wrote:

Newps,

Interesting that you didn't care for the stabilator. Which model did
you own?

I had the 177A.



The gearing of the stabilator was "fastest" in the original
177, changed to slightly "slow" it a bit in the 177A and a bit more in
the 177B. I did a lot of instruction in the "no letter" and then in
the B models and found that pilots used to Cherokees (stabilators) or
172s and 182s (elevators) where the pitch control authority diminished
a lot when slowed for the approach often overcontrolled the Cardinal
because its controls remained so very effective at slow speeds. It did
lead to broken nose wheels and bent firewalls because pilots
overcontrolled the 177 series due to the very effective controls (you
have to go to the Grumman singles of later years to find airplanes that
were as light and nice on the controls).

My experience was the opposite. I ran out of elevator at low speeds. I
can fly slower in my 182 with the feeling that I have more control over
the tail.


At 6'4" I really loved the Cardinal because I could slide the seat back
and recline it so I was very comfortable and had plenty of headroom.

I had the vertically adjustable seat and with it at its lowest setting
the headset headband was always hitting the overhead. I could wear a
baseball hat on top of my headset now and not hit the headliner. Plus
the C177 has a molded headliner with wells molded up into the overhead.
Move around and I was always bashing the lower parts of the molded
headliner, like near the top of the door and the center of the cockpit
where the overhead lights and vents are.




The seats were very comfortable and I made some flights that lasted
over 5 hours because they were comfortable enough to do so.

I had no problem with the seats other than they were too high off the floor.


I also
liked the extremely effective controls when it came time to land in
strong crosswinds. I'll land a Cardinal in stronger crosswinds than
I'd attempt with almost any other single, just because it is so
controllable.

I think the 182 has more crosswind ability. I really did like those
ailerons though. Very fast rate of roll. The C177 is just **** poor
for what I do and that is landing off road. That stupid nosewheel
design wouldn't last 15 minutes off pavement. Look at the AOPA magazine
article about our group in the June 2004 issue. The cover article is
about the Sportsman homebuilt but they came and flew it here in Billings
and the surrounding area. Look at the shore of the Yellowstone River in
a couple of those pictures. You'd need a crane to get a 177 back out of
there. No big deal with big tires on my 182. I bought the 177 because
a local shop ahd taken two busted up 177's and turned out a basically
brand new one. It was an easy purchase and I got to make a few
decisions. But you live and learn.