The Little Cessna That Could

A few days ago, I pulled my SD card out of my camera for the first time in over a month. I haven’t had the opportunity to take the camera anywhere but my back yard for several weeks, much less time to edit any photos (or actually write the second part to my prior blog post about chasing the steam trains on the TVRM). Consequently, the photos I’ve taken lately that are worth even editing have been mainly aircraft photos. 

About two miles to the east of my house is our town’s local airport, Portland Municipal (ICAO code is 1M5 for any other aviation nerds or pilots out there). The downwind leg most pilots use when they utilize the north facing runway takes them directly over my house, giving me plenty of opportunities to play with proper shutter speed, aperture, and focus technique. 

Going through all the photos I dumped onto my computer the other night, I selected the photos that seemed to turn out the best of three different single-engine general aviation aircraft: a Beechcraft Bonanza, Piper Cherokee, and a Cessna 172. All three photos were clear enough that I could read the N-registration number on each aircraft. 

I enjoy looking up thr registration numbers numbers on the FAA website, just to see little details like the home base it is registered at, if it’s a private owner, flying club, or a business that owns it, year of manufacture, and so on. The photos I captured of the Cessna 172 were particularly intriguing.  

This C172 has a straight tail and a full-height rear fuselage, which limits it to the first few years the 172 was manufactured. The venerable 172 was first flown in 1955, with the first year of manufacturing being of the 1956 model year. Looking up the FAA registration information for N7367A, I found a fascinating detail. 

This particular 172 was manufactured that very first year of production. Here we are, sixty-two years later, and the plane is still flying strong. Who knows, perhaps we will see this 172 still airworthy in another sixty years.  

Another shot of N7367A, with the straight vertical stabilizer and rudder more obvious. 

Another recent photo, Piper Cherokee N1126H, based out of Portland Muni.