bigblockz8
Pre-takeoff checklist
- Joined
- Nov 8, 2011
- Messages
- 429
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Gore
I was thinking about my personal skills and such. Naturally, I got to thinking about aircraft and their skills. Some are highly specialized while others are good at any task.
I then thought about two of the most prolific aircraft that exist. These two aren't the only two but they are widely known. I personally love flying both.
Cessna 172-The ace of all trades. From flight training to law enforcement to bush airplane to banner towing to a $100 hamburger ride.
Robinson R22-The Swiss Army Knife of helicopters (I'd add the Jet Ranger but that's too expensive for this). Flight training-proposed "ultra light" observation/attack helicopter. Luckily the latter idea never saw fruition. It is used for aerial application, digital flying billboards (awesome idea), it's even used as a poor man's police helicopter.
Both are good at just about anything that they try. They are not the best in any one particular field though. All aircraft are designed with a purpose in mind.
Sure a Super Cub might work better for a 1200ft off airport strip while at MTOW but you can't carry 3 pax (maybe one taped to each wing?)! Maybe your Pawnee or Brave works a LOT better as a duster and tow plane but can you then turn around and carry some people to a field to rendezvous with a ground crew to help recover a glider? Nope.
Sure a R44 or B206 would be a better police helicopter but they can't effectively be used for recreation or flight training!
Like I said, not the best aircraft in any one area but they are work horses and entry level ones too!
My question is is it better to be a Pawnee or Apache or is it better to be a 172 or R22?
For my money I'd go with an aircraft that can do another task equally as well. More opportunity in my opinion. My banner business goes bust? I can do some mods and dust. That goes bust? I can put her on floats and do sightseeing tours. That goes bust too? I need to realize that aviation doesn't work, $100 hamburger please
*Note: I realize that a lot of aircraft are able to do a variety of tasks but these two are some of the most widely known. Almost everybody pictures a C172 when you say "small plane" or "Cessna." With helicopter it's usually a Huey or 206 though but you know what I mean!
I then thought about two of the most prolific aircraft that exist. These two aren't the only two but they are widely known. I personally love flying both.
Cessna 172-The ace of all trades. From flight training to law enforcement to bush airplane to banner towing to a $100 hamburger ride.
Robinson R22-The Swiss Army Knife of helicopters (I'd add the Jet Ranger but that's too expensive for this). Flight training-proposed "ultra light" observation/attack helicopter. Luckily the latter idea never saw fruition. It is used for aerial application, digital flying billboards (awesome idea), it's even used as a poor man's police helicopter.
Both are good at just about anything that they try. They are not the best in any one particular field though. All aircraft are designed with a purpose in mind.
Sure a Super Cub might work better for a 1200ft off airport strip while at MTOW but you can't carry 3 pax (maybe one taped to each wing?)! Maybe your Pawnee or Brave works a LOT better as a duster and tow plane but can you then turn around and carry some people to a field to rendezvous with a ground crew to help recover a glider? Nope.
Sure a R44 or B206 would be a better police helicopter but they can't effectively be used for recreation or flight training!
Like I said, not the best aircraft in any one area but they are work horses and entry level ones too!
My question is is it better to be a Pawnee or Apache or is it better to be a 172 or R22?
For my money I'd go with an aircraft that can do another task equally as well. More opportunity in my opinion. My banner business goes bust? I can do some mods and dust. That goes bust? I can put her on floats and do sightseeing tours. That goes bust too? I need to realize that aviation doesn't work, $100 hamburger please
*Note: I realize that a lot of aircraft are able to do a variety of tasks but these two are some of the most widely known. Almost everybody pictures a C172 when you say "small plane" or "Cessna." With helicopter it's usually a Huey or 206 though but you know what I mean!
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