Populat Mechanics Octobrer issue

Just out of curiosity, what's so bad about the 172? I realize
it's got about as much sex appeal as an '87 Subaru station wagon with the
handling of a '67 pickup, but it's a forgiving trainer.

I don't know about the handling, but yes, it's hugely lacking in sex
appeal. But perhaps it's a local thing, having to do with the
condition of the two 172s owned by the airport. They are very weary.
Cracked green plastic seats; a shoulder belt (not a harness!) that
must be wrapped around the seat belt in order to keep it from jumping
out--that sort of thing. Whereas most of the Cubs have been pristine.
Hampton does all its primary training in Cubs; Dunn Aviation on the
field seems to specialize in restoring Cubs; there are several Cubs
based there. So Cub fever is in the air, and I caught it early and
hard. I fell in love with the plane the first time I flew it.

http://www.pipercubforum.com/roger.htm

The plane mentioned in that story, Four One Victor, was a 1940s L-4
owned by the Massachusetts Air Guard. It was later wrecked by a
student who applied the brakes during a high-speed taxi. It has since
been rebuilt and will soon come back on line.


all the best -- Dan Ford
email: www.danford.net/letters.htm#9

see the Warbird's Forum at www.warbirdforum.com
and the Piper Cub Forum at www.pipercubforum.com