OK, I hear you ask, what’s so new about this aeroplane that Pilot is doing another Cessna 172 flight test? Well, G-LANE is a very different example of what you may find out there in the second-hand or rental Cessna 172 market place.
Many of us will have flown Cessnas or still be flying them. When I learned to fly in the 1970s (yes!) the main training platforms were the two-seat Cessna 150 and four-seat (with certain limitations) Piper Cherokee 140. Many flying clubs and schools also had at least one Cessna 172 on their fleet, available to hire once you had your shiny new Private Pilot's Licence in your sweaty palms, and I certainly aspired to fly one. Other low-wing Cherokee variants were available to rent but−a bit like Marmite−the affinity for high-wing vs low-wing usually polarises pilots.
I continued to rent a C172 until August 1989, when I acquired a 1968 Cessna 172H, powered by the ultra-smooth six-cylinder Rolls-Royce Continental O-300 engine, for the princely sum of £13,500. It performed well and provided me with lots of UK and European touring, as well as being an excellent camera ship for air-toair photography. I kept the aircraft until early 2001, when it was sold to a new owner for almost twice my original purchase price. So yes, I am clearly a fan of the honest and versatile, high-wing Cessna 172.
In spring 2016, an aircraft for sale with one of Pilot magazine’s regular advertisers, Just Plane Trading caught the eye of Mark Hadley. A glance at the photograph revealed what might be on offer so he contacted proprietor David Morris. Following a conversation, Mark arranged a viewing and prebuy engineering survey a few days later, which revealed only a couple of snags: a wire to the tail light, which had been incorrectly routed, and a corroded door hinge pin, both of which were fixed during the inspection.
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Esta historia es de la edición November 2019 de Pilot.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.
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Hybrid-Electric ‘Hawaii Bird' Makes First Flight
Electric aviation company Ampaire flew its second technology demonstrator on 10 September. The aircraft is a refined version of its Cessna 337 ‘Electric EEL’ hybrid-electric power conversion.
Rare Rearwin
Made in tiny numbers by Piper and Aeronca standards, the beautifully-engineered Rearwin Skyranger proves to be a delight waiting to be discovered
Dr Hill's new helicopter
You’ve seen pictures of concept helicopters before, and most of them never rose from the paper… but this one has a better chance than most of flying in the real world. It’s the Hill HX50, and the designer describes it as a ‘disruptive’ entry into the small helicopter market, offering a step-change for the better in safety, performance, comfort and elegance.
Make mine a turbine!
To say aviation and turbines is a happy marriage is true−albeit mainly in the airline, business aircraft and helicopter world. Light aviation, especially the ultralight segment, remains essentially a turbine free field−apart from noble exceptions, in the form of single-engine jets and ‘experimentals’.
Industry experts say...
Representatives from a selection of Approved Training Organisations look forward to the future of Commercial Air Travel and prospects for professional pilots after the pandemic
Flight training
News from the clubs, schools & ATOs
First airline job
... won and lost after just eighteen months in the right-hand seat. Reflections on the rewards of the hardest work in a lifetime
Safety Matters
Safety Matters and Safety Briefs are based on the AAIB Bulletin and UK Airprox Board reports, with additional material from the US National Transportation Safety Board.
Donegal wins ‘most beautiful airport' - again!
Donegal in Ireland has been named as the ‘world’s most beautiful airport 2020’ – for the third successive year – in a major vote by more than six thousand ‘flying fans’. The award is given as part of the annual Scenic Airports poll conducted by private jet booking service PrivateFly.
Come to Sweden!
A French pilot retires to Sweden, where he enjoys great weather, blissful flights and barbecues – and invites British flyers visit this GA-friendly country