Reference points for commercial maneuvers

[troopernflight]

Congratulations! I'm starting my commercial flying next week. What airplane did you fly for your training? Complex/HP? Did you use the same plane for the checkride, x-countries, etc.? I'm starting flying for my CSEL next week and am wondering whether to do everything in the M20J or use the C172 or 152 for parts of it, or the checkride.

I split the check ride between a C172, and C172RG for the complex. X-countries I did in a DA20. For some reason, I just felt better doing the commercial maneuvers in the C172, as opposed to the DA20. I guess the thought of having to do an accuracy landing in the DA20 kind of worried me, with the way that thing floats. For the x-countries, the DA20 was faster and more reliable than a 1976 C172, so I just felt a little more secure using it. It was also nice having a 430, although I tried most of the time not to use it for training purposes. But it was always a good thing to have in a pinch. Enjoy the commercial training!

 

[Mike H]

For the x-countries, the DA20 was faster and more reliable than a 1976 C172,

That and it's a lot more economical to operate than a 172.