I’m new to the club. My name is Dave and I live in Denver CO. I’m a low-time private pilot with about 305 hours total (approx 111 in 150/152s; 90% of the rest in 172s; a few in a 182; and a few in misc other aircraft). I flew the 150/152s when I lived in the Midwest; been flying 172s almost exclusively since I moved to Denver.
I’m considering an aircraft purchase and I would like some help related to aircraft selection. First a little about my mission: 1) I plan to get an instrument rating; 2) I do personal cross-country flying between Denver and Chicago and also between Denver and Phoenix; 3) I hope to possibly use a purchased aircraft to commute to my client sites, on those occasions that my client is located west of the Mississippi.
Here in Denver (to my knowledge), stock 150/152s are really only used in the pattern for landing training. A 172 is normally used to fly anywhere, except into the mountains, where a 182 (or possibly an R172 Hawk XP) is recommended. Of course, planes smaller than 182s are used to cross (or more accurately, go around) the mountains to either the North (the “I-80 route”) or to the South (South to Albuquerque, then West across the desert).
I’ve heard of a 150 with an STC (STC # SA4795SW, now sold by DelAir in Porterville CA) to add a 150 hp engine and also increase the gross weight of a Cessane 150/152 to 1760 lbs.
Here’s my question (sorry it took me so long to get around to it ;-). Would a Cessna 150/152 with the 150 hp engine realistically be able to accomplish my mission as noted above? Please keep in mind I have no intention of flying into (between) the mountains at this time. I would probably use a 182 for that, someday in the future, after more detailed mountain training.
