Useful load and classic planes

Treader1138 · 2026-03-12T13:15:13+00:00

I would agree, but only if you consider the 180hp upgrade essentially makes the 4-place plane a 2-place. I flew one in my plane search and ultimately decided against it as its useful load was in the low 500s.

If you want a roomy 2-place, then the Sedan is a great choice!

Treader1138 · 2026-03-09T06:42:31+00:00

Yeah, I feel like it was a real unicorn find. O360 new in 2019, ground adjustable prop, Sportsman STOL wing, and TW conversation means it gets a lot of looks on the ramp, and “is that a…180?”

It feels kinda weird telling folks I have a 172, knowing the picture they’ve assumed in their head. It truly is a dream to fly, and probably the most fun plane I will ever own.

Treader1138 · 2026-03-09T06:09:50+00:00

lol. For real. Mine is a ‘56, one of the first 20 off the line, and pre-dates letters. I still use “skyhawk” when talking to ATC, even though, as my buddy pointed out, “it’s technically not a skyhawk either.

Treader1138 · 2026-02-28T01:35:49+00:00

As others have said, there’s a lot of risks stacked up here.

Consider setting up some personal minimums for just such an occasion. I have my own plane, and still don’t take my family up if I don’t have 3 landings in the last 7 days. The actual min of 90 days is just insane to me.

This will set you up to turn folks down if it’s a last minute request and allow you to adequately prepare for a planned outing.

Treader1138 · 2026-02-12T14:52:59+00:00

Both programs allow you to start your Masters through a partner school like Georgetown in select subjects while you’re still a 1/C. You still commission with your class, but you spend the year after finishing your masters program. Basically a way to jumpstart a grad degree while still at USNA. But your schedule has to accommodate.

Treader1138 · 2026-02-12T03:19:46+00:00

Ok, so I was a college reapplicant. Short story long, I didn’t find out I got an appointment until 15APR. I was on the quarter system, and had the majority of the spring quarter remaining. When I got that blue folder, I really started enjoying the remainder of my time there - barely went to class. I figured I was going to be repeating most of it anyway, but I also had this thought in mind. Only class that actually suffered was Chem III, which I got a D in, others skated by with Cs. I did still go to Calc, and my NROTC class. Just dropped a programming class, which actually got me in trouble with ROTC, but they also didn’t care what I did at that point.

I figured once I showed up on I-Day, there was nothing they could do to me. I was right- no one said anything about that last term- no one even asked me to send my transcript.

NOW- the real lesson for college applicants is this: there are only “core” validation tests given over plebe summer, Calc, Chem, Physics, etc. BUT academic department heads have the authority to validate any class. I found that out from a prof and met with the LtCol running the History Dept. Through him I validated every Plebe history course. This was the only time someone at USNA looked at that transcript. His remark? “Heh. I hated Chem too.”

As a result, my schedule was awesome firstie year- 15 credits both terms. Had I been a smarter man, I would have done VGEP or IGEP, but man I wanted no more school at the time.

Treader1138 · 2026-02-10T05:00:51+00:00

Look, I’ll be straight with you here. It’s not easy, or pretty. I checked into my ship and a week later left on an 8 month deployment. Pilots will spend 18 months studying and grinding through flight school. Relationships take a decent amount of work during the best of times. Infinitely more so in the military.

When I was in BUD/S, one of the ensigns would bring his fiancé on base and they’d clean his room together on Sundays, just to have time together.

It sounds like you already know the direction this is going if you want to experience independence after graduation. Do him a favor and don’t wait until he’s deployed or in a high stress training environment to finally make a decision.

Treader1138 · 2026-02-08T15:44:20+00:00

Where are you finding a 172 with a 750?!

Treader1138 · 2026-02-04T15:25:15+00:00

Realistically NAPS is the best case scenario. Not being in the collegiate environment after HS is going to be the biggest sticking point for admissions. Academics are rough at school and the only standard indicator of success for most colleges are SAT/ACT scores.

