"Test pilot" is a little extreme. Let's just say that none of the
performance numbers in your flight manual mean anything when you operate
over gross.

Bob

"Fred Choate" wrote in message
...
You are right Bob.....I agree. But I was hoping for discussion on the
topic, not whether my old instructor did a good or a bad thing.....
(But I do agree with you about my old instructor. That lesson should not
have been flown, but on the upside, I did learn from it)

I chatted with an instructor down at my FBO after my discussion at work,
and his spin was "once you go over the max weight, you are essentially a
test pilot". I hadn't heard that one before, and will remember it.

Fred


"Bob Gardner" wrote in message
...
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