Cessna 152 vs Piper Tomahawk PA38

Side-by-side specs, range, and operating costs.

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Dimensions & configuration

Representative planforms, drawn to shared scale.

Cessna 152
33 ft × 24 ft ⭥ 8 ft
1× Piston Fixed Unpressurized
Piper Tomahawk PA38
34 ft × 23 ft ⭥ 9 ft
1× Piston Fixed Unpressurized

Flight Profile

Service ceiling, range, and climb rate.

Tap legend to isolate

Arc represents the climb-cruise-descent profile based on published service ceiling and range. Climb rate annotated on ascent. FL180 (18,000 ft) shown for reference.

Mission Performance

Stall, approach, cruise, range, ceiling and climb: best values are at the top.

Mission performance specifications
Specification Cessna 152Piper Tomahawk PA38
Stall speed 43 kt48 kt
Approach speed 56 kt60 kt
Cruise speed 107 kt105 kt
Range 477 nm468 nm
Service ceiling 14700 ft13000 ft
Rate of climb 715 fpm718 fpm
Fuel burn 6.0 gph6.5 gph

Each axis is scaled independently across the compared aircraft and printed in its own units; every vertex sits at the published figure. Higher is better on all axes: Stall, Approach and Fuel Burn are inverted (lower = higher). A missing figure breaks the line at that axis.

Fuel Burn & Range

Range, endurance, and what the fuel costs by the hour.

Cessna 152 Avgas
6.0 gph
Baseline
477 nm range 17.8 nm/gal 25 gal usable $39 fuel/hr 4h 10m endurance
Cessna 152: 6.0 gph at cruise, 477 nautical mile published range, 4 hour 10 minute endurance, 17.8 nautical miles per gallon.
Piper Tomahawk PA38 Avgas
6.5 gph
Baseline
468 nm range 16.2 nm/gal 30 gal usable $42 fuel/hr 4h 36m endurance
Piper Tomahawk PA38: 6.5 gph at cruise, 468 nautical mile published range, 4 hour 36 minute endurance, 16.2 nautical miles per gallon.
Avgas range each cell = 1 hr of cruise · width scales with speed tank-dry · at this cruise burn

Bars show published still-air range: select a cell to view cruise-hours and fuel usage. Endurance is full tank at the displayed cruise burn rate; the extra is reserve and economy margin. Estimates only. Always verify against the POH.

Runway Performance

Density altitude adjusted estimates

Outside Air Temp
0°F57°F115°F
Field Elevation
SL4,0008,000 ft

Takeoff over 50 ft obstacle

Landing ground roll

Density Altitude

Monte cristo

Base distance DA penalty
Scale: 6,000 ft

FAA 10%/1,000 ft DA rule of thumb (FAA-H-8083-25B). Turboprops and jets are less sensitive in practice. Always verify against the POH.

Estimated Operating Costs

Hourly direct and annual fixed costs

Scale:
Cessna 152 Avgas
$70 /hr
Baseline
Cessna 152: $70 per flight hour — fuel $39, maintenance and reserve $31.
Piper Tomahawk PA38 Avgas
$73 /hr
Baseline
Piper Tomahawk PA38: $73 per flight hour — fuel $42, maintenance and reserve $31.
Cessna 152 Piston
$4,540 /yr Baseline
Cessna 152: $4,540 per year — insurance $900, hangar $2,600, annual inspection $1,040.
Piper Tomahawk PA38 Piston
$7,493 /yr Baseline
Piper Tomahawk PA38: $7,493 per year — insurance $889, hangar $5,564, annual inspection $1,040.

Estimates only. Hourly direct operating cost, based on fuel price and reserves; Annual fixed costs (insurance, hangar, and inspection). Costs vary by location, pilot profile, and market conditions. See individual aircraft pages for source notes.

Capability & limits

Payload vs useful load limit

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Cessna 152 Piston
2 / 2 seats 25 gal / 25 gal fuel 439 lbs wet payload 589 lbs useful 1,670 lbs MTOW
Piper Tomahawk PA38 Piston
2 / 2 seats 30 gal / 30 gal fuel 362 lbs wet payload 542 lbs useful 1,670 lbs MTOW

Shows selected occupants against full fuel, within the aircraft's useful-load limit. Fuel weight at 6.7 lb/gal jet-A, 6.0 lb/gal avgas; pax and luggage are 190 + 30 . Change payload weights in global settings.

Payload-Range Map

Origin: · two fingers to move map

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