flight school aircraft

[VanMan]

Hello all,

This is my first post as a new member of simviation

After being a flight simmer of very limited skill since fs98, I have decided to delve into the real world of aviation and have 2 flight schools near me in the Vancouver BC area. Both have good credentials and price is relatively the same. My question is, one school uses a Piper Cherokee PA-28-140 and the other a Cessna 172. Is one aircraft better to learn on than the other? I know a couple of people that have advised me using the Cessna since it can be found at just about any airpark thus being more accessible if I'm on vacation and would like to rent one. I would like to have the opinion of all you real-life pilots out there. Please state your pro's and cons of each aircraft so I can make a more educated decision.

Thanks all.
Happy flying  ;)

[Meinas]

CESSNA you want..... from my experience the Cherokee has a terrible brake system (the ones I flew back in the day), they didnt have toe brakes, but a single handle below the dash, I had to lean forward towards the panel, severely restricting my view of the outside world.

The Cessna's high wing also gives better visibility when you start doing practicing some emergency maneuvers.

and the Cessna seems to be A LOT more popular than the Cherokee, so most likely where ever you move to in the future you'll have a fairly familiar aircraft to fly.

edit: I think the cherokee is the equivilent of the Cessna 152, and the Piper Warrior is the equivilent of the Cessna 172, at least in my opinion

[RitterKreuz]

My school has operated a Cessna 172 for the past 2 years which i have instructed in for nearly 1,000 hours. I was always a fan of the cessna line, and i still am.

We recently "retired" our worn out 172N and management replaced it with a Piper Warrior II. The piper handles great, i have found through my own trial and error and through providing instruction in the machine that the stalling characteristics are quite a bit more forgiving than the Cessna 172. Especially the power on stall, which most students tend to dread. While the 172 would leave you hanging by the prop at a rediculously nose high attitude before it finally brakes over, the Piper will simply buffet and provide a warning horn and any brake over at all will be to the horizon and no deeper. The stabilator of the piper provides, at least in my opinion, much more of a feeling of a "larger aircraft" but is a bit more sensative in pitch than the 172 which uses an elevator.

We have not run across any brake problems yet. Our Piper is equipped with dual toe brakes and a hand parking brake, however some particularly older models incorperate a rather dreadful hand brake as the only means of stopping the aircraft. (few flight schools out there operate pipers without dual brakes these days)

The low wing Piper may obstruct visibility straight down on either side of the aircraft, however the it has a more panoramic view and a roomier feel than the boxy 172 provides.

My recommendation to you is to approach both flight schools and take an introductory flight in both aircraft. Have the Instructor demonstrate as much to you as he is willing to demonstrate in each aircraft, fly each aircraft as much hands on as you can during the intro ride. Then base your decision on whatever aircraft you enjoy flying the best.

[VanMan]

Thanks for responding Meinas and RitterKruez. I'll take your advise RitterKruez and take the introductory flight in both aircraft. Each seem to have pro's and cons from what you've both responded so I guess whichever aircraft "feels" more comfortable will be the winner.

Thanks again

[Redwing]

I've logged a number of hours in the Cherokee and at least several hundred in the ubiquitous 172.....have also seen these debates before about high-wing versus low-wing aircraft; always comes down to personal preference!

I'd agree with RitterKruez about giving both aircraft a try, although personally, I would recommend the hi-wing Cessnas for your initial flight training. As a student pilot, you'll be doing  some ground-reference maneuvers that favor the better view below. Also on your cross-country flights (a requirement for the PPL), optimum ground visibility is a plus for picking up surface checkpoints and other map references.

[Mr. Bones]

people tell me (and trust me, they can know it) that a Cessna isn't a good aircraft for training, especially not a 172! most of them say: get your license on a Cessna, afterwards you can start learning to fly! what i (they) want to say is that even a baby can fly and land a Skyhawk. personally i've never flown one so i can't tell.  ;)

[Redwing]

personally i've never flown one so i can't tell.

Never worry about that; you're as qualified as about 99% of the rest of the people on these forums!

[BFMF]

people tell me (and trust me, they can know it) that a Cessna isn't a good aircraft for training, especially not a 172!

Hmm, then why are Cessnas so popular as trainers

There must be a few good reasons

[Hagar]

Hmm, then why are Cessnas so popular as trainers

There must be a few good reasons

I think it's basically because they are easy to fly. This is not the same as being an ideal trainer. The best trainers have no serious vices but are difficult to fly well. There is a difference.

PS. I can remember when light aircraft like the Cessnas with tricycle gear & a yoke were first introduced. The advertising slogan went something like "So easy to land - Just drive it onto the ground". I also remember our chief flying instructor's comments. LOL

[Mr. Bones]

yes Hagar, they are popular because they are easy to fly...but do you really want the easy stuff?  ;)

[Hagar]

[quote]yes Hagar, they are popular because they are easy to fly...but do you really want the easy stuff?

[C]

Personally, I prefer low wing aeroplanes for the visibility they offer in flight. It's nice to be able to have a nice view of the ground in an emergency, but I prefer to have a better view of whats going on around me in the sky, as (hopefully) that's more useful, especially while manouvring...

Charlie

[Craig.]

i love the piper warrior, it feels spacious, and it feels like your really flying it.

[Hagar]

Personally, I prefer low wing aeroplanes for the visibility they offer in flight. It's nice to be able to have a nice view of the ground in an emergency, but I prefer to have a better view of whats going on around me in the sky, as (hopefully) that's more useful, especially while manouvring...

Charlie

The only high-wing aircraft I can remember flying was a Beagle Terrier (fomerly Auster A.O.P 6). I didn't particularly like it. The DHC-1 Chipmunk is basically a low-wing Tiger Moth & was the ideal trainer. IMHO

I might have a go in a Beagle/SA Bulldog later this year. The Bulldog was designed & first built at Shoreham. It always had a good reputation & is also fully aerobatic. I don't like being the right way up for too long.
I'll tell you what I think of it.

PS. I always fancied a go in a Piper Cub. A friend owns one & I've been promised a flight in it. I must remind him when the weather improves.

[Citationpilot]

The two aren't comparable, both are totally different airplanes that you'll eventually want to be checked out in either way. Make your desicion based on which flight school is better and cheaper.