Useful Load for C177

[d328pilot]

I am looking at renting a cardinal for a trip with the family. There are going to be 4 of us with a few small bags. It looks like its too much for a 172 to handle, but there is a 177 to rent and I am curious if anyone knows what kind of load it can carry.

 

[TWA]

Check www.pilotfriend.com . They have a lot of performance info on that site.

 

[eaglefly]

I'm assuming you'd be renting a "B" model with 180 H.P.

It's useful load with the standard 50 gallon tanks is usually about 150 lbs. more than a Hawk. Cardinals are well built and thus have heavy airframes. If it has the 60 gallon optional tanks, you shouldn't need to fill them anyway.

If you're talking about the 150 H.P. Cardinals of 1968 vintage, you'd be better of with a Skyhawk. The 150 H.P. Cardinal is a hopeless dog at gross weight. Avoid it.

 

[Say Again Over]

Save your money and rent a real airplane, a Cardinal is just a toy.

 

[d328pilot]

Doesn't matter anymore since the airplane is no longer for rent since someone geared up the plane. Going to rent something in Vegas to do some sight seeing instead.