What is a C172 capable of?
 

Hiya,

I tried using the search function for the forum, but as many of you are aware, it is sometimes fairly useless!

I was just wondering, what exactly is the every day C172 capable of in terms of flying, e.g. can it do anything like a stall turn?

I appreciate all of your help!

SO

No. The 172 is not designed for aerobatics. I believe the POH states you can indulge in steep turns, lazy eights and chandelles. If you want to do proper aerobatics, fly an aerobatic aircraft.

Snowy Owl, I suggest you look at this recent thread.

It was a very painful read at the time, and it would be excellent if we could avoid resurrecting it, which your query is in danger of doing!

It will sate your curiosity and leave you very much the wiser, I hope.

It's a bit like the 1.1l Ford Escort of the skies. It's not pretty; it's not fast; it's not terribly comfortable or overladen with gadgets. You get in, turn the key and it'll get four of you where you want to go*.

Eventually!

*Subject to terms & conditions;)

ap:ok:

Cheers for that guys... reading other thread now!!

I've flown Cessna 172's in and out of dirt strips in box canyons in very rough terrain full of people and cargo and gear, even gasoline, towed banners with them, instructed in them, done all sorts of work with them; they're an economical, easy to fly, simple airplane with no bad habits. They're easy to work on. They have decent performance for their designed purpose. Read the aircraft flight manual; it details exactly what the airplane can do.

What on earth is a "stall turn?"

Well, three, unless you're taking no luggage and careful about how much fuel you load.

Yes, you did say subject to T&C. But we wouldn't want anyone to get the idea that you can just put four people in it and go flying.

It's what those of us over on this side of the pond call it instead of a "Hammerhead". No idea why, we just do.

4 people, 5hrs fuel, 130kts and 18,000ft in my 172. LEGALLY.

Don't tar all 172's with the same brush.

bose-x
 

Please tell me how?

Thank you.

Setting aside the issue of legality, you're achieving FL180 in your 172? With four people and 5 hours of fuel? You're seeing 130 knots (indicated??)?

I've flown 172's with 145 hp, 150 hp, 160 hp, 180 hp, and 215 hp. None of them were that effective; they all do well, but four people and full fuel to eighteen thousand feet and holding 130 indicated? I'll bite. Tell us more.

Have to agree with Bose-X, you just need the right model of the ubiquitous 172. Hi Bose, I need a trip to Biarritz soon if you are going that way.

Working hard, you are welcome, in fact we are going to Portugal in the next couple of weeks to look at a chippy project and will be stopping at Biaritz on the way. So if you want a lift PM me.

Sorry I should have said an 18,000ft service ceiling. But otherwise accurate. My Hawk XP has a max weight of 2550lbs and an empty weight of 1560 giving a useful load of 990lbs. Taken from my current W&B schedule done after the avionics work in January.
2 males = 360lbs
2 females = 240lbs
600lbs
Fuel Max useable 188l = 293lbs
Total = 893lbs
Leaving 97lbs for bags or fatter people
200hp constant speed prop.
2000ft indicates 130kts at 23"/2300
10,000ft IAS 110kts ISA day TAS= 128kt or Mach 0.2002
Burns 32lph in the cruise at 10,000ft giving me a 5.8hr range I allow the .8hr for climb and reserve.

The simple answer is:
READ THE P.O.H!

DX Wombat - Notice how everyone else on here has just had a general discussion about it and some have spoken about their aircraft capability, except you! You have to go in and just answer like a tw*t!

Snowy Owl, that description would fit you rather better. The PLAIN SIMPLE FACT is that it is the MANUFACTURER who knows what the aircraft is capable of and certified to do and that is published in the POH which anyone with any sense at all will read thoroughly BEFORE they first fly the aircraft. You asked what the aircraft was capable of, I pointed you in the right direction to find the definitive information. Only an idiot ignores that information. If you don't like appearing to be a bit dense because you didn't look there first (or couldn't be bothered saying you had studied it) then that is your problem. The fact remains, that no matter what others may think it is capable of, it is the manufacturer who has the definitive information, so I say again:
READ THE P.O.H!

Bose-X
 

Thank you I did not think that the humble 172 could do such things but as you say it is a very capable aircraft when fitted with a 200HP engine and VP propeler.

But just to add balace to the thread look a look at the numbers for my Robin DR400 (with a true airways nav fit) and I find a usefull load of 1016 Lb, 132 KT TAS at 10,000 ft, 32Lt/Hr fuel burn and 780 Nm range (to dry tanks). With the long range tank add another 1.5 hours endurance.

And all this is done with 180HP and a fixed prop.

DX - i've done most of my flying in a PA-28 and therefore i haven't read the 172's POH yet!

And anyhow, what would be the point in this section if everyone just read the POH and that was that!?

A and C,
We could get into a mine is better than yours contest but we each bought what we wanted. And I bet my true airways fit equals yours (not to mention I have an IR to actually use it!)....... And with my long range tank fitted I have an 11hr range and my service ceilings is a lot higher, yours is 14k as I recall..... nah nah nah!!!
The robins are indeed suberb aircraft, lots of performance from minimal horse power and that cranked wing is amazing but wood and fabric are what deterred me from buying one and the fact that I wanted short field performance that even yours is not capable of.

AVWEB:

A WELL-DESERVED RETIREMENT FOR TROPIC AIR'S CESSNA 172
For those of you struggling to put 50 hours a year on your Cessna 172, consider the long and productive life of a 1982 P-model that was retired last week with 30,000 hours on it, likely making it the highest-time 172 in the world. The 172, with tail number V3-HDN, has been making as many as three or four flights a day in scheduled airline service for Tropic Air, which is based on San Pedro, an island off the coast of Belize. AVweb's Russ Niles spoke with Tropic Air President John Greif about the aircraft's history and his experience with a diesel-powered replacement.