Shoud I trust my Flight Instructor?

keely said:
Does anyone have a preference between the Piper I flew yesterday (the only thing I know about it is it's called a Warrior and it was a two-seater) and a Cessna 172, which is what I was originally supposed to be flying in until a previous student messed up one of the tires on landing that day.
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I prefer Pipers. Cessnas are a bit harder to land, as that other student found out ;)
 
USMCmech said:
They are almost exactly the same, despite the different appearances created by the low wing vs high wing
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Absolutely not.

Ground effect is MUCH more apparent in low wings. especially when compared to 172s.


EDIT: That said, for learning to fly they're equally capable. I'd pick a 172 over a piper due to the fact that she is in houston and it can get hot and humid down there in the spring/summer/fall, having a single door sucks mad peepee when you're in a hot environment.

Any florida/texas/arizona pilot can attest!
 
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Another vote for the Cessna. I like and fly the piper cherokee very often but I feel that the Cessna is more " User Friendly".
 
elmetal said:
having a single door sucks mad peepee when you're in a hot environment
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THIS. It was so hot the other day, coupled with nerves, I thought I was going to pass out. And it was only mid-70s outside. As soon as we landed, he opened the door as we taxied back to the parking lot (or whatever it's called where you park planes!) so we could get some air. I will try the Cessna Saturday!
 
thevideographer said:
I prefer Pipers. Cessnas are a bit harder to land, as that other student found out ;)
I can't explain why but I too feel that the piper is easier to land compared to the Cessna. Low wing and all yet it still floats considerably less than the Highwing. And the approach speeds are nailed. Maybe I need to lay off the hot chocolate.
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elmetal said:
Absolutely not.

Ground effect is MUCH more apparent in low wings. especially when compared to 172s.

...

Any florida/texas/arizona pilot can attest!
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Eh, they are mostly the same. Biggest difference is if you need to remember to switch tanks or not. And you have a fuel pump to remember, but carb heat you don't need to remember- we'll call that one a wash.

The newer Cessna's have AC in much of FL, making them the obvious choice in the summer.
 
thevideographer said:
I prefer Pipers. Cessnas are a bit harder to land, as that other student found out ;)
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I can't explain why but I too feel that the piper is easier to land compared to the Cessna. Low wing and all yet it still floats considerably less than the Highwing. And the approach speeds are nailed. Maybe I need to lay off the hot chocolate.
 
keely said:
door as we taxied back to the parking lot (or whatever it's called where you park planes!)
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You can totally call it parking (I do). Or the ramp. If it is a really big, busy airport - saying "back to the barn" is good too.

If it is a flight school operated aircraft, the ground controller already knows where you are going anyway :)
 
Galaitoto said:
I can't explain why but I too feel that the piper is easier to land compared to the Cessna. Low wing and all yet it still floats considerably less than the Highwing. And the approach speeds are nailed. Maybe I need to lay off the hot chocolate.
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I think the difference is in the main gear. The struts of the Cherokee line tend to take higher sink-rate landings better than the spring-steel of the Cessnas. To me, the Cherokees feel like they just get magnetically attached to the runway regardless of end-game piloting. I find it easier to teach good landing technique in a Cessna because it will actually provide feedback (in the form of a bounce) for improper round-out technique. Of course, I find teaching landings easiest in a Champ, but I admit that I'm different...

To the OP: Cherokee vs Skyhawk is the Coke vs Pepsi or Chevy vs Ford debate of General Aviation
 
hook_dupin said:
I think the difference is in the main gear. The struts of the Cherokee line tend to take higher sink-rate landings better than the spring-steel of the Cessnas. To me, the Cherokees feel like they just get magnetically attached to the runway regardless of end-game piloting. I find it easier to teach good landing technique in a Cessna because it will actually provide feedback (in the form of a bounce) for improper round-out technique. Of course, I find teaching landings easiest in a Champ, but I admit that I'm different...

To the OP: Cherokee vs Skyhawk is the Coke vs Pepsi or Chevy vs Ford debate of General Aviation
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Perfect description ! Thats exactly right.. Magnetized! No matter how smooth I get the landing in the cherokee, they all feel the same. And the Cessna maintaining centerline is no issues whatsoever, but with the cherokee it seems to wander after touchdown. My friend with many hours in his cherokee wandered after touchdown just the same as I did in the rental.
 
Galaitoto said:
I can't explain why but I too feel that the piper is easier to land compared to the Cessna. Low wing and all yet it still floats considerably less than the Highwing. And the approach speeds are nailed. Maybe I need to lay off the hot chocolate.
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For sure. coming in with too much speed in a 172 is considerably more noticeable than in a piper.
 
Galaitoto said:
Perfect description ! Thats exactly right.. Magnetized! No matter how smooth I get the landing in the cherokee, they all feel the same. And the Cessna maintaining centerline is no issues whatsoever, but with the cherokee it seems to wander after touchdown. My friend with many hours in his cherokee wandered after touchdown just the same as I did in the rental.
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I can confirm the PA23-250 I fly likes to do whatever the hell it wants when high speed on the ground. reminds me of TW how you have to anticipate its move and tell it who's boss.
 
Galaitoto said:
Perfect description ! Thats exactly right.. Magnetized! No matter how smooth I get the landing in the cherokee, they all feel the same. And the Cessna maintaining centerline is no issues whatsoever, but with the cherokee it seems to wander after touchdown. My friend with many hours in his cherokee wandered after touchdown just the same as I did in the rental.
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If you get a chance, go fly something with a low wing but with the springs attached to the mains instead of shocks. Tomahawks, the Tiger/Cheetah series, the Diamonds, or Cirri all fit that bill.... How they react to fast touch-downs or handle on the ground is totally different than the trusty PA-28.
 
hook_dupin said:
If you get a chance, go fly something with a low wing but with the springs attached to the mains instead of shocks. Tomahawks, the Tiger/Cheetah series, the Diamonds, or Cirri all fit that bill.... How they react to fast touch-downs or handle on the ground is totally different than the trusty PA-28.
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Ok, I will thanks. There is a school that rents Diamonds at my airport. I should schedule a checkout in one of them.
 
I have a tiny hidden hardon for DA40s. and 42s as well just because they run on jeta and burn like... half a gallon per year or something ludicrous like that


realistically I think the 42 burns like 7gph COMBINED! SKBFUABSFUIBAS



OP, so sorry this thread was hijacked.
 
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