Search the archive:
 YaBB - Yet another Bulletin Board
 
   
 
  Simviation Forum › Real World › Real Aviation › Quick question...
(Moderators: Mitch., Fly2e, ozzy72, beaky, Clipper, JBaymore, Bob70, BigTruck)
‹ Previous Topic | Next Topic ›
Pages: 1 2 
Send Topic Print
Quick question... (Read 441 times)
Aug 17th, 2006 at 7:05pm

Isak922   Offline
Colonel
Consider yourself badgered!!!
Connecticut

Gender: male
 Posts: 1528
 *****
 
Alright, My birthday is coming up, and I'm interested in Flight School. Now, I was thinking of trying an introductory flight first, which is what I've heard is the best route to see if I even like it. The local flight school has 3 types of planes availible for introductory flights, a Cessna 152 ($50 for 30 min, $95 for an hour), A Cessna 172 (160 HP) or a Piper Warrior (both are $57 for 30 min, $109 for an hour), or a Cessna 172 with 180HP for $63 for 30 min, or $121 for an hour.

*edit* The actual costs for the flight training should I go all the way is $5,945 for the Cessna 152, $6,365 for the 172 (160HP) and Piper Warrior, and the site doesn't say anything about the 180HP 172 *end edit*

Now, my question: Which of these would be the best for a first non-commercial flight experience? I figured between one of the three types of Cessna because of the better views from the higher set wing, but I'll try any of them. Now, I'm about 6'2'' and 240+ pounds, so that's also needed to take in... Will I even fit in the 152?  ??? Any info would be VERY apprecciated. I really want to get into flying, and having some extra flight time would be handy for getting into the Air Force  Wink
 
4GB DDR2 PC5300; 3.2GHz Pentium D 940, Nvidia 9800GT 1024MB DDR3, Windows XP Pro SP3
Back to top 
IP Logged
 
Reply #1 - Aug 17th, 2006 at 7:25pm

Drake_TigerClaw   Offline
Colonel
The Plundering Wonder!
Atlanta, Ga, USA

Gender: male
 Posts: 110
 *****
 
I'm 6'6" and big, the 172 is really easy to get into compared to the warrior, and I think the 172 has a little more room under the controls. I've never been in a 152. The 172 is a lot of fun to fly, it's a little squirly in the wind but its faster than a warrior. Also the 172 has great ventelation and AUTOPILOT! *Does the autopilot dance*
 
~Drake TigerClaw&&...
Back to top 
IP Logged
 
Reply #2 - Aug 17th, 2006 at 8:17pm

beefhole   Offline
Colonel
common' yigs!
Philadelphia

Gender: male
 Posts: 4466
 *****
 
Take the 172-you won't regret it.

And there isn't any need to worry about A/P, there's more or less no reason to ever use it in one of these planes, ESPECIALLY when you're training. (I'm aware someone else *cough* Brett *cough* has a different viewpoint.  just putting that out there)
 
Back to top 
IP Logged
 
Reply #3 - Aug 17th, 2006 at 9:21pm

beaky   Offline
Global Moderator
Uhhhh.... yup!
Newark, NJ USA

Gender: male
 Posts: 14187
 *****
 
Things could get a bit cramped and forward-CG-ish for you in the 152, depending on the size and weight of your instructor... which is too bad, because it's such a perfect mount for a first lesson. Ask the instructor.  If you get the thumbs-up as far as weight and balance goes, squeeze into the 152, just once. You won't forget it or regret it, even if you decide it's too small and slow for your personal needs. The "limit" shown in a typical 152 weight-and-balance sheet is 175 lbs. per seat, but I don't think that's really the limit... I've never flown one at that weight (I'm about 180 lbs. soaking wet), so again, ask your instructor.

Try the 172 (not necessarily better than the Piper, it's just my preference), then promise you'll solo in a 152 someday. Grin

A 180-hp C172 "Superhawk" is a fine, fine airplane, but if you train in Cessnas, save that one for your long X-C flights. Going from one airplane to another in your training can be a good thing; it was for me, because it taught me to pay attention to the machine I was flying, not some numbers from a book.

