Rare Bird: The Cessna 162 Skycatcher

[@PatrickStewart316]

Holy smokes. Small world. I have been training in a skycatcher for the last month. My wife wanted to see a video of it so I scrolled through KZbin. And I thought man that 162 is parked on a corner in front of a hangar just like the one I fly in Smyrna TN. Then I saw the tail number. 🤣🤣🤣. Dude. That’s the one I have been flying with my CFI. Shout out to Sam Schaeffer and Wings of Eagles. You just got a new sub.

[@grafhilgenhurst9717]

Thank you Sam! Thank you Bill! Thank you Kyle! Thank you Wings of Eagles!

[@golfbravowhiskey8669]

I had a 162 from 2015 until December 2020. I put almost 700hr on it during that time. That was the most economical little plane I’ve owned. Due to it’s relatively new Air frame and time on this planet annuals only ran about $750-$900 a year. Fuel cost were low and basically nothing ever happened to it in 700 hours except for a blowout and that little tire was expensive. Luckily blew out when I was running about 20 miles an hour turning off of the runway upon landing. Cons: living here in Texas you can get more airflow out of a drinking straw than comes out of those air vents, also crosswind component is not that great, turning crosswind on taxi is somewhat dangerous above about 15 miles an hour. Open till about two years ago you could buy a nice used one single screen for about 50,000 those are about 80,000 now. I purchased mine in 2015 with 91 hours on it, dual screen, factory auto pilot from an estate sale for $52,000. Sold it December 2020 for 55,000. The same gentleman has it that I sold it to ask him if he wanted to sell it back he wants 65,000 for it 🤦‍♂️

[@martygenska8117]

That was pretty cool. When I first started my flight training, I ended up logging about 16 hours in the 162. I decided to go for my PPL, and went from this little guy to a Cessna 172J; what a difference :) If you are ever near Jacksonville, FL, A-Cent Aviation has one at their KHEG location :)

[@glendavis1266]

The reason for high prices was the cessation of aircraft building for years so there is limited quantity of aircraft and thus limited quantity, thus we will really jack up the price. In 1966 Cessna 150 rental with gas was $16 in Macomb Illinois. Thanks for the aircraft tour.

[@grafhilgenhurst9717]

Those were the days!

[@coasternut3091]

I thought that plane looked familiar. I trained at the ATP in Smyrna. A flight school in Chattanooga has a 162 as it's main trainer

[@JungleJimAdventures]

Thank you so much for the awesome video! I'm about to starting training to get my PPL in Washington, and they offer the 162 and the 172 as options. The 172 is far more expensive, so I don't want to choose that, but the 162 is such a rare plane with some people claiming it's not a good plane that I have some concerns about flying it. This video made me feel a lot better about it. Thank you :)

[@grafhilgenhurst9717]

It's a great plane, you will love it!

[@joelmulder]

I wish Cessna was still making "affordable" new aircraft...

[@herbert92x]

Other than being late, more expensive, and less capable, it is a fine airplane.

[@flybouy11]

In 1963 the cost was $10 per hour solo. I was in High School.

[@Paiadakine]

40 hours dual is a requirement for PPT now? It used to be 20. Interesting plane.

[@grafhilgenhurst9717]

From the FAA: "The flight hour requirement for a private pilot certificate is normally 40 hours, but may be reduced to 35 hours when training with an approved school. However, since most people require 60 to 75 hours of training, this difference may be insignificant."

[@richm9455]

Reminds me of my 63 VW Bug….

[@PatFitzhugh]

I'm looking at switching from PPL to Sport, which is what I had originally planned on doing anyway, and if I do, I would be flying the 162 in this video (I fly out of M54 and MQY). Nice surprise when I started looking up videos to learn more about the 162, and happened upon the exact plane I would be flying. As is the issue that most people have with LSA and the low max weight, I would need a CFI weighing less than 200 pounds to make it work (for 1.5 hours). It's been a year or longer since I did anything with WOE. Are any of their current CFIs "light?"

[@grafhilgenhurst9717]

Sam Shaeffer is still there. I think they chose him because of his light weight. His light weight and my not-so-light weight are still within weight and balance for the 162!

[@barryanderson8365]

Just wondering. I used to love doing a few spins in the 152. Are spins doable in these?

[@grafhilgenhurst9717]

"Not approved for intentional spins."

[@arikr456]

Where is the Hobbs and flight time located in the aircraft?

[@grafhilgenhurst9717]

Digital only (engine management page). Just remember to write them down before you shut off the battery, you will only have 45 seconds (don't ask me how I know this).

[@apogaeum4313]

Ist das nicht der Typ, bei dem Cessna nicht das Trudeln ausleiten konnte?

[@brettduffy1992]

Can you get air conditioning in those or could you just crack the windows

[@grafhilgenhurst9717]

Doors can stay open right up until takeoff. But if you break one, it's $4000!

[@arikr456]

I have another question, how do you update the G300 when the gps needs updated?

[@grafhilgenhurst9717]

Electronically. I have not done it myself, but you attach an SD card with updates.

[@bobbyvee8941]

Most of my flying has been in a 172SP. I lost a tremendous amount of confidence in Cessna's decisions on this piece of junk. WTF were they thinking. The flight school I trained at canceled their order when they saw the first one hands on. Good decision!

[@grafhilgenhurst9717]

By Piece of junk, I assume you are referring to the Skycatcher, not the 172 SP. I love the SP!

[@bobbyvee8941]

@@grafhilgenhurst9717 The 172SP was 2 thumbs up!

[@AnonyMous-jf4lc]

Curious as to why you think it’s a piece of junk. I’ve been very happy with mine. It’s a delight to fly.

[@garytucker8049]

Man that thing is ugly! I'd clean the crud off the tail and nose wheel.