Hello Girls and Boys,
I'm currently choosing between a couple of rental places at my local field and I notice that one of them rents out, amongst your typical PA-28s, an Alarus (the FAA certified one:
http://www.newplane.com/amd/amd/products/ch2000.html).
Its significantly cheaper than what I'm used to ($88 rather than $120 for the C172) and if I give it a go it it'll be the first aircraft I've flown that was built in my lifetime (and I ain't young either!). It looks a bit weird, sort of like the bastard offspring of a PA28 and a Robin, the cockpit has those silly cessna style plunger type throttle and yokes that look like they're stolen from an excercise bike, but I can live with that.
Obviously it is a two-seater, rather than a psuedo 4-seater like the PA28/C172, but I wondering if anyone has any experience of the Alarus and would think it worth my while having a check out on it? How does it handle compared to a C172/PA28? I'm trying to get my mates to come flying with me - hows the cabin comfort etc?
Any opinions welcome!
Cheers,
Gareth.