Can't fly in a Miata? 180 is always the answer.

"Grindintosecond" (Grindintosecond) 02/17/2019 at 00:09 • Filed to: None

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The Cessna 180 has always been the answer since it’s introduction in the 1950's. Sure there’s been other planes that haul four people and the goods at speed but I would argue, honestly, that they just can’t do it as well as the 180, even though on the surface, things look terribly inefficient.

Quite a few planes can take four people but not with full tanks and luggage at the same time. 180 can. How many of them can cruise at 160+ mph all day long? That’s about 17- mpg . Sure a Bonanza or Comanche can match it or possibly best it slightly in this performance, but retractable gear adds $2 ,000 to the annual inspection due, um, every year...an nually! That just doubled your annual fuel bill. The Comanche , Mooney, or Bonanza won’t do so hot popping on some tundra tires and hit a gravel bar for some camping.

Or, strap on the skis and go explore a bit.

Whatever your desires, it can do it and deliver all of your gear too. This is the un- compromised Swiss - army knife that suffers little from it’s universal abilities . Now someone astute may suggest a Piper Dakota and it’s big power engine, but it’s fuselage is too cramped to make use of it all. The Saratoga / cherokee-six ? It’s 15mph slower as the air repels it’s ugliness, although a great industrial hauler in it’s own right. The Maule’s? The old ones aren’t as fast the the newer and faster ones don’t have the range and costs absurdly more than a good 70's and earlier 180.

when looking at that annual fuel bill you might think you’ve been exposed to a shellfish allergy rendering you unable to breathe. But look at what that can get you at that 17- mpg , as I have been calculating.

My mission is to travel to my parents house, 700 miles away, a few times a year . With the whole family in the car for a weeks visit, that’ s two half-day drives and a hotel in the middle. And the same on the way back. Taking all of our stuff with us, we will spend about $400 in gas, hotel, food for the whole trip. Well, that’s the fuel bill alone for the plane but what’s it get us? We’ re there for lunch on day 1. It get’s us a whole day extra on either end to stay and visit. It makes a quick weekend actually possible to go anywhere else. What’s that worth?

Well, quite a lot actually. One just has to justify the expense. Engine overhaul/prop/instruments maintenance costs averaged in there to the hourly fuel bill can water the eyes, because you still haven’t started to breathe properly again and your lips are turning blue. But given the extra spending of probably $12 ,000 + a year to own it and fly perhaps 30 hours a year (roughly 5,000 miles) this becomes a discretionary hobby. Imagine how many Miata’s you could have and what you could do with them all - every year.

Kit built hotrods? Sure they save lots of gas money but you spend so much more to build it, plus the cost! Wayyyy more. Nope, the 180 hits all the marks for actual affordable utility. Just pony up $80,000 for a nice one with a fresh engine and instruments and pay for it over a 20 year loan (planes are mortgaged like a house)

Regardless of your desires to own and fiddle with a boat instead, or other ways of properly using your discretionary income to pay a mortgage faster or student-loans back, there is much to be gained from frivolously blowing $2,000 of cash every month in this way. Fun you could never have in the Miata unless you built one freakin’ awesome ramp!

WilliamsSW > Grindintosecond 02/17/2019 at 00:31

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  For specific missions, there are better airplanes, but yeah the 180 ( and 185) can do anything anywhere.

I would add that they’re decent IFR airplanes too, at least I  assume so because I know the 182 is.

For Sweden > Grindintosecond 02/17/2019 at 00:34

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um

explain

your

Miata

comparison

Chariotoflove > Grindintosecond 02/17/2019 at 00:35

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I love these planes. I’ve aleays fantasized about one or similar to do just what you say and visit family, etc. B ut as you noted, the upkeep is steep.

AestheticsInMotion > Grindintosecond 02/17/2019 at 00:35

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I’ll just leave this here 

Grindintosecond > WilliamsSW 02/17/2019 at 00:38

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Absolutely a great ifr ride.

Maxima Speed > Grindintosecond 02/17/2019 at 02:40

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The first plane I flew was a 172. I immediately took a disliking to the 180 compared to the 172 as it feels significantly heavier, more sluggish, and less connected. I’m sure it’s a lot better and more useful plane but I miss the 172. Actually I miss flying in general. When I was in the Civil Air Patrol I got 4 orientation flights (more than I was allowed shhh don’t tell anyone). I got 2 flights in the 172 and 2 in the 180 later on. My second 180 flight I didn’t even bother swapping out when it was my turn I just said “let the other kid fly some more I’m gonna take a nap”. Man I slept good that day didn’t wake up till the wheels touched the ground.

Edit: I’m an idiot. I flew the 172 and a 182 not  the 180  its been some years.

Eury - AFRICA TWIN!!!!!!! > Grindintosecond 02/17/2019 at 07:17

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Are you actually considering buying one? I’ve owned 3 planes (and had another with my father) over the years, and I’ll tell you that aside from justifying it to the wife to allow the initial purchase, in the real world your justification for visiting family just doesn’t work. There is so much more to plane ownership than you have listed above. If you’re buying it as a toy then justification is way easier, especially when considering that planes don’t really depreciate.

I should make a post about airplane ownership some time when I’ve got a bunch of time to kill. It’s fairly unique.

TheRealBicycleBuck > Eury - AFRICA TWIN!!!!!!! 02/17/2019 at 07:22

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Please do!  I am close to finishing up my private certificate and need to be able to justify purchasing a plane to my wife....

TheRealBicycleBuck > Grindintosecond 02/17/2019 at 07:23

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Not a fair comparison to the Miata. Two seats versus four. Cargo capacity compared to none. For Sweden has the better list of direct comparisons.

Grindintosecond > For Sweden 02/17/2019 at 08:18

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Cubs and slowboatin 150/152s etc. Just arent the answer when you look for a plane that just does what you want. Getting anywhere takes literally twice as long and isnt comfortable. Plus, put 2 people full tanks and a few duffel bags in a cub for a getaway.... overweight.

Grindintosecond > AestheticsInMotion 02/17/2019 at 08:19

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Yump!!

Grindintosecond > Maxima Speed 02/17/2019 at 08:21

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I liked the 172 space but its just slow slow. Goot training platform, can go get food, . And thats really it. Wanna do something? Get somewhere timely? Yeah its heavier feeling but its a xc machine.

Grindintosecond > TheRealBicycleBuck 02/17/2019 at 08:22

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For airplanes it is the answer. For cars miatas are it.

Grindintosecond > Eury - AFRICA TWIN!!!!!!! 02/17/2019 at 08:25

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Please do post on it. Theres more than visiting family yes. If i do it, i would most likely partner up but simply put, ar ound here theres nothing feasable in this class to r ent. And what clubs that have one are saturated with pilots and club rules. Its money but theres more to enjoy than just visiting relatives.

WilliamsSW > TheRealBicycleBuck 02/17/2019 at 09:19

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I think his point was that it was the answer, not that it’s sports car like.

The 180 and 185 are more like Land Cruisers if you’re making that comparison ( the Beaver is even more LC-like).

WilliamsSW > For Sweden 02/17/2019 at 09:29

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Aeron ca/ Citabria is probably the best comp.

WilliamsSW > Eury - AFRICA TWIN!!!!!!! 02/17/2019 at 09:31

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Do it! I’m always curious to hear real life experience on ownership. 

For Sweden > Grindintosecond 02/17/2019 at 11:49

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But that's a wagon, not a Miata

For Sweden > Maxima Speed 02/17/2019 at 11:51

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If it's not a 210 why even bother?

Grindintosecond > WilliamsSW 02/17/2019 at 13:12

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Luscomb-8 would be my 2-seater runabout. Came from the Monocoupe designer.

WilliamsSW > Grindintosecond 02/17/2019 at 13:59

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Any airplane from that era is cool.

I go to Oshkosh every summer just  to see the m all.

John Norris (AngryDrifter) > Grindintosecond 02/17/2019 at 17:08

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Regardless of your desires to own and fiddle with a boat instead ... 

Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > Grindintosecond 02/17/2019 at 19:23

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Did you mention insurance? I’ve been an aviation buff all my life and it’s difficult for me to imagine packing my family into a light airplane. If I flew for a living, and logged 1000+ hours per year, maybe.

I like the 206:

Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > WilliamsSW 02/17/2019 at 19:27

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I used to want to go to Oshkosh. I’ve been an aviation fan my entire life and dreamed that I could be the greatest pilot who never flew. But recently, I realized that I’ve moved on from that. Still a giant fan, but moved on from dreams of flying.

Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > WilliamsSW 02/17/2019 at 19:28

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I F***ing Ralphed airplane?

WilliamsSW > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo 02/17/2019 at 20:05

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Lol - instrument flight rules. You really want a stable airplane that has decent wing loading and roll rates that aren’t too aggressive - all that reduces  pilot workload in the clouds.

WilliamsSW > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo 02/17/2019 at 20:18

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If you go, it will rekindle that, for sure. 

Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > WilliamsSW 02/17/2019 at 20:21

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I knew what it stood for. That was just the best reverse acronym I could come up with.

WilliamsSW > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo 02/17/2019 at 20:23

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I kinda figured you did, but wasn’t sure.

“ I follow roads"

Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > WilliamsSW 02/17/2019 at 20:34

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This is more my speed nowadays.

https://www.iolaoldcarshow.com/general-info

WilliamsSW > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo 02/17/2019 at 21:17

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Ooh, I gotta go there one of these years! Only an hour past Oshkosh from me.  

Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > WilliamsSW 02/17/2019 at 21:59

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Far from the SF Bay Area though.

CaptDale - is secretly British > Eury - AFRICA TWIN!!!!!!! 02/18/2019 at 16:20

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PLEASE DO THAT POST!