Flying again, maybe buying...

[DLJolly]

I got my license back in the 70s, dad needed a right seater to get hours for his instrument ticket...started flying again recently. After many hours in a 182 near sea level, a 172 at 6800 ft Meadowlake, Colo Spgs) was a bit of a shock...! Question...am interested in a relatively affordable but usable plane for use from a high altitude environment. The 150/152s seem inviting, but I fear minimal utility, especially in the summer. The 172 would be great, but a tad expensive for a decent plane. The Cherokee 140 seems a bargain but how much performance is there at or near gross weight compared to the 172? Lotsa questions, any help, advice or words are welcome...

DLJolly@aol.com

[djschaut]

Mr. Jolly,
I've accumulated 1200 hours flying over the Rockies to Arizona from Denver Centennial in everything from a Cherokee Six to a P-Baron. I don't know if your question has one clear answer. In the dead of winter, in clear, cold weather, you could probably fly three people to Aspen in a 150. On the other hand, if you're flying year' round in all weather, over 14,000' peaks, around or over thunderstorms, you need either a pressurized twin or a turboprop. If you're flying along the front range on good days only with just a passenger or two maximum and only occasionally venturing into the mountains, you could probably do well with a Cherokee 140. People are killed in Colorado every year in Beechcraft Bonanzas overloaded flying into mountain passes at high density altitudes. Ultimately, after you've received all the advice in the world, it's your call. If you want to fly to Buena Vista on a 100 degree day in the summer around thunderstorms in a Cherokee, I'm not coming. If you're flying to Aspen for skiing in January on a 20 degree day in the early morning sunlight in a 172, I'm there. Whatever plane you end up buying, get used to its capabilities. Always do a weight and balance when carrying passengers. Mind your airspeeds, especially in the mountains and on mountain strips. A good practice strip to fly into is Buena Vista. It's well-maintained and long. You'll appreciate how much ground speed it takes to reach 60 knots. It takes a lot of runway to take off or land. Once, flying into Fort Stockton, TX (sea level), my Cessna P-210 (300hp, six place) took nearly the entire runway on a day above 90 degrees with four adults and their bowling gear to get off the ground. We could manage maybe 500 ft/minute of climb, and eventually made it up to FL180. Decisions, decisions. That's why they call you the pilot in command.


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DJSchaut