DrBenny
New Member
A Skyhawk is a Skyhawk, Right? Yes, but watch out. If you were transitioning from a 172N to, say, an Archer, you'd be mentally prepared for things to be different. In this case, I'd read all the pertinent materials, but I still had a few things to note. None of them were "gotchas," since I read up on things.
Overall, the checkout was a really good experience. My last flight was my checkride, so this checkout was quite enjoyable. In essence, it was a miniature checkride with on of the CFI's there, a very nice and professional pilot. Here's a link to the EXACT 172R I flew today:
http://www.frederickflightcenter.com/fleet/143.htm
Anyway, the plane flew like my CFI's 172N, although I'd swear it was a bit faster for the same power settings. (I need to recheck the POH numbers for comparison.) But, as you can see from the photo, it was all tricked out with electric trim, a nice autopilot, a KLN94B/KMD-550 MFD, etc.
Here are some of the differences:
1) Electric trim. As you know, I am a trim minimalist, but I do use it. My review: I did NOT like the electric trim. Why? It was too easy to use, and I got fussy with it (the same way some people can get fussy with constant power changes). I switched back to the manual trim, and was happy.
2) Ventilation system was much better.
3) Seats are more comfortable, and seatbelts are easy--just like with a car.
4) GPS/MFD combo is good. I don't have a lot of experience with the King, but I can see there is a lot of potential there. I really need an hour or two of ground on it.
5) REMEMBER TO SWITCH FROM "GPS" MODE TO "NAV" MODE. Darn! I even knew about this one, but it did turn out to be a "gotcha" for me. I had the foggles on, and was supposed to be tracking the VOR inbound. The CFI said, do you notice anything wrong? I looked around, but all I saw was that the needle didn't seem to be moving. Then he pointed out what I was missing. LOL.
6) Sump, sump, sump, sump, sump, sump, sump, sump, sump, sump, sump, sump, and sump. Thirteen sumps.
7) I hate the position of the tach (under the yoke).
Overall, I like the new 172Rs. They are more expensive to rent (anyplace) than the Ns, of course, so you have to make decisions. I could see where the GPS/MFD/AP combo would make for easy XCs, especially long ones. But then again, you might be able to find all of this on an N. I enjoyed flying it, though.
I'm good to rent with Frederick now. I'm thinking of getting checked out in their new 182s in the near future.
Next flight is in CFI's 172n--I'm taking up the guy that introduced me to aviation. I'm going to buy him a good lunch!
Overall, the checkout was a really good experience. My last flight was my checkride, so this checkout was quite enjoyable. In essence, it was a miniature checkride with on of the CFI's there, a very nice and professional pilot. Here's a link to the EXACT 172R I flew today:
http://www.frederickflightcenter.com/fleet/143.htm
Anyway, the plane flew like my CFI's 172N, although I'd swear it was a bit faster for the same power settings. (I need to recheck the POH numbers for comparison.) But, as you can see from the photo, it was all tricked out with electric trim, a nice autopilot, a KLN94B/KMD-550 MFD, etc.
Here are some of the differences:
1) Electric trim. As you know, I am a trim minimalist, but I do use it. My review: I did NOT like the electric trim. Why? It was too easy to use, and I got fussy with it (the same way some people can get fussy with constant power changes). I switched back to the manual trim, and was happy.
2) Ventilation system was much better.
3) Seats are more comfortable, and seatbelts are easy--just like with a car.
4) GPS/MFD combo is good. I don't have a lot of experience with the King, but I can see there is a lot of potential there. I really need an hour or two of ground on it.
5) REMEMBER TO SWITCH FROM "GPS" MODE TO "NAV" MODE. Darn! I even knew about this one, but it did turn out to be a "gotcha" for me. I had the foggles on, and was supposed to be tracking the VOR inbound. The CFI said, do you notice anything wrong? I looked around, but all I saw was that the needle didn't seem to be moving. Then he pointed out what I was missing. LOL.
6) Sump, sump, sump, sump, sump, sump, sump, sump, sump, sump, sump, sump, and sump. Thirteen sumps.
7) I hate the position of the tach (under the yoke).
Overall, I like the new 172Rs. They are more expensive to rent (anyplace) than the Ns, of course, so you have to make decisions. I could see where the GPS/MFD/AP combo would make for easy XCs, especially long ones. But then again, you might be able to find all of this on an N. I enjoyed flying it, though.
I'm good to rent with Frederick now. I'm thinking of getting checked out in their new 182s in the near future.
Next flight is in CFI's 172n--I'm taking up the guy that introduced me to aviation. I'm going to buy him a good lunch!