which plane to train in? (PPL)

MattC

MattC

New Member
My local FBO has a brand new 2006 Cessna 172S with glass cockpit and all the goodies....

They also have several older planes 2003 and below available to train in. My question is...Should I take advantage of the new Cessna and all it comes with, even though it's the priciest plane to train in (and rent after I get my PPL)???...

If I train in the new plane, will I be able to pick up the diff. features in the older planes later on since they are cheaper to rent? Or will training in an older model make it easier to pick up things in the newer models later on?

Sorry for the rambling!!!!! Hope it makes sense!!!!
 
Train in the old one. It's hard as heck to move your scan from glass to steam gauges, but it's pretty easy to go from steam gauges to glass.
 
Just go for the older plane man, its probably cheaper.. I'm training in a 1957 172 and I could be training in one of the new planes here, but whats the point? Plus I think the older planes without all the bells and whistles teach you to be a better pilot!
 
Having something extra to master when you are doing your PPL training is the last thing you want especially if it costs more. I have about 2.5 flying with the G1000 and it is a very different experience and it is easy to get behind the plane when you are messing with it.
 
Since when did planes from before 2003 become "the older" planes? I guess they're older than 2006, but that's nothing terrible. I know plenty of pilots training in planes from the '60s and '70s! :)

To seriously answer your question, like John said, go with the older planes. It will make absolutely no difference in the quality of your training. In fact, you'll be better off. You'll save money and feel comfortable flying planes without all the bells and whistles...which is what you'll find pretty much everywhere else in the world.
 
Whatever's cheapest. You don't need all the bells and whistles if you're learning to fly by looking out the window. This is exactly what you're doing when you're getting your private ticket!
 
jrh said:
Since when did planes from before 2003 become "the older" planes? I guess they're older than 2006, but that's nothing terrible. I know plenty of pilots training in planes from the '60s and '70s! :)
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You'd hate us at my work. We call our airplanes "The old piece of junk" and "the new one".

The new one has 50 hours on the airframe
The old one has 800 hours on the airframe.

Both are 2005 C172s :)
 
THE CHEAPEST ONE

The only thing you need to worry about is what is going on outside the window. There's a lot more stuff out there that can hit you at 120kts than inside the cockpit. '

Heck, no matter what the plane, I would always cover up all of the instruments on the first few flights with big pieces of paper on my students.
 
Go with the older aircraft. You will have a hard time finding something that is all glass if you rent at other places.
 
Generally, the older the better... (cheaper!)

I don't know why people are always concerned about fancy avionics. You're supposed to be looking outside in your VFR private training! :D
 
n57flyguy said:
my guess Matt is that you chose N99:)

wish I could train their.
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I'm leaning towards them. They are only about 10 mins away from me and I've heard good things aout them.

I just need to get my medical straightened out since I'm diabetic. I guess it all pretty much hangs on whether or not I can get at least a Class III medical.
 
MattC said:
I'm leaning towards them. They are only about 10 mins away from me and I've heard good things aout them.

I just need to get my medical straightened out since I'm diabetic. I guess it all pretty much hangs on whether or not I can get at least a Class III medical.
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Good choice. I don't know much about them. But I would definitly go for the older aircraft. They key is to learn what your airspeed is by sound, feel, and sight, not on the PFD. I'm still learning to do that. Remember Pitch=Airspeed, Throttle=Altitude. Learn to fell the aircraft, fly it but don't have a white knuckle grip on the yolk. just slight pressure to keep it smooth. The airplane wants to fly, it flys better with less pressure on the yolk. You want to control it, tell it where to go, but you want to let it fly.

Anyway, how much are you looking at overall (cost), up there?
 
MattC said:
Depending on which plane you choose to train in, it goes from around $4700-7000...
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wow, not too bad. New Garden can be about $4,500-6,000. Its cheaper, but I think I should go up there sometime and get some Cessna experience.
 
tonyw said:
Whatever's cheapest. You don't need all the bells and whistles if you're learning to fly by looking out the window. This is exactly what you're doing when you're getting your private ticket!
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I agree.
 
Take everyone's advice here and fly the cheaper airplane!

For your private training, you don't need all that glass in front of you. Take it from me, I did 12 hrs of my initial PPL training in a Diamond Star DA-20 with glass cockpit, my instructor would yell at me to stop looking at the pretty display. It only distracts you.

Fly the older plane, develop your piloting skills an abilities by outside references and feel. Then later on after you get your private, have someone take you up in the glass cockpit and go play with it, it really is cool. Just not something you need with your training wheels. :)
 
I'm still convinced the only thing you need in a VFR airplane is a compass, a map, and a stopwatch!

Oh yeah, maybe a TACH/oil pressure would be nice...
 
Chances are, if you think a plane built before 2003 is old, you need to put the Avril Levigne CD away and erase FS2004 off of your hard disk! ;)
 
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