Cessna 152 - 4843H General Info

The Cessna 152 is a true classic trainer and sport aircraft. Thousands of pilots have obtained a private pilot license in the 152. Manufactured from 1978 to 1985, about 7800 were built. This particular aircraft, 4843H, is a 1980 model manufactured in late 1979, serial number 15283983. While the airframe is almost 30 years old, it has a low time with no damage history and is in excellent shape. She is tightly rigged and very responsive. A new engine, new interior and new avionics have been installed and no expense was spared to bring her online as a full commercial rated rental aircraft.

4843H is a great trainer, but she is also very maneuverable and a real 'seat of the pants' airplane. The new 110hp Lycoming o-235 engine gives her a top speed of about 110 knots (125mph). She holds 26 gallons of gas and has about a 6 gallon per hour fuel burn. This gives a range of over 300 nautical miles.

While the 152 is primarily intended for training and short hops, it can do some pretty respectable cross country flying. 300 nautical miles is a pretty long ways and 125mph in a straight line is pretty speedy when you think about it. There are many interesting small airports close by to the Charlottesville area. Lake Anna, Luray Caverns, Smith Mountain Lake to name a few. It is also quite possible to fly to the outerbanks of NC or down to the mountains of TN in a couple of hours.

With a single pilot, the 152 has a remarkable payload and can carry a lot of camping and fishing gear. If you have a passenger it depends greatly on their weight as to how much extra you can carry. With a 530lb useful load 4843H can carry a 180lb pilot, a passenger of 130lbs, full fuel and 50+ pounds of bags. Thats pretty decent for a tiny airplane. Nevertheless, ALWAYS do weight and balance planning before any serious cross country travel. Failure to do this may result in the loss of the airplane and your death. Just a warning.


Avionics:

  • Radios: Michel MX170C Digital FlipFlop Nav/Com
  • Transponder: Narco A165 Digital Transponder
  • GPS: Garmin 396 with NEXRAD weather radar downlink

Aircraft Specifications:

  • Crew: 1
  • Capacity: 1 passenger (with dual controls)
  • Length: 24 ft 1 in (7.3 m)
  • Wingspan: 33 ft 9 in (10.3 m)
  • Height: 8 ft 6 in (2.6 m)
  • Wing area: 160 ft^2 (14.9 m^2)
  • Empty weight: 1,100 lb (500 kg)
  • Max takeoff weight: 1,670 lb (757 kg)
  • Powerplant: Lycoming O-235-L2C flat-4 engine, 110 hp (82 kW) driving a 69 in (175 cm), two-blade, fixed-pitch propeller

Performance

  • Maximum speed: 126 mph (110 knots, 204 km/h)
  • Stall speed: 49 mph (43 knots, 80 km/h) unpowered, flaps down
  • Range: 477 mi (414 nm, 768 km)
  • Service ceiling: 14,700 ft (4,480 m)
  • Takeoff roll: 725 ft (220 m)
  • Rate of climb: 715 ft/min (3.6 m/s)

V Speeds:

   
  • Vne:
    		• 149kts Never Exceed Speed -Do not exceed this speed in any operation
       
  • Vno:
    		•  111kts Max Cruise -Do not exceed this speed except in smooth air
       
  • Va:
    		• 104kts Maneuvering Speed -Do not make abrupt control movements above this speed
       
  • Vfe:
    		• 85kts Max Flap Extended Speed -Do not exceed this speed with flaps down
       
  • Vwo:
    		• 143kts Max Window Open Speed -Do not exceed this speed with windows open (uh, duh)

    Operating Speeds:

       
  • Best Glide:
    		• 60kts
       
  • Takeoff:
    		• 65 - 75kts
       
  • Best Climb:
    		• 67kts
       
  • Landing Flaps up:
    		• 60 - 70kts
       
  • Landing Full Flaps:
    		• 55 - 65kts
       
  • Max Crosswind:
    		• 12kts
       
  • Stall Full Flaps:
    		• 43kts
       
  • Stall No Flaps:
    		• 48kts


    SPECIFIC NOTES ON THE OPERATION OF THIS AIRCRAFT FROM THE OWNER

    ENGINE and MIXTURE
  • ALWAYS LEAN the engine at least a bit, too rich fouls the plugs.
  • LEAN MORE on xcountry cruise, particularly at full throttle.
  • Full Throttle Cruise is ok but you can at times exceed V speeds, KNOW THEM
  • Richen up when you setup to land.
  • THE ENGINE IS YOUR BEST FRIEND, TREAT IT WITH THE UTMOST RESPECT.

    ENGINE OIL - AEROSHELL 15W50
  • FIVE quarts of oil on the dipstick is perfect.
  • PERHAPS a half quart more on a long xcountry but thats all.
  • Overfilling wont hurt it but it just blows out and makes a mess.
  • ONLY USE Aeroshell 15w50, there should always be a quart in the plane.

    AVIONICS
  • The NAV/COM is a new digital flip flop radio. Top knob for major frequencies, lower knob for fractional.
  • Dial in .75 and .25 frequencies by pressing the small '25' button at the top right.
  • VOR - you MUST turn on the lower part of the radio for the VOR to work. Keep the volume low.
  • CHEAP intercom. Sorry, working on getting a stereo one with music input, but this one works fine for now.
  • Transponder - I always squawk VFR, if you want flight following, feel free.
  • GPS - a Garmin 396. This is a powerful unit, I have XM weather turned on as well.
  • GPS gives you terrain avoidance, weather, runway configurations, radio frequencies and tons of other info.
  • LEARN TO USE IT, there is a cheat sheet in the seatback or just ask and I will give you the manual.
  • THE 396 IS YOUR SECOND BEST FRIEND - IT WILL SAVE YOUR BACON.

    OTHER
  • This plane is small, but it is a HUGE investment for me, TREAT IT WITH RESPECT.
  • ALWAYS TIE IT DOWN FIRMLY AND PUT IN THE GUST LOCK, we get lots of thunderstorms and winds.
  • WIND DIRECTION AND DENSITY ALTITUDE, do NOT underestimate these things when you fly.
  • THIS IS AN AIRPLANE. IF YOU ARE STUPID YOU MAY KILL YOURSELF. Just a Disclaimer.