begins, the fuel pump will be useless to help - it's causing it.