On 29-Dec-2004, "C Kingsbury" wrote:

All true, but when it comes to hauling a load, there's no substitute for
horsepower. A Dakota or 182 are fill-the-seats-and-tanks airplanes, which
the Arrow and Cardinal RG are certainly not.

True to an extent. But, when fueled for a given mission the difference in
payload is not quite as big because of the much larger fuel load required
for the thirstier big engine. However, your point is valid in that someone
needing a load hauler will generally be looking for a plane with a bigger
engine. (The Dakota is particularly adept in this regard.) If efficiency
and range are primary considerations (with comfort, cabin size, and
performance being equal) it's hard to beat a later model Arrow.

--
-Elliott Drucker