By Stephanie Finnegan
A Skyhawk with 180 hp Upgrade
On the TV comedy series Frasier, Kelsey Grammer’s character comes to a profound and surprising conclusion. When he’s asked to produce the musical score for a documentary, he begins to see how many options and possibilities exist, and exclaims to his brother, Niles, “If less is more, think how much more, more would be!”
That notion of taking something that already is top-notch and well-regarded, and then upscaling it into something even more laudable and admirable underscores the transformation of N737VE. It began life as a 1978 Cessna 172N and has had upgrades that have made it even more reliable, sturdy, and enviable. As the legendary actress and author Mae West once purred, “Too much of a good thing can be wonderful.”
Simplicity, Reliability, and Accessibility
N737VE began its life like all of the other Cessna birds; it was a stellar representation of what the company does best, blending reliability and accessibility. “Mr. Cessna built a great airplane — it’s hard to complain at all about the simplicity, flying characteristics, and value of any of the 172 aircraft,” said Glenn Chiappe, proprietor of PlanePlace.
Glenn is the pilot who assisted plane owner Rex Womble in purchasing the Cessna. “Rex is in his 80s, but he still loves to fly — although one of his pilot friends usually accompanies him. I helped to find and buy the airplane about five to six years ago. It is a really nicely preserved example of a 172N. It is the first year — 1978 — with the 24v electrical system. This one had a recent SuperHawk conversion on it (180 hp fixed pitch, with gross weight increase), strobes, and other desirable options.”
The additional features are a “What’s What” in aviation makeovers. The add-ons took a great plane and made it a conversation-starter. “It had rudder trim, hardly ever found on a 172, and long-range tanks (54 gallons). The plane was also super-equipped with an S-TEC autopilot, Garmin 530W, engine monitor, HSI, and even an AOA instrument!”
As if that weren’t enough, it also boasted renovations to the plane’s seating. “The owner had updated the pilot and copilot seats to seats out of a late-model 172 SP and added a BRS parachute system!”
Customizing for the Owner’s Needs
“Rex is a neighbor and a friend,” Glenn explained. “He is a longtime pilot and has owned Maule, Mooney, Bonanza, Sport Cruzer, and this 172N SuperHawk. I went to Kentucky to bring it back to Lago Vista, Texas, where it lives in Rex’s hangar.”
Like anyone who has purchased a plane knows, no matter how it arrives, there are always opportunities to add, subtract, and multiply its features. Glenn worked closely in customizing the plane for Rex’s requirements: “As noted, many of the mods were there when we bought it — but I did the coordination to remove the weather radar pod from under the wing, upgrade the panel, and eliminate the radar altimeter. This thing is a unicorn! The original paint is still very nice. We updated the instrument panel to eliminate the Cessna plastic overlay and make a nice layout.”
Because of his connection to Rex and his familiarity with the 172N models, Glenn is more than just a hired pilot who flies this craft. He has a deep admiration for the owner and true respect for the Skyhawk: “I basically fly it for Rex. I am the named pilot, anyway.
Call me a caretaker of the airplane!”
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