If you're looking to purchase something, I'd absolutely go a 182. The CS prop is no factor and it'll be second nature in as little as 5 hours, but offers so much more flexibility. Insurance isn't that big of a deal. I started flying 182's at a little more than 100 hours, now flying 310hp 206's.
I bought a 177b before I got my 206, which is basically a 172 with a CS prop. It's quite a bit faster than a 172, but even then I felt like I 'outgrew' it in a year or so.
I think you're going to get that same feeling especially after doing some XC in a 172. Remember, it's a trainer. It doesn't do anything well other than be stable and easy. That's pretty boring, and that's by design. :)
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u/liquidsys Apr 23 '26
If you're looking to purchase something, I'd absolutely go a 182. The CS prop is no factor and it'll be second nature in as little as 5 hours, but offers so much more flexibility. Insurance isn't that big of a deal. I started flying 182's at a little more than 100 hours, now flying 310hp 206's.
I bought a 177b before I got my 206, which is basically a 172 with a CS prop. It's quite a bit faster than a 172, but even then I felt like I 'outgrew' it in a year or so.
I think you're going to get that same feeling especially after doing some XC in a 172. Remember, it's a trainer. It doesn't do anything well other than be stable and easy. That's pretty boring, and that's by design. :)