Club Homepage Forums Classified Ads Buy & Sell - Everything But Airplanes Why oh why the 150

Overall, the 150/152 is a very economical plane to fly. And I mean 'economical' in the broadest sense of the term - as airplanes go, it doesn't require a lot of money, time, skills or effort to own and fly one.

They are simple to maintain and repair, but are not 'bare-bones' transportation.

There is a large and well-stocked inventory of new and used parts available.

It's the cheapest 'real' airplane one can buy. Any cheaper and most likely you're talking 'ultralight'. Yet spending more only gets you two more seats. It's at quite a nice price/performance 'sweet-spot'.

And lastly, in all seriousness, this Club. In my very informal polling, I'm finding this type-club is one of the most active around (I'm sure the Bonanza club does more, but the price of admission is steep). The depth and breadth of active, participating and friendly club members makes me enjoy this plane far beyond its physical capabilities.

Low stress.

I like the 150 because I can find parts. It is easy to work on, safe and has a lot of performance and capability when compared to other planes with the same engine mounted on it.

It is nearly guilt free in the sense that it is almost cheaper than a small boat or snowmobile to own. They hold their value and often increase over time.

There is often a lot of demand for the 150. However most of all they are fun.

Jim

What Kirk said!

I love our 150s so very much. It is so easy to fly you can treat it anyway you want and it keeps coming for more.

Low and slow at 21-22 hundred rpm leanded anywhere the eng runs smoothly -then enjoy the country side.

Windy days, just be a little more careful, you can fly anyway if you must.

I look at a lot of other planes but i realize that 80% of the time, its just me and the C150 puttering around.

I have a good friend with a C182 that has no medical but loves to fly and i get to do most of his flying and he tells me to use it, but with a C150 why?

bruce

So easy to fly....

It's my homebuilt.

Seriously, I asked myself what do I want in a homebuilt?
1. High wing, so I can see the landscape (You can get bored looking down on a wing all day...)
2. Tri-gear. I'm not superman. Even though I've got good feet, mass in front of the mains is just good physics.
3. Flaps. Training spoiled me here, perhaps, but after the first 200 landings, I said to myself: "I want a plane with flaps."
4. Four-stroke engine. Two-strokes have intake and exhaust valves open simultaneously. Wasteful. And when they quit, it's right now.
5. Small engine. Latin teachers can't be pouring 100 LL through gobs of horsepower. (Buying the gas for a XC in a Stinson, with 165 hp Franklin engine, was a good lesson.)
6. NOT ultra-light. I need to fly, not emulate a wind-blown leaf.

You get the point: when I put it all together, I realized I already OWN my ideal homebuilt. (Think of the time I saved!) Now if I could only do my own annual...

Complete maintenance manuals and parts catalogues readily available. All components -- including factory-built new engines - still readily available from numerous sources. IFR capable. Runs on autogas, if you can get it without ethanol. As previously mentioned, sips fuel, which is a huge consideration nowadays. Nice plane for low altitude, fair weather flying.

Why oh why the 150?


D. All of the Above!

There I was with a pilot's license and wanting my own airplane so that I could fly without the restrictions of a rental plane (able to go to grass, and/or privately owned airstrips...and for days at a time).

When I looked at what I could afford that fit my mission...the 150/152 was the prime candidate.

Turns out it owning my own airplane was easier to afford on paper than it is in real life. Still...things could have been much worse and my little 150 has done her job well.

Best engine in its size, gravity fed fuel, very affordable.

Jim
N66062