Club Homepage Forums Classified Ads Buy & Sell - Everything But Airplanes Buy 150/152 now or finishing flight training.

Wanted to get some general feedback as to whether or not I should finish my training (albiet in a 172SP) and then purchase a 150/152 OR buy 150/152 now. I'm leaning towards buying now so that I can become familiar with the aircraft for consistency purposes.

I purchased my 150 before I even started flight training. Advantage is you really get to know your own airplane!

Kenn

Was it difficult for you to shop around and finally buy one? Meaning, how did you know that the 150 you purchased had everything you wanted. I'm feeling a bit unsure of which type of radios I should be looking for AND if I really need IFR or if a VFR 150 will suffice.

Welcome to the Club Brian.

I purchased my first airplane (a Cherokee 140) early in my privet pilot training. I had a partner, we worked together and got along very well. My feeling is that if someone is serious about flying buying an airplane for their training is the way to go.

Cessna did a great job designing a great little trainer when they started building the 150. The 152 is the culmination of the evolution of the type. They are simply wonderful airplanes.

I wouldn't get too hung up on radios until I got into instrument train about knee deep. It takes a while to learn to keep the shiny side up but once you learn that the radio stuff comes pretty easily. Radios can be had fairly easily.

BTW I have long contended that if a pilot can handle a 150/152 in IMC with light to moderate chop he/she will make a good instrument pilot in about any airplane.

Good luck on your search for a plane. I suspect that there are few places in the county that you could not get some club member to go and survey a prospect for you.

Thanks Wayne! That is certainly sound advice.

In my judgement, it boils down to whose pocket do you want to pump money into ... yours or theirs?

I completely understand the feeling, Brian. But, truth is you will be on the lucky side if you find the 'perfect' one. Perhaps think of prioritizing the wants list, and then you can sorta compare the asking price vs. how well it checks the boxes and keeping in mind how much additional cash/effort/irritation it would take to (eventually) be that perfect one. And I believe you will discover that wants list will change as you get more experience.

If you were going to buy anyway, why wait? Probably stating the obvious, but having your own plane for training makes scheduling lessons much easier. I too started with a rental (152 at a flight school), but when they were a bit too cavalier about maintenance for me I joined up here and bought my own.

One of the other good suggestions from around here is to find a 'buying buddy', someone with some knowledge or experience and no vested interest in a deal, monetarily or emotionally, to help keep your feet on the ground (so to speak).

First, welcome to the club, Brian!

All great advice above so I won't repeat but will throw in my 2 cents on radios. I personally think that every pilot should shoot for an instrument rating. That knowledge could save you in an uncomfortable situation. Some VFR days can be downright uncomfortable when filing IFR makes for an amazingly easy flight. So with that in mind, I'd definitely put finding a mechanically sound airplane atop the list but, all other things being equal, I'd favor the plane with the better instrument platform. (I redid my plane's avionics and it's cheaper to buy a plane where someone has done this for you!)

Catherine

At the risk of giving others more ammunition to shoot in my direction. In some situations that IFR rating can prove more detrimental then advantageous. Depending on personality. Though what you state is mostly true, Catherine. There are some folks that believe an IFR rating makes them invincible. And there are those that may know that they are mortal, but tend to maybe push the limits now and then. Where it would be best that they not have that knowledge in the first place. And thus stay safely on the ground.

I can include myself in that latter statement.

Bill
Grants Pass, Oregon

If you're sure you're eventually going to purchase a C-150/152, I see no downside in buying it now and training in it as opposed to renting another airplane for training and buying a C-150 later.


I'd have to agree with Catherine on this one. Avionics are not cheap to buy or install. Careful consideration should be given to what avionics does the plane currently have; what are you goals; and how much will it cost to upgrade.

I learned very quickly (the first time I gut buffetted around in turbulence in my 100 HP C-150), that I am NOT immortal in my little, underpowered airplane. Quite the contrary. I agree with Bill that you need to be very careful about flying in any type of IMC in a C-150. As an economical IFR trainer, however, it can't be beat.