Club Homepage Forums Classified Ads Buy & Sell - Everything But Airplanes 150H 68' the good? the bad?

OK... another question in hopes to gain more info from the people in the know.
i've read the cessna.org site regarding the differences between the models but wanted to hear from you about the H model.
what things are not in this model that you wish were?
panel layout ok?
wanted to know if there are certain models to shy away from or if this was one of them.
i found one available with about 500hrs. on engine but is a little rough on the inside. can some of the clean-up stuff be done by me? mostly needs some paint i think and maybe some new rug!
paint was done in 85' i believe.

i sure hope i haven't tired you all out from my last post:(

adios for now
pete

Hey Pete: Here are the 150 and 152 models that are good: 150, 150A, 150B, 150C, 150D, 150E, 150F, 150G, 150H, 150J, 150K, 150L, 150M, all A150s, 152, and A152.

Here are the models that are bad:

Note: they did not make a 150I model.

There are some minor issues with some of the earlier models, but nothing more than an awkward landing gear placement (they will sit on their tails even when within CG range if you aren't sitting in them). The 150F, while a very abundant model, is an oddball. The doors are not the same as the earlier or later models, and the interior plastics are different. This is the only slant-tail 150 with a round vintage looking panel.

The 150H is the second year of the IFR panel layout, the second year of the bowed out doors, and the first year of having strut fairings. I don't like the strut fairings, but that's me and might add .5-1 knot. I just like the stripped down workhorse look of the struts without fairings. The 150H also has the flat metal gear - so check around the steps for signs of rust under the step. I like the flat spring gear better than the tube gear. The H model also has higher seats than the Ls and Ms and 152s - which is nice if you are a little fella - and not that bad if you are tall (I'm 6'5", my G model has the same height seats and it works out well for me, even with very thick seat cushions). The H model also has the smaller dorsal and vertical fins. The dorsal does not come all the way to the rear "Omni-Vision" window and the vertical is a couple inches shorter than the M model. I haven't found this to be a problem at all. The H model, from the ones I have seen, also have the nicer mixture control than the G and previous models with the tacky metal tab that acts as a friction lock. It's still not a vernier control, but it's nicer.

I don't think you can go wrong based on which model you have, only which individual airplane you acquire.

Not sure with the Canadian regs, but I don't see why you couldn't replace the carpeting. You can pull out the interior plastics, repair (I used fiberglass and bondo) and repaint (I used the Wal-Mart brand almond color - turns out VERY well, dries quick, and was the closest match to the original color!)

You can do a lot on the inside for not much (in aviation terms).

New upholstery with new cushions from Tnwings about $700 for both seats:

New carpet from Tnwings about $300.

New wool headliner from Aircraft Spruce about $160.

Freshen up plastic ... a bit of elbow grease and a few bucks.

If you want to get fancy, talk to PlacardsPlus about dressing up the panel.

I have a G and like that model very much. It has the IFR shape panel but predates the awful "matching color" lower panel.

Reg

Well, my 150H was UGLY! But then who looks at the paint when you are flying. I liked it and agree with Gremlin. Two more points: Only 3 instruments across the main panel so your cannot set it up for the "standard T" configuration. (That was not a problem for me.) And the flaps will retract without holding the handle up. I had a little trouble getting use to the flaps in my 150F but then again, it's just a matter of what you get ust to doing.

hahaa... i see your point gremlin.

thanks guys for the great insight. what do you mean about the IFR panel?
i've got a few pics of her. i'll post them up.
they are big so we'll see how cc150club site handles them.

sounds like the interior dressing isn't a big deal at all. making sure i have a good runner in the frame and engine,etc. is the key point.

Ken - you can set up the panel in the IFR configuration. 3x2 rows of instruments, the nav indicators aren't primary flight instruments. I was talking about having the 6 primary near each other, and it's not too difficult to rearrange them in the current standard arrangement.

Pete, the IFR panel has 2 rows of 3 instruments clustered together. The earlier panels have instruments all over the place. I've seen them arranged nicely, but most of the time they are set up weird!

Pete
According to Transport Canada registry, there is (at the time I am writting this) 3 owner (with different mailing adress) on this specific plane. Also the last certificate of registration was issued in december 2007 (10 months ago).

If I was you, I would question the seller about the specific reason why all three (3) owner are bailing out from this specific plane, wich was recently registered ? Usually, one share owner goes, and they find a new partner.

It might be a good airplane but be carefull.

Fred

I have the C-150H. The IFR panel is "non-standard," i.e. the attitude indicator is top right instead of top middle, but I don't have an issue with it, and it's still legal. I woudln't bother re-arranging, but your mileage may vary.

I like the sturdy metal panel. Not cheap, cracking plastic, like some Cessna's I've flown.

Hi Fred,
thanks for the note of caution.
reason for sale and the reason for purchase for those 3 guys is they were getting there ATPL finished off and two of the guys are working, one for Borek Air and the other for CMA... they don't need it now and want to sell so they aren't paying for tie-down, insurance on something they never use. they bought it last year.
i've talked with him a few times already over the past month.

i've also heard that rearranging the instruments is no-no. TC won't allow that.

As I said previously, I don't find the somewhat non-standard arrangement of the "six pack" instruments in the C-150H a problem at all. When I trained for IFR, I switched between my plane, and a rental C-172 with the more standard "six pack" arrangement, and I had no problem switching back and forth between the two planes.

Someone on this board wrote a while back that his "CFII" told him he had to change his instruments -- to which I said "baloney" -- don't do it. Get another CFII.

The C-150H instrument arrangment meets all the legal requirements for IFR. I fly it all the time. In fact, this morning I shot two simulated approaches in my plane no problem, and then my safety pilot took the right seat and HE flew for 1/2-hour under the hood, again, with no problems whatsoever.