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I'm a new member and just bought my first plane this month. I thought I'd make my first post in the forum by talking about my purchase (hopefully a great one!) My objective was to get a cheap to fly plane that I could have fun in and get my IFR ticket.

I'm a 120hr 2yr old pilot (ok, 38 but 2 yrs flying) with a brand new (to me) 1980 C152. The plane has >8k on the airframe and about 1500 hrs SMO. Of course I had a pre-purchase on the recommendations of pretty much every owner I know as well as a few posts I read in this forum and she checked out fine with a few small cosmetic things to fix. She's not a show winner but she flies GREAT. In fact, I'm a little worried because she climbs at over 800fpm and cruises at 112KIAS at 2300 RPM (3000 ft msl), which seems too good to be true. I fly a 1983 152 with the Navy Flying Club that climbs just over 500fpm and never touches 100kias unless I'm descending.

As for avionics, it has a 385MX with VOR and stock Cessna ADF. I'm putting in an Terra audio panel from Aircraft Spruce (great deal at $295) with marker beacon and intercom and a used 485 with GS from eBay to make her a good IFR trainer.

I'm still a little overwhelmed with all the stuff I don't know about airplane ownership but ecstatic that I found this group of knowledgeable 150/152 enthusiasts! My A&P is a 150 owner so he's extremely helpfull too.

The add hasn't expired yet apparently on Trade-a-plane if anyone wants to take a gander.

N8159B [trade-a-plane.com]

All advice is WELCOME!

As I've said to new members before (and recently): welcome home Michael, to a club full of friends you'll meet real soon.

Congratulations on both buying a wonderful aircraft and joining a great club. You'll learn a lot from the club, and we'll learn a lot from you.

Enjoy.

Michael,

That is a clean looking Bird you got there.
112Kt Cruise at only 2300rpm ? WoW!!

I can't get my 152 over 109kts in level flight.

Now that you got the plane you HAVE to come to Clinton in July.
I bet John Vargo will caravan with you.

Welcome to the forum and airplane ownership. I too have a 1980 152. Mine was built in Nov 1979, about 3 months and 200 serial numbers behind yours. Mine was owned by a local flight school, so it has close to 10000 hrs on the airframe.

My plane cruises at 2450 rpm, and gets 97 KIAS at 2500' MSL. Unless you have a cruise prop, your numbers seem to be high. I'd check to see if the airspeed indicator and the tach rpm are correct. You can ask around your airport and see if somebody has an optical tach. That will tell you for sure if your mechanical tach is correct.

Yup, that's about what I get too.

My 152 is only 29 planes newer than Michael's.

And, make sure you're putting in enough right rudder. Yawing to the left creates a vacuum on the left side of the fuselage, giving erroneously high rates of climb and indicated airspeed.

Just kidding....congratulations on your new plane. I absolutely loved my 152. Also...congrats on the good climb and quick airspeed. Very nice.

Thanks to John Vargo, I know about the Appalachicola river!

Welcome to the club. We won't hold you being a Floridian against you.

Sa-weet, Michael!!!

Are you going to keep it at Ferguson Field?

Oh....and a big Welcome to the finest little type club on the www!

Michael, welcome to the Club. Tell us a bit about yourself.

Thanks for the welcome!

The guy that I bought it from said that it had a cruise prop. I expected the climb to be slow if the prop was pitched for cruise but she consistently climbs at 750fpm or better. I MAY be a little optimistic on the RPM vs airspeed...it may be a bit higher than 2300 but not full throttle.

I'm just happy it flies so well (knock on wood).

Keeping her at Peter Prince in Milton (2R4) but not far from Ferguson.