You'll never convince the FAA that anything over gross is legitimate (unless
you are in Alaska). If you have an accident/incident, your insurer will not
be impressed either. Your instructor was a dork to let you break the rules
during an instructional flight (duh!). Not the best way to train safe
pilots.

Bob Gardner

"Fred Choate" wrote in message
...
Here is a topic that was of discussion at work today:

How much is too much over gross weight? For example.....the 172 has a
gross weight of 2300 lbs, but what if you are 2345 at time of
takeoff.....is that too much over, even if you are going to be burning
enough fuel before your first scheduled stop to be under weight for
landing?

What about airframe age, prop age...etc? Does it make a difference on
decision to "carry a little extra"?

I know that when I was receiving training, my instructor once had me bring
2 male adults with me to a lesson. That put 4 male adults in a 172 with
full fuel. I don't recall the specific weight we were at, but we were
over weight. The airport we flying out of had 8000' of runway, and my
instructor had me doing pattern work. The aircraft was very clumsy, and
made me really work at flying it. I didn't like that feeling at all! It
was a good training day.

Anyway, it was a good discussion between a few of us at work, so I thought
it might make a good topic here.

Fred