Whatever you choose, forget the autopilot.  In a light single, that is rarely used, except in IMC. And how the heck are you gonna learn to fly with the autopilot on? Grin
 
...
Back to top 
IP Logged
 
Reply #4 - Aug 17th, 2006 at 10:27pm

jrpilot   Offline
Colonel

Gender: male
 Posts: 2255
 *****
 
I'm in the 172, fits nice, I wouldn't fit in the 152.  If you can fit in the 152 go for it, especially if money is a factor, or if you plan on becoming a commercial airline pilot since you could help yourself by saving money on the 152 than the 172. Just my opinion.
 
Back to top 
IP Logged
 
Reply #5 - Aug 17th, 2006 at 11:19pm
cheesegrater   Ex Member

 
Well, it is only $400 more for the 172. I would go for the 172 because it has the most room out of the three.
 
Back to top 
IP Logged
 
Reply #6 - Aug 17th, 2006 at 11:21pm

Brett_Henderson   Offline
Colonel
EVERY OUTER MARKER SHOULD
BE AN NDB

Gender: male
 Posts: 3593
 *****
 
Of course I'll comment on the  Auto pilot stuff...  Wink

I just flew to / from Oshkosh..   Once up to 6500msl there's no reason NOT to use the auto pilot. It's absolutely nutty to keep adjusting a heading that you'll be on for an hour or more.. when you can just set the A/P..  I'd say conservatively, it's saves 10% time/fuel/pilot-fatigue..  It's not only convenient, it's safer too.

The unit, wiring and associated hardware are heavy and expensive. They wouldn't put'em in there if they weren't useful..

The REALLY funny thing is people saying it's best used for IFR.  I can't disagree more (except of course when you're at altitude and plan to be on the same heading for a good time). To me.. an intricate part of the instrument scan is INSTANTLY and pre-emptively making subtle control inputs..

I can tell you quite honestly.. that flying that mad-house approach/landing into Oshkosh was a LOT easier then it would have been not having the A/P to make the flight there, less tiring..
 
Back to top 
IP Logged
 
Reply #7 - Aug 17th, 2006 at 11:37pm

Brett_Henderson   Offline
Colonel
EVERY OUTER MARKER SHOULD
BE AN NDB

Gender: male
 Posts: 3593
 *****
 
Oh.. and regarding a 152..  If you're 240.. and your instructor is a mere 190.. that leaves room for about 5 gallons of fuel   Shocked

You'd be into your VFR reserve before taking off...
 
Back to top 
IP Logged
 
Reply #8 - Aug 17th, 2006 at 11:46pm

Isak922   Offline
Colonel
Consider yourself badgered!!!
Connecticut

Gender: male
 Posts: 1528
 *****
 
Thanks for the great response time guys... I guess if I do go up for an intro flight, I'll pick the 172  Wink

But now, after I posted this, I remembered a little goody I've been wanting for a while... The Thrustmaster Cougar HOTAS for only $250  Grin I've been wanting one of those little toys for a while now... So I'm at a huge fork in the road right now  Sad
 
4GB DDR2 PC5300; 3.2GHz Pentium D 940, Nvidia 9800GT 1024MB DDR3, Windows XP Pro SP3
Back to top 
IP Logged
 
Reply #9 - Aug 18th, 2006 at 12:00am

Drake_TigerClaw   Offline
Colonel
The Plundering Wonder!
Atlanta, Ga, USA

Gender: male
 Posts: 110
 *****
 
[quote author=rottydaddy Whatever you choose, forget the autopilot.  In a light single, that is rarely used, except in IMC. And how the heck are you gonna learn to fly with the autopilot on? Grin [/quote]
I dunno... Sometimes on those X-Cs when your suddenly doing 10 things at once it just feels nice to dial in a radial, hit AP/NAV and let it steer itself for a minute while you figure out exactly where you are and who you should be talking to.
 
