Readers Poll – Are you a faithful pilot ?
I’m not. I learned to fly on a fleet of AS-202 Bravo, then I upgraded to Piper Warrior, Archer, and Saratoga (I skipped the Dakota and Arrow). After that came my Bonanza period (IFR training), and then DA-40, to discover FADEC flying. I also flew a Cessna 172 TDI. What I still miss is a Mooney, and a Cirrus, not to mention the French Robin family.
Piper, Cessna, and Diamond all offer a full range of aircraft: basic trainers (Piper Cadet, C152, DA-20), four seater single (Piper Archer, C172, DA-40), high performance single (Piper Saratoga, C210, DA-50 – not yet available), twin engine (Piper Seneca, C310, DA-42), and jets (Piper Jet, Citation family, D-Jet). Moving to jet is certainly a big thing, all the other steps are facilitated within a family. After all, a Piper Arrow is nothing else than an Archer with a retractable landing gear, and a Saratoga is a single enginge Seneca. The cockpit layouts, and general flying characteristics are the same. If you ever flew a Saratoga and seat in a Seneca, you will feel like at home.
Some clubs, FTOs and FBOs operate within a single family, while other have a mixed fleet. My personal ramblings took me to various places, and various aircraft. I even flew once a Liberty XL2. Click here to read more about all aircraft I flew.
For some pilots, flying a family is almost like a religion, and changing would be a sacrilege. So what about you ? Have you spent all your career in the same type ? Did you change ? Did you like the change ? Have you been given the opportunity to change ? Do you want to change, or is it simply not an option ? I can’t wait to read your answers…
12 Comments, Comment or Ping
Adam Smith
I just got my private last week and all of my training was done in a C-152. The day after my check ride I went and got training in the C-172SP. I took my first passengers up in the 172 and they were very comfortable, I don’t think they would have liked the 152 very much.
Last night and this morning I got trained in the PA28 Archer and I think I may be a convert. I am getting trained in the Arrow for my complex endorsement over the next few days, just because I want to get practice on really getting ahead of the airplane in the pattern.
I will always have a spot in my heart for the Cessna family but I think as a go places airplane the PA28s make a lot more sense. The high winged 172 is great for a site seeing flight or a trip around the pattern but I like the stability of the Pipers for travel.
Sep 25th, 2008
PlasticPilot
Adam, congrats for your private, and welcome in the pilots family. I somehow envy you. Not for the ticket, but for the pace at which you fly. When I’m talking about my flying these days, it’s not with words like “last week”, “the day after”, or “next few days”. Enjoy that.
Sep 25th, 2008
Adam Smith
PP, I currently live and work very close an FBO and a flight school with reasonable prices. I can get over to the airport after work and still have several hours of daylight. Next week I am moving across the country to New York City where I will not be close to an airport and flying is very expensive. I am trying to get my fix in now while I can. A week from now I will be looking back envying myself and being able to fly whenever I want.
Sep 25th, 2008
Fred
One thing comes to mind when I read your intresting posting. PA-34 Seneca is rather a Twin Lance – it is the only Piper a/c which still use the old fat wing from the Cherokee’s of the 1960s! And the development of the PA-34 started in fact with a Cherokee Six with fixed landing gear and three engines (PA-32-3M). From this exprimental study the PA-34-180 Twin Six was born in 1967 – and the next stage became the PA-34-200 Seneca, which was annonced in September 1971…
Sep 25th, 2008
PlasticPilot
@Adam: fly as much as you can, and good luck for your move.
@Fred: Thank you for all the details, I have to admit that I don’t know that much about the Piper history.
Sep 25th, 2008
Tartofraiz
My guess is that it really depends on how many hours you (can) fly. If you fly 20-30 hrs per year (my own average is around 50) I don’t think it is a good idea to fly different planes. In France the annual average of a VFR pilot is around 16 hrs/year…
That being said, I’d like to try a TB10 instead of the good old C172 I usually fly
Sep 25th, 2008
Michael
Definitely unfaithful. I did all my PP training in a 172. Quickly switched to a Cherokee, and have been flying low wingers ever since. Maybe I am stuck on the configuration from my first flying experience, a Grumman Tiger. In the intervening years since that first flight (at age 7) I went on to fly demo flights in both low wing and high, my first steep turn was in a Piper Tomahawk (or is that Traumahawk?). Just before I started flight training I flew a Cirrus SR-22, which was awesome. I like everything about the Diamond DA-50, just need to see “how it fits” on me. I think I could be convinced to “cheat” on my Piper if one of those found its way into my hangar. I appreciate all things that fly!
Sep 26th, 2008
Julien
So far I’ve only flown Cessnas, C152, C172, and I got endorsed on the C182 two weeks ago. I really enjoyed the C182. Lot more power obviously, nicer engine sound (6 cylinders versus 4), and the proper use and care of a constant speed propeller as a new challenge. Otherwise handles pretty much like a 172, just more stable because of the higher weight.
I’m also looking forward to flying Pipers, which I haven’t done at all so far. I’d love to fly the Arrow for getting endorsed on retractable gear, but the only Arrow the club has is offline at the moment.
And yes, just like Plastic Pilot, I’d loke to fly a Robin someday in France. Heard a lot about them. Nearly flew in one once but flight was canceled because of weather. Next time I’m in France I think I’ll knock on the door of a club and go for a dual flight in one, and hopefully make a sufficiently good impression that they’ll rent one to me.
And of course my aviation to-do list does not stop there: glass cockpit, tailwheel, aerobatic, night VFR, , instrument rating,… So many things to experience, so little time and money…
Julien.
Sep 26th, 2008
Chris
I started my training in a Warrior but have now changed to a 172. I prefer the 172 by far, it flys much nicer than the Warrior, cant really explain it but it just does.
Sep 26th, 2008
pat
I’m faithfull to the airplanes I fly.
Mainly because I can’t afford to fly enough to fly safe on many types of aircrafts.
I used to fly Robin DR221, Tecnam P2002 and now I’m learning to fly a Piel Emeraude CP305 since I’ve changed airclub.
I also sometimes fly a DR400 when I need to bring more than one passenger.
My main concern is flying safe and have fun.
I’d rather not fly an aircraft if I can’t practice enough to feel safe.
Sep 26th, 2008
Todd
I have been mostly faithful to the Cessna family. Though, I cheated a few times with a diamond aircraft. I think it is fun to try out a variety of aircraft but I like the comfort and sense of familiarity I have with flying a single family of planes.
Sep 26th, 2008
PlasticPilot
Thank you all for taking the time to answer. This poll and the pervious one about IFR rating proven very useful to launch interesting discussions, and there will be more in the future. If you have some questions to suggest, feel free.
@Tartofraiz: you’re right, flying different families requires more time yearly to remain proficient. But this is where flying within a family also helps… Someone being proficient in an Arrow (PA28R-201) is probably proficient in an Archer as well (PA28-181), but not with a Cessna 182.
@Michael: I like your idea of a plane “fitting” on you
@Julien: we have to organize something, meeting in France (or Switzerland) to get Robin rated. But for the aerobatics, you’re on your own, I don’t appreciate unusual attitudes…
@Chris: see the answer to Michael… each plane / pilot combination is unique.
@Pat: great that you recognize that you’re safer flying one type only.
@Todd: I promise I’ll say nothing to the C. family.
Oct 10th, 2008
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