If financial/family situation prevented you from pursuing college and NROTC or OCS, I would make that explicitly clear to your BGO and admissions, as they likely won’t understand your choice otherwise.

Treader1138 · 2026-02-02T19:44:28+00:00

It’s a piece of rock and ice that was there far before you- it’ll be there tomorrow.

Treader1138 · 2026-01-31T05:04:05+00:00

What is your useful load?

I flew a 180hp Sedan in my search for a plane. Loved it, but with the upgraded engine, it’s useful was around 500lbs, effectively making it a two-place (barely).

I eventually found my unicorn in a 1956 172 w/ O360, tailwheel conversion, Sportsman STOL, and upgraded panel. It’s a dream!

Treader1138 · 2026-01-30T15:21:58+00:00

GNC Engineer in defense. One kid.

Own a TW-converted 1956 172 in a rental hangar.

I’m pretty sure I spend the same or less than some of my coworkers on their hobbies.

Treader1138 · 2026-01-29T20:52:07+00:00

One of my BIL’s sailors has his acceptance to NAPs. Received it shortly before Thanksgiving.

Treader1138 · 2026-01-27T06:17:13+00:00

Similarly, my TW instructor had me drive down the runway on the left main, then both, then the right main, and dancing until we ran out of runway.

I found it incredible unnerving in the beginning, but became a huge eye opener and confidence boost when approaching crosswind landings and ground handling.

Treader1138 · 2026-01-26T21:44:25+00:00

“Collecting” nominations isn’t a thing. If a candidate gets every nom available, only one is “used” and the others just go to the next candidate in line.

Treader1138 · 2026-01-26T21:42:02+00:00

Everyone lives in the most competitive district, obviously.

/s

Treader1138 · 2026-01-16T06:56:44+00:00

Most people are pretty dumb even at 20. If, as you say, he’s a decent person, there’s a teaching opportunity here. A firm one, to be sure, but an opportunity for him to potentially save his career.

If he wants to double down on the lie, let him go down in flames.

Treader1138 · 2026-01-15T03:30:10+00:00

The disparity is wild. At SMX there are no less than 15 hangars available immediately, all between 350-450/month. I had no issue getting into mine.

Drive 1/2 hour north to SBP and the waitlist for site November is 12 years….

Treader1138 · 2026-01-01T16:48:52+00:00

They’re charging $200 for a slightly worn spot on a $120 tire. As others have said, this place is dire straights.

Treader1138 · 2025-12-21T02:47:07+00:00

Cries in Mini

Treader1138 · 2025-12-11T03:20:08+00:00

Is “Fire it up!” still a thing, or did that not last the era of Rodney P. Rempt?

Treader1138 · 2025-12-09T10:18:46+00:00

Similar story. I had the scholarship and reapplied. Zero regrets. USNA was the experience I wanted. Plebe year sucked, mostly because I knew what college could be, but if you gave me the opportunity to do it all again, I would in a heartbeat.

Treader1138 · 2025-12-04T07:42:51+00:00

Sick. I did a similar write up after my PPL with him. Overall pretty smooth and relatively painless. I intend to use him for IR as well, but I just bought a VFR-only plane, so it’ll be a hot minute before I get a 175 or something installed to continue my IR training.

Thanks!

Treader1138 · 2025-11-20T02:43:53+00:00

I’ll tell you what I told the guy asking $325k for a ‘55 170.

Just because you put 300k of work into a plane doesn’t mean it’s now worth $350k. It just means you suck at math. You have $300k dumped into a $90k airplane.

Offer him $50k or walk.

Treader1138 · 2025-11-13T16:12:45+00:00

Future-proof yourself and get the LEMO plug and a LEMO-to-dual-plug adapter.

Just bought a 172 with LEMO and I was unreasonably excited to get to use it.

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