[mathsmath]

Lots of comments here about a 172 at these altitudes. Our field is at 7,500’ and has the continental divide with peaks over 14,000’ on one end of the runway.

A 172 can fly up here, but you have to be smart and very picky about the days you fly. We don’t fly with full fuel and take the back seats out in the summer.

If there’s enough wind over the passes, or density altitude is high, we stay in the valley. Mountain flying is an entirely different beast.

[sokoloff]

It’s N65440, a C152 (two seater, around 40% less horsepower than a C172).

[mathsmath]

Oh yikes. Every 152 I’ve flown makes 172s look like Superman. They are anaemic even at sea level in the summer!

In that class of plane, 182s are my personal minimum up here in the summer. I have heard of very experienced pilots having close calls with unexpected downdrafts on otherwise calm days.

[rkagerer]

A comment below the video from someone claiming to fly that particular plane regularly said the second seat is removed.

[mathsmath]

That’s still wild IMO for a 152. Economical trainers they are, but summer mountain flying plane they are not.

Maybe if you ride some thermals…