~Drake TigerClaw&&...
Back to top 
IP Logged
 
Reply #10 - Aug 18th, 2006 at 12:04am

Chris E   Offline
Colonel
home airports-KUGN-KPRC
Chicago

Gender: male
 Posts: 151
 *****
 
i personally fly a 172, im 6 foot, 155 pounds, and my instructor wants me up in the 152 soon because the 172 is like a truck, its a bit more sluggish on controls, and you get a better feel in the 152 because it responds so fast, but i would go with the 172, its a great plane to fly, and i never have trouble with room, if the instructor later wants you to be up in the 152, give it a shot, see how it works for you, if you are not comfortable however, dont do it, make sure to talk to the instructor about it
 
Commercial MEL/SEL

ERAU Prescott Aerospace Engineering
Flight Minor
Back to top 
IP Logged
 
Reply #11 - Aug 18th, 2006 at 12:07am

turbo_skylane   Offline
Colonel

Posts: 259
 *****
 
Quote:
*edit* The actual costs for the flight training should I go all the way is $5,945 for the Cessna 152, $6,365 for the 172 (160HP) and Piper Warrior, and the site doesn't say

Does the plane come too? Grin
 
Intel Q6600 @ 2.40GHz&&Crappy Asus OEM motherboard&&Noisy Seagate 320GB.&&BFG GeForce 8600GT OC 512mb&&Samsung 2GB system memory&&&&
Back to top 
IP Logged
 
Reply #12 - Aug 18th, 2006 at 12:09am

beaky   Offline
Global Moderator
Uhhhh.... yup!
Newark, NJ USA

Gender: male
 Posts: 14187
 *****
 
Quote:
I dunno... Sometimes on those X-Cs when your suddenly doing 10 things at once it just feels nice to dial in a radial, hit AP/NAV and let it steer itself for a minute while you figure out exactly where you are and who you should be talking to.


Don't get me wrong; APs are a great thing. Brett makes some excellent points, and for an experienced pilot like him, it is just another tool in the toolbox.

But it should be the last thing on a new student's mind, IMHO. Just like the GPS. The foundation built during primary training has to be able to withstand the stress of losing the AP, or the GPS, or the vacuum pump, or... Grin
I feel fortunate that I never got to use GPS or even a wing-leveler during my training; I think that helped me build a strong foundation.
 
...
Back to top 
IP Logged
 
Reply #13 - Aug 18th, 2006 at 12:12am

Chris E   Offline
Colonel
home airports-KUGN-KPRC
Chicago

Gender: male
 Posts: 151
 *****
 
my instructor doesnt let anything really used, complete basic 172 controls and stuff, no GPS, auto pilot never touched for learning.  Heck, we dont even use parking brake
 
Commercial MEL/SEL

ERAU Prescott Aerospace Engineering
Flight Minor
Back to top 
IP Logged
 
Reply #14 - Aug 18th, 2006 at 12:28am

Drake_TigerClaw   Offline
Colonel
The Plundering Wonder!
Atlanta, Ga, USA

Gender: male
 Posts: 110
 *****
 
Quote:
Don't get me wrong; APs are a great thing. Brett makes some excellent points, and for an experienced pilot like him, it is just another tool in the toolbox.

But it should be the last thing on a new student's mind, IMHO. Just like the GPS. The foundation built during primary training has to be able to withstand the stress of losing the AP, or the GPS, or the vacuum pump, or... Grin
I feel fortunate that I never got to use GPS or even a wing-leveler during my training; I think that helped me build a strong foundation.


Actually today I was up in the 172 and my instructor did something he never did before. He told me to go to the VNA VORTAC without useing anything but the map and DG. It wasnt a problem since thats all I was useing till that point but it was a little weird looking for a radio navaid visually.

Oh another grat point about cessnas, great ground visability.
 
~Drake TigerClaw&&...
Back to top 
IP Logged
 
Pages: 1 2 
Send Topic Print
‹ Previous Topic | Next Topic ›
  « Home ‹ Board Top of this page

Simviation Forum » Powered by YaBB 2.5 AE!
YaBB Forum Software © 2000-2010. All Rights Reserved.

Valid RSS Valid XHTML Valid CSS Powered by Perl Source Forge