The switch... Piper to Cessna

Ayork62493

Ayork62493

GBR
I've read a few topics on this but I'm sure there's more.
I'm just about ready to finish my PIC x-country for my instrument rating, and I have done every single hour of my flight training in Cherokees. However, they are very basic and really don't cut it for instrument training. I'm changing over to the 172's located at a different airport. They are in excellent condtion, and the pricing is great. I'm going up this thursday and friday to get checked out in them. I'm a little bit uneasy, I'm not asking which one is better. I'd just like to know what I can expect, the advantages, and if they fly that much different.
Regards,
Andrew
 
Make sure you pull the yoke back to flare! ;)

Seriously, the difference will only matter for the first half hour. It'll be fine :)
 
The biggest difference is probably the fact you feel like you're on a barstool is a 172. Seriously, it'll be easy for you.
 
No X-wind problems? Being from NE I've been through some hellish crosswinds, but are they any different in a high wing? Also, I already dislike the performance charts.
 
During your first approach you may reach for the fuel selector when it's time to extend the flaps(you'll see what I mean). Aside from that, expect to feel like you're sitting in the full upright and locked position the entire flight. You'll transition just fine.
 
Ayork62493 said:
Also, I already dislike the performance charts.
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That's cause they're different. ;) I felt the same way going from Cessna Tables to Piper's Graphs. Haha, you'll get used to it and won't give it a second thought. Learning new and different ways of doin things (as long as they're not flat out wrong) makes us better pilots. Have fun with it this week! It's no big. :D
 
It just seems like cessna's much less user friendly and are much more time consuming to interpolate the data... Oh well, more experience I soppose.
 
Ayork62493 said:
It just seems like cessna's much less user friendly and are much more time consuming to interpolate the data... Oh well, more experience I soppose.
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For the cruise charts, the trick is to find your density altitude then use the "standard temperature" column in the middle. Just slide on up to your density altitude (I know I know it says pressure altitude on the left side, but you just corrected for temperature and can now use density) and you have your numbers.

Flying wise, Pipers feel a little more solid. Cessna will feel loosey goosey at first until you get a handle on it, especially the rudder and ground steering.
 
Crism said:
Flying wise, Pipers feel a little more solid. Cessna will feel loosey goosey at first until you get a handle on it, especially the rudder and ground steering.
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Which is why Cessnas are better trainers imo. Ground steering does suck though. Even Diamond and its wacky differental braking setup is better.
 
Crism said:
For the cruise charts, the trick is to find your density altitude then use the "standard temperature" column in the middle. Just slide on up to your density altitude (I know I know it says pressure altitude on the left side, but you just corrected for temperature and can now use density) and you have your numbers.

Flying wise, Pipers feel a little more solid. Cessna will feel loosey goosey at first until you get a handle on it, especially the rudder and ground steering.
Click to expand...

I hate these things... Ok, so say I figure my density altitude to be 7,100 feet. On the chart it ranges from 6000 to 8000 on the side. Do I just estimate inbetween then?
 
Hey dude,

I work for the place in town that is pretty much the only game in town with tons of Cessna and good ones at that, I'm guessing you will be showing up at my shop soon. If you are, I might be around, stop in the flight instructor room and say hi. Send a PM if you want.

-------
On topic: Within one hour you will make the switch...no problem.

My history
PPL/Instrument - Cessna 150
Commercial - Warrior/Arrow
CFI - Cessna 182rg
Instructed for a year primarily in Pipers
Instructed for the past two years primarily in Cessnas

I switched halfway through too.
Right now as it sits, if I had choose between renting a C172 or a Cherokee, I'd pick the Cessna.
These are the advantages that I see.
- Comfortable
- Yoke moves smoother.
- I want to see the ground.

The wind issue: In all reality, there isn't one. When the wind hits 35, I don't taxi, Cessna or Piper. Any direct crosswind above 20 makes me rethink the flight, Cessna or Piper.

It is all personal choice and even then it is very slight differences. Pipers have their advantages too. Both make a great and stable airplane.

I personally like that I can roll a Cessna on one tire for a long way down the runway on x-wind days. In a Piper, I just kind of clunk on. I've greased way more landings with Cessnas spring steel landing gear over Pipers oleo struts.

Have fun with the checkout!
:beer:
 
Just think, you won't have to worry about switching fuel tanks anymore! ;)

Seriously, the transition won't take more then a flight or two.
 
Douglas said:
I personally like that I can roll a Cessna on one tire for a long way down the runway on x-wind days. In a Piper, I just kind of clunk on. I've greased way more landings with Cessnas spring steel landing gear over Pipers oleo struts.
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Yeah, that.
 
I can roll down the runway for just as long on one tire in either, the cessna was either easier to master, or my previous 1000 hours of experience made it easy to do when I got into cessnas
 
Haha, yeah sometimes the biggest thing when you go from a Cessna to a Piper product is the manual fuel tank switching.

Other than the bungee taxiing of the 152/172 series which is slightly different than the piper series they fly like an airplane.
 
Crockrocket94 said:
Haha, yeah sometimes the biggest thing when you go from a Cessna to a Piper product is the manual fuel tank switching.

Other than the bungee taxiing of the 152/172 series which is slightly different than the piper series they fly like an airplane.
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Yeah, but he's going from a Piper to a Cessna! :sitaware:

;)
 
The only major difference that I ever found on the ones I have flown was that the Piper's had about 100lbs more payload capability.

That and you can stay drier loading a Cessna. 2 doors a wonderful!
 
I actually did all of my PPL and instrument training in a Cherokee. But now I'm time building using C150/172s because they are so incredibly cheap compared to the pipers. I really enjoyed the pipers (probably because my flight school had GPS and everything else while the cessnas I rent are basic VFR). But after getting hours in both they fly pretty much the same. Although from time to time when doing a runup I accidently increase the throttle at the end of the run up because I'm used to having the throttle not the push/pull knob. No idea why I do that but I do.:crazy:
 
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