Peter Duniho wrote:
"Blanche" wrote in message
I'm still waiting to reach my limit on W&B with only 2 people and
gear in the cherokee 180. And I don't pack light...

The real question isn't so much the weight limit (though in some cases that
might be relevant). It's that every pound added to the airplane costs you
in cruise speed, and thus in everything tied to cruise speed (fuel costs,
maintenance expenses, etc.).

IMHO, you'd have to be pretty stingy for that cost to not be justified if
you get a week's comfort out of it (especially when you consider that a
well-rested pilot is a safer pilot). But it is true that there's a
measurable cost. (I haven't done the particular calculation, but it
probably amounts to a fraction of a percent increase in expense, even after
you add in every possible related cost you can possibly think of).

Pete, et al....

If I were doing calculations to worry about weight v. expense, I
wouldn't own an airplane. Reality check, please!

My first choice when traveling is always a Marriott. For the past
few years I've been staying at the dorms in Appleton. This year,
I'm trying the camping concept. But my idea of camping, now that
I'm not longer young and stupid (afterall, I'm no longer young. But
I am still stupid...) is a comfy tent, cd/mp3 player, comfy twin or
larger air mattress (taking the idea from the OP, I've decided against
the sleeping bag and just packed the sheets), a couple pillows -- much
easier to sit up and read, etc. If I brought the RV (the camper, not
the airplane!) which I sold a number of years ago I'd have the
airconditioner, full bath, comfy bed, kitchen, satellite dish...etc.

I stopped "roughing it" many years ago when I quit being a white-water
rafting guide here in Colorado.

Come to think of it, the "emergency equipment" for the aircraft weighs
more than everything else. That includes 1 of every type of lamp,
couple quarts of oil (no, I'm not bringing a spare filter), tools,
safety wire, extra batteries, covers, tie-down kit, and so on.

I told you I didn't travel light!

On the other hand, I've spent a month traveling in Europe with
nothing more than a carry-on bag and the AMEX card. Of course I always
knew where the closest laundromat was located. And yes, because it
was business, it was always the Marriotts.

Knowing full well I'm about to perpetuate the stereotype, you're talking to a
Jewish American Princess. And yes, I consider the cell phone, AMEX
card and a nail file mandatory flight equipment in my flight bag.

(*chortle*)

Personally, I'm really bringing a mostly-empty aircraft. I fully
expect to do serious shopping both in Bldgs A-D as well as the
outlet stores on the other side of the interstate...we'll see
how much I can spend at the LandsEnd store...

As for cruise speed -- oh please! I'm in a cherokee 180 that on
a good day with a tail wind, I might see 110-115 kts. Of course where
I live, that 180 hp engine is only pushing out 108 hp. I'm really
looking forward to seeing how it performs below 5000 ft MSL.

I'm hoping to be part of a flight of 2. The other aircraft is a
2002 Grumman Tiger. I get an hour's head start.