Hell Is Spending Two Months In A Cessna That Never Lands

[nittany03]

In which they tell the story of the folks who set a record that has never been broken: 64 days, 22 hours, 9 minutes, and 5 seconds with one other dude in a fucking Cessna 172.

Why . . . why would you do such a thing? I learned to fly in a C172 . . . there ain't that much room!

 

[TacticalTater]

Sorry not even for the million dollars mentioned

 

[Swanee]

Day 54: "Yeah, but like, dude, what IF the Earth was flat...."

 

[nittany03]

Day 54: "Yeah, but like, dude, what IF the Earth was flat...."

"Dude . . . I mean I'm just asking questions. Dude . . ."

"Are you sure you didn't sneak any of the jazz cabbage up the last time they sent us up a bunch of pre-packaged shit from the buffet? I mean, I thought we just had a minor brake system leak, and we're not supposed to land for over a month, but level with me here, brah. I can take the controls if you need to go back there and sleep it off."

 

[IKE]

What's the overhaul cycle on a C172?
I'm guessing it's more frequent than the 1,558 hours those guys flew.

 

[Gatordev]

What's the overhaul cycle on a C172?
I'm guessing it's more frequent than the 1,558 hours those guys flew.

TBO would have been/is 1500 or 2000 hours, but it's a recommendation (or mandatory for Part 135 ops). If the engine is run regularly, it can go much longer.

 

[hlg6016]

No thanks. That must have been like flying a porta-potty by the end.

 

[Griz882]

I don’t even like spending an hour in a 172, but @Swanee and @nittany03 have it right…by 30 or 40 days I’d be waking up the other guy to tell him, “Hey! I just saw ANOTHER UFO…that makes three this week.”

 

[Random8145]

Was that where they tested the Cessna's engine? I remember reading something about how utterly resilient the engine on one of these small planes was, and how two guys flew one for months in the air, and when they landed and disassembled the engine, it was still plenty fine.

 

[wink]

Those guys beat a Yuma AZ crew flying an Aeronca Sedan in the winter of 1949. Their record, 49 days, which bested a Fullerton CA crew. The Cessna 172 kids in 1959 had it easy compared. The Aeronca crew refueled by handing up cans of fuel 2.5 gal at a time. Crapped in a bucket with asphat liners (no plastic bags) thrown out over California ?. No auto pilot, smaller cabin. They actualy made repairs in flight. Most daring feat of all, the Yuma crew landed a tailwheel airplane at the end .

 

[zippy]

In which they tell the story of the folks who set a record that has never been broken: 64 days, 22 hours, 9 minutes, and 5 seconds with one other dude in a fucking Cessna 172.

Why . . . why would you do such a thing? I learned to fly in a C172 . . . there ain't that much room!

Still better than being ships company…

 

[Swanee]

I remember reading something about how utterly resilient the engine on one of these small planes was,

But the thing is that they aren't. Every pilot who has flown GA knows at least one person (if it isn't themself) who has had a a crummy Lycoming air cooled engine crap out on them- and always when they needed it the most

 

[Random8145]

But the thing is that they aren't. Every pilot who has flown GA knows at least one person (if it isn't themself) who has had a a crummy Lycoming air cooled engine crap out on them- and always when they needed it the most

Yes I don't remember what engine it was, might have been a different one.

 

[MIDNJAC]

Still better than being ships company…

I'd rather be on death row....

 

[nittany03]

But the thing is that they aren't. Every pilot who has flown GA knows at least one person (if it isn't themself) who has had a a crummy Lycoming air cooled engine crap out on them- and always when they needed it the most

Speed-Clean-Check-Feather-Look-Lock . . . aaaand PEL.