Short Final: Turbo

Gemini Sparkle

Key Takeaways:

  • A Cessna 182 pilot was flying from Visalia, CA to Hubbard, OR.
  • Air traffic control alerted the pilot to another aircraft at their 7 o'clock, then 8 o'clock position.
  • The second aircraft was also a Cessna 182, but was significantly faster (40 knots).
  • The speed difference was explained when the second aircraft identified itself as a turbocharged variant.
See a mistake? Contact us.

A few years ago, my wife and I were scooting along in our 1973 Cessna 182 from Visalia, California (KVIS) back home to Hubbard, Oregon (7S9) at 10,500 in VFR conditions. We were enjoying the ride having passed Mount Lassen on our right and Shasta Lake on our left, when Center called:

Oakland Center: “November 230 traffic at your 7 o’clock.”

A minute later, Oakland Center: “230 the traffic is now at your 8 o’clock. It’s a Cessna 182 going 40 knots faster than you are.”

Me: “I’m a 182! How can he be 40 knots faster than me?”

Other aircraft (tail unknown to me): “I’m a turbo RG.”

Oakland Center: “Well, that explains that!”

Bruce Breckenridge

Mulino, OR

Sign-up for newsletters & special offers!

Get the latest stories & special offers delivered directly to your inbox

SUBSCRIBE

Please support AVweb.

It looks like you’re using an ad blocker. Ads keep AVweb free and fund our reporting.
Please whitelist AVweb or continue with ads enabled.