Tough little plane

[iWantWings]

So looking at the rental schedule for the 172 (type N) i realized that from 9:00 until 20:00 the flight school's plane is booked in 2-hour contiguous blocks - no space in between.

So here i am, at the end of the day last in line to fly it and am thinking if this little cessna can put up with yet another 1-hour flight of climb/descent, full power/then back to idle. And i'm guessing most of those other 2-hour block rentals with maybe a little more than 1 hour on the hobbs per flight were probably not any different: up/down, power on/power off, bounce a little here/brake a little there - for most of the day.

Bravo to the guys that keep those planes in flying shape, and the need for a 100-hour maintenance interval becomes more obvious. This all-day rental schedule routine sure ain't happening on a daily basys, but occasionally it does and when it's my turn to preflight it, last i line at the end of the day, it makes me wonder if the little 172 can do one more round.

And this has been going on since, like, the late 70s

 

[LandSickness]

According to Wikipedia, type N's in particular, had their share of issues, but they appeal to me for some reason. Everywhere I go, flight schools seem to have them and they appear to be tough as nails. It's even my favorite 172 to fly in X plane.

 

[Jim Logajan]

Hardly a demanding day for an airplane - certainly not a Cessna 172.

The world record for longest flight endurance by a manned refueled airplane was actually made in a Cessna 172. One flew continuously from December 4, 1958 to February 7, 1959. It was in the air continuously for 64 DAYS, 22 hours 19 minutes and 5 seconds.

Wikipedia has a list of various flight endurance records:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flight_endurance_record

 

[poadeleted21]

Hardly a demanding day for an airplane - certainly not a Cessna 172.

The world record for longest flight endurance by a manned refueled airplane was actually made in a Cessna 172. One flew continuously from December 4, 1958 to February 7, 1959. It was in the air continuously for 64 DAYS, 22 hours 19 minutes and 5 seconds.

Wikipedia has a list of various flight endurance records:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flight_endurance_record

That plane is/was hanging over the escalators at McCarran international last time I was there

 

[Concorde]

Hardly a demanding day for an airplane - certainly not a Cessna 172.

The world record for longest flight endurance by a manned refueled airplane was actually made in a Cessna 172. One flew continuously from December 4, 1958 to February 7, 1959. It was in the air continuously for 64 DAYS, 22 hours 19 minutes and 5 seconds.

Wikipedia has a list of various flight endurance records:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flight_endurance_record

Thank you for sharing !
This is a nice picture of that flight .

 

[marcoseddi]

What does a pilot do in the air that long? What's the point?

 

[Geico266]

What does a pilot do in the air that long? What's the point?

He forgot how to land?

 

[rottydaddy]

What does a pilot do in the air that long? What's the point?

There were two of them... when not flying, each of them would (try to) sleep, read, or take care of the airplane. They didn't mind doing it, because they wanted the world record, and they were being paid by the Hacienda... the whole thing was mainly to promote business for the casino.

 

[JHW]

What does a pilot do in the air that long? What's the point?

They become very smelly.

 

[John Baker]

There were two of them... when not flying, each of them would (try to) sleep, read, or take care of the airplane. They didn't mind doing it, because they wanted the world record, and they were being paid by the Hacienda... the whole thing was mainly to promote business for the casino.

It is truly amazing what men can accomplish when they have the backing of a casino. Back in those days, the whole town was controlled by organized crime, especially the casinos. I lived there for three years back in the early 1970s when the mob was still in control. The strip was clean, hookers were low key, almost invisible, you could take your family there. Now that the politicians control the town, look at it. The strip is filthy, noisy, blatant prostitution is everywhere. Avenida Revolution in Tijuana is pleasant in comparison.

-John