Cessna vs Piper

Minnesota_Flyer

Minnesota_Flyer

New Member
I'm thinking I might do the flying club thing, and I've been comparing a club with Cessnas (172, 182s, 210s) and a club with Pipers (Warriors, Archers, Arrow and a Six). All of my time is in Cessnas, and I've never been in a Piper. Any useful generalizations on how Pipers compare to Cessnas? Is one materially better than the other? My missions would be timebuilding and some travel.

(I've also been looking into renting an SR-22, but that seems to be more than my wallet can stand. :) ).

Thanks!
 
What are the insurance/checkout requirements for these aircraft? I'd go with Cessna purely because that's what you have more time in. The bottom line is that both are your average GA aircraft so you'll have no trouble flying them, just fly whichever you prefer.

-Brett
 
Piper!

Planes are supposed to have a wing on the bottom. And you don't have to break your back looking out the window while you're in the pattern. I also think Piper's handle better.
 
ryanmickG said:
Pipers are a maintenece nightmare!!

trust me on this one
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He does have a point. I was on a x-country (in a Warrior) with a friend once (non-pilot) and the fuel pressure dropped to redline. We weren't too far from our home airport so I decided to return and cancel the flight. My friend wanted me to continue, until I told him what could happen in a low-wing plane when the fuel pressure gauge looked like it did.
AND just last week, while training in the Seminole, I had ANOTHER fuel pressure gauge drop to redline (tested fine on the ground) and my instructor and I decided to return

I'd still pick Piper though :rawk:
 
Who cares! Go with whatever is cheapest ;) :D :D :D

I'd prefer the Cessna though - better "sight seeing" visability and will most likely be the cheapest. (Piper maintenance costs are a bit higher, usually).
 
Cessna. Pipers are wayyyyy too nose heavy.

I've flown a

Cessna...
152, 172, soon to be 310

Piper...
Arrow 200R

Beechcraft....
BE-76 Duchess

My opinion is Cessna's are great and the most forgiving airplane built. Especially the 172. Beechcraft made the best training twin ever, the Duchess.

But seriously- the cheaper one. 1 hour of Warrior time counts the same as 1 hour of 172 time.
 
I fly both, pretty much what Jace said, depends on what kind of cash I have to spend on the time and whats available. I like the Piper's throttle handle better than the Cessna throttle knob. It easier for me to control on take offs and landings. I like the Cessna because its smooth on the landing and has a nice float and I dig the electric flaps. The Piper flap handle is like pulling your cars emergency brake. I do like the low wing set up better than the high wing. I have had a lot of canceled flight on the Piper due to mx issues.
 
Planes are supposed to have a wing on the bottom. And you don't have to break your back looking out the window while you're in the pattern. I also think Piper's handle better.
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Come on, Wings should be on the top of small piston singles. Low wing A/C take up a ton of room in a hangar. You can't put any thing under or in front of the wings or you won't be able to push it out of the hangar. High wings provide shade in the summer time, and if it's rainy or misty out, you can stand under the wing and stay dry while your loading your stuff. :)

I have time in the small Cessnas up to the 206, and only time in a Arrows and Senecas. They all seem to handle just as well as any thing else and seem to be built to about the same standards. The Arrow did seem a bit nicer then the 172RG. I think it's all just personal preference and which is cheaper.
 
tomahawk = 152
140/warrior = 172
180/archer = 172sp (or the like)
arrow = 172rg (this one's a no-brainer)
six = 206
lance/saratoga = 210


you get the idea. I prefer pipers mostly (but then again I learned in a tomahawk). But some cessnas I like more than pipers. Just depends. maybe test fly some of them. Or like others say, whichever is cheaper. Maybe buy a share in both clubs. : ) That would be fun. (Don't tell your wallet I said that.)

Fly safe!
 
n57flyguy said:
What is the difference between the Tomahawk and the 152, characteristic wise?
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If you're talking flight characteristics, you have to be wary of an elevator block in a Traumahawk during the flare. At a high pitch angle (during flare or stall demonstration) the air flow over the tail may be blocked or disturbed by the wing.
 
Other than what has been mentioned the only other thing I can think of is that the Piper will "float" a bit more during your flare.
 
My vote is for Piper. I like the better visibility on turn from downwind, to base, to final.

I always felt blind on turns in the pattern in a Cessna.

As for which plane is a mx nightmare? They all are. Pick your poison. Ain't none of them "cheap" on the mx end.
 
Minnesota_Flyer said:
I'm thinking I might do the flying club thing, and I've been comparing a club with Cessnas (172, 182s, 210s) and a club with Pipers (Warriors, Archers, Arrow and a Six). All of my time is in Cessnas, and I've never been in a Piper. Any useful generalizations on how Pipers compare to Cessnas? Is one materially better than the other? My missions would be timebuilding and some travel.

(I've also been looking into renting an SR-22, but that seems to be more than my wallet can stand. :) ).

Thanks!
Click to expand...


Would one of these clubs be based at flying cloud? It sounds very familiar. If so, it is a great club and the maintenance is superb. A while back I flew with a UA 767 CA that has a membership there. Flew the 210, what a nice bird......
 
JEP said:
Would one of these clubs be based at flying cloud? It sounds very familiar. If so, it is a great club and the maintenance is superb. A while back I flew with a UA 767 CA that has a membership there. Flew the 210, what a nice bird......
Click to expand...

Sounds like the place. The Cessna club is at FCM, and the Piper one is at MIC. I'd like to stick to Cessnas, but MIC is quite a bit closer to my house.
 
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