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Hi All,
I'm in the market for a plane, and just naturally gravitated towards 150/152 as most of my hours are in 172's.
I currently belong to a club, but will need my own plane to fly for the USCG Auxiliary...have to have a marine radio, survival equipment etc.
Anyway, I've tried out a 1965 150...nice little plane, but not for me. A bit cramped. I really can't see myself flying it for 3 hours straight.
Last weekend I flew a Piper Colt, adequate room, will haul a bit more than a 150, but I just don't know about rag and tube...may have to wait a year or so for a T hanger.
I guess my questions revolve around the relative sizes of the later model 150's and the 152's. I would prefer all metal and also prefer Cessna, but really don't want the fuel burn of a 172, but need more room than the early 150 I flew.
Thanks in advance.
Rodg

Head room was improved in later 150's by changes to the floor pan. The 152's have a bit more shoulder room through some modifications to the doors.

My 150G (1967) "feels" a little more roomy than a later model 150 in which I took some instruction. I don't know why. The 152 feels a bit more roomy, but it is very marginal.

Other than that, that is what you got. You pays yer money and you takes yer choice. I have gotten where I don't feel cramped in the 150 (5'10", 205 lbs), but three hours at a stretch is a long time ... my butt is kinda heavy and the seats are kinda thin ...

Reg

I'm 6'5" and 225 and I'll sit in there for 3 hours at a time and not even blink... but I'm also 21 years old. G and later models have wider doors than the 1965 model you tried, and a larger cargo area. I also removed the arm rests from the door panels to gain an extra several inches of hip room, and that made a huge difference.

Roger:

If you will compare the specification changes in the each model year (Hanger section), I believe you will find that by the late 1972 L models you have all of the space in a 150 or 152 cabin that there is. The cabins don't get any wider after the 1967 model, around the 1970 K models, the console was changed slightly for more leg room, and in the later 1972 L models, the seat tracks were lenghted one inch or so which gave just a bit more leg room.

As Jeff noted, you can get a little more by removing the arm rest on the left side.

Good luck on your search.

Don

I installed bubble door windows on my '76 150M. The percieved "roominess" is greater, because your forehead won't hit the window when you look out, and if you're tall like me, you can put your arm in the bubble like you're driving a pickup. In reality, though, if you're going to carry that kind of gear, in addition to the occasional passenger, a 172 might be a better choice. You can find pretty nice older 172's in the $25K range, and the fuel burn isn't that much greater.

Rodger,

It's a real aviation mystery, but everyone here will confirm, the 150/152 gets roomier the more you fly it. Really ... trust me on this one, but the molecules change as time passes, and the airframe swells to the point that you have all the room you?ll ever need. I?m not kidding. You start out, usually, flying with a friend in a 150 and you swear you?ll never get in another one ? way too small, shoulder to shoulder ? no way you?re putting up with that.

Then, you?re drawn in and you fly in one again, and you find you have a little more room than you thought the first time. And each time you fly one, you find you have a bit more room. I swear, I?m not pulling your leg. After a while, and it varies with time of year, your age and gender, and the alignment of the planets, but you find eventfully that the Cessna 150/152 has all the room you?ll ever need. You have plenty of leg room, shoulder room and head room and you wonder why you ever considered any other airplane.

My 1983 C-152 fits me like a glove. I love the space and have no need for more. I have wonderful opportunities to fly many other airplanes and it is always a pleasure to climb in my 152 and stretch out for a comfy flight home.

It is indeed a mystery, but it is absolutely true.

Terry

I've never really had a roominess issue in a 150. It's not like you're sitting farther apart as in a 172 or up, but I think there's enough room for two folks in the birds.

My opinion only, but really.... no problems have I had!

Thanks all, I'll try a few more and the bubble windows sound great not only for more room but for the downward vision. Now I need to find a late 150 or a 152 around here and strap it on...with the owner's permission of course.
Again, thanks for the advice, and Terry's metaphysical theory of molecule realignment.
Rodg

I just can't resist one more observation.

In terms of front seat room, there isn't a whole lot more in my friends 185 than there is in the 150. The seats are little thicker though ...

Reg

Bring your plane to Clinton this year. I would like to see how installed bubble windows look. I think they would be great.