highest flight in a cessna 152/172?
Moderator
I've had my 150 just over 13,000 feet. I've had a C180 amphibian to 17,500, and climbing (but ran out of airspace), and a C185 on Mogas to 20,800 during flight testing. I'd been over 21,000 in it, but it would not stay up there. None of those were turbos.
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: In a hole somewhere
Age: 46
Posts: 378
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Wow! Im a newish ppl and not been over 5000 yet!
Mind you i only rent my c152 from my club so only fly after ive saved for a bit... Would cost me loads to get that high (take so long and charged by the minute
)
Mind you i only rent my c152 from my club so only fly after ive saved for a bit... Would cost me loads to get that high (take so long and charged by the minute
)
Join Date: Jan 1999
Location: north of barlu
Posts: 6,207
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
You need a good reason to take a non supercharged aircraft above about 8000ft so unless you have to get above mountains or have a very big tailwind going up to 18,000 ft is a bit pointless.
I find the best place to be in a SEP is between 6-8000ft.
Having said that I took a PA28-161 from Glasgow to Booker in 2 H 07 Min one day by taking advantage of the very big tailwind at FL115.
I find the best place to be in a SEP is between 6-8000ft.
Having said that I took a PA28-161 from Glasgow to Booker in 2 H 07 Min one day by taking advantage of the very big tailwind at FL115.
Life's too short for ironing
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: Scotland, & Maryland, USA
Posts: 1,146
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Would cost me loads to get that high (take so long and charged by the minute
Join Date: Dec 2011
Posts: 2,460
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
TB20, non turbocharged, 20k
Does take a little while to get there though (maybe half an hour) and it won't make it in say ISA+10 conditions.
I did climb up to about 11k in a PA28-161 in Arizona, in ISA+8 conditions. It would have gone a bit higher.
Flying high is great for going places, both VFR (across the Alps) and IFR (where you tend to get much better routings above FL100). In both cases it helps to stay above the weather.
You do need oxygen to go much above 10k though.
Does take a little while to get there though (maybe half an hour) and it won't make it in say ISA+10 conditions.
I did climb up to about 11k in a PA28-161 in Arizona, in ISA+8 conditions. It would have gone a bit higher.
Flying high is great for going places, both VFR (across the Alps) and IFR (where you tend to get much better routings above FL100). In both cases it helps to stay above the weather.
You do need oxygen to go much above 10k though.
You do need oxygen to go much above 10k though.
FL80 is fine for pretty much everybody, then performance degrades between about FL80 and FL140. Night vision is one of the first things to go, but you tend to be largely unaware of which bits are stopping working.
UK law is FL100, with a few exemptions, mostly for parachute dropping. In reality, around FL140 is about where things may start getting nasty for a fit adult.
G
Join Date: Dec 2011
Posts: 2,460
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
It depends hugely on the individual.
I used to fly with one unfit chap who said he doesn't need o2 but could not read the altimeter at 12k.
A few years ago I participated in an informal flight test of about 10 pilots, to FL120, where heart rates etc were measured. There was a very large variation.
I used to fly with one unfit chap who said he doesn't need o2 but could not read the altimeter at 12k.
A few years ago I participated in an informal flight test of about 10 pilots, to FL120, where heart rates etc were measured. There was a very large variation.
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Northampton
Posts: 516
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I've taken a PA28R to 15,000' without oxygen. It's very true regarding the lack of ability to perceive hypoxic effects - after a few mins at 15,000' flying around and taking pretty pics of the clouds, I became 'aware' of things not being quite right with my body, but couldn't pinpoint what it was. Very mild nausea and headache started to set in, so we dropped back down! Then again, I'm a smoker who wasn't flying that regularly at the time so it was expected I guess...
Just keep firing maths problems at each other as you climb
Just keep firing maths problems at each other as you climb
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: 23, Railway Cuttings, East Cheam
Age: 68
Posts: 3,115
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Took a 172 to 7,000 once to get above the haze layer. Never thought about going any higher. I find that the view down starts to diminish a bit once you're 5 or 6 thousand above the ground. Three to four thousand is a good height for interesting ground looking along with enough height to do something in the event of an emergency. I don't like to be much lower than that. Two thousand feels like I'm on the ground.
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Ecuador
Age: 45
Posts: 222
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
So far: 2000 feet.
However, a few hours NNE from where we fly……….you´ll find this:
A volcano of 6.300 meters……..which is often overflown by LSA.
That is one of my flying goals.
I have climbed (walked) to 5800 meters without any problems, so I expect to have no oxygen issues at least.
###Ultra Long Hauler###
However, a few hours NNE from where we fly……….you´ll find this:
A volcano of 6.300 meters……..which is often overflown by LSA.
That is one of my flying goals.
I have climbed (walked) to 5800 meters without any problems, so I expect to have no oxygen issues at least.
###Ultra Long Hauler###
14700' in a PA 28
I managed 14700' in a PA 28 flying solo in N.California (with oxygen)
Climb rate was down to +100 fpm but it may have gone a little higher with time however my route didn't allow that alt' to be maintained further on.
Good experience but take care folks as hypoxia sneaks up without oxy'.
Climb rate was down to +100 fpm but it may have gone a little higher with time however my route didn't allow that alt' to be maintained further on.
Good experience but take care folks as hypoxia sneaks up without oxy'.
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: NE England
Age: 53
Posts: 230
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
These figures are really impressive! The highest I've managed in our PA28-161 is 9k, two up, half tanks, ISA + 5 deg, and by then we were climbing at approx. 50 -100ft / min! Maybe I'm not leaning properly?
The highest I have been in a 172 was 12,500ft for an extended period. I've been rather higher in a 182 for shorter periods of time. I'm curious where in the world some of the above posters have flown without oxygen to, say, 15,000ft. This would be dodgy in the UK and the USA, at least...