performance: Coupe vs: 150

[Doug Davis]

I know we've beat this one to death already, but just had to share this with you. Two 200 lb AP's came to look at our coupe the other day, and flew in , with what appeared to be a pretty well traveled '67-8' 150 with the 0-200.  There was some discussion about coupe performance, and I told them that as a matter of comparison, the coupe with their loading, would get off much earlier, and out climb their 150 10 times out of 10.  Now we have a 415-c w/ a C-75, and a weak cylinder.  We also regularly operate on that runway,  2300' (rolling) usually tall grass ( at least taller than we'd like-6-8") with thresholds set back 200' on18, and at least 300' on 36. Theres no obstacles either way, but a tall maple to the west of  the south end of 18( about 70'), and hangars lining the runway in the same area.  We normally clear the tree by at least 75'.  Those two guys had our mouths open--really!!  Both seasoned pilots, one a regularly scheduled (Insurance Co.) pilot.  They got off late, and mushed ( you could tell by aircraft attitude) At what point they pulled them on I couldn,t tell, but looked like about one notch of flaps.  For real, they didn't have over 50', and used every inch of the entire 2800'. At one point I really didn't think they were going to make it.  You had to see it to believe it.  Both my partner and I  looked at each other in disbelief.  We honestly thought they were going to stall, the attitude was so severe.  Whoever was PIC didn't lower the nose one bit after lift-off. I know some of it  was pilot, but the rest was typical 150. I know there are some 150 fans out there and I'm sorry to rattle your chain, but truth is still truth.  I'd rather fly a coupe than ANY other brand. Doug