Club Homepage Forums Classified Ads Buy & Sell - Everything But Airplanes Useful Load Differences Among Years

Based on the info on the club's performance specifications page [cessna150-152.com], I put together the attached chart of useful loads across the years.

Any comments on this? Are these figures fairly accurate, compared to everyone's "real world" observations? Are the '76 and '77 150s really that poor, compared to the others?

Some of these differences I can explain. Obviously, the increased gross weight made possible by the Lycoming engine in the 152s is responsible for the jump in 1978.

But what the heck did they do in 1971 to get the empty weight down so low? And what did they do to shave off 40 lbs of weigth in 1985?

As a big galoot myself, who would like to actually carry a passenger now and again without draining half the fuel out, useful load is particularly important to me. But these are, after all, factory numbers. Are they even relevant for planes of a certain age that have likely been modified all over the place anyway?

Thanks!

- Jeff

And here's a chart showing cruise airspeed, in case anyone was curious.

Interesting how the airspeed bumped up a bit in 1975, which is the same time the useful load started its decline. Hmmmm...

- Jeff

Cessna stopped making the 152s in 1985. They probably built those planes with what was left in the part inventory. Those planes may have a bunch of missing components. HA HA!