Piper Tomahawk or Cessna 172SP for GFPT Completion?

[ckaine]

Hi All,

I am getting back in to completing my licence after a few years of 'very limited' time in the air (less than 2 hours a year in total).

I have around 45 hours with approx 4 solo in mostly Jabirus, I only have a couple of hours in GA aircraft at this stage. As I am now looking at completing my PPl/CPL I have decided to go down the GA path. I also don't think it will be much more expensive than going with the RAA option first as I already have the required number hours, just have to get up to speed and cover off a couple of things.

I have the choice of a Piper Tomahawk at around $220 and hour dual or a Cessna 172SP for $290 an hour dual. I am not sure which option to go with. Obviously, the Tommy is cheaper, however I am not sure whether this will end up being the case overall. I'm thinking that the Cessna will be able to do a couple more circuits in an hour as well?

Seeing as though getting my GFPT is just a matter of getting fully back up to speed and getting a couple more hours solo time I am wondering which aircraft I'd be best to go with.

I'm guessing that the Tommy won't be overly suitable for doing my NAV's in either?

I would really appreciate any advice you might have for me.

Cheers,
Chris.

[Seabreeze]

Suggest you use the C172 if you can afford the extra $$$.

It is faster so that it is less wind-affected doing cross country flights.
It is heavier so less affected by turbulence.
From memory it will perform better at higher altitudes giving you flexibility for cross country flights.
It has 4 seats so you get experience in an aeroplane that can carry passengers, giving you confidence to take pax once qualified.

good luck! Seabreeze

[MakeItHappenCaptain]

Same old debate....
The Tommy's better for learning how to recover stalls properly,
High wing pilots will find the transition to low wing aircraft easier when it comes to landing.

[GoodbyeGA]

Go with the 172SP, that way you get the G1000 Avionics Suite - you feel like real airline pilot.

[ckaine]

Ha, very true (not that I have any interest in being an airline pilot).
It's also the year before they introduced G1000 so it's got the traditional gauges which is more appealing to me anyway.

[PA39]

Doesn't really matter mate.....depends on the $$$

[Tinstaafl]

Go with the cheapest. The money you save can be used for more flying later.

[sixtiesrelic]

If you're going to be a commercial pilot, check out all the charter operators.
You wont find too many Pipers in the bottom of the fleet and that's where you're goung to start.
Cessna is the way to go.
Yeah I know... Pipers are nice, BUT operators go for Cessnas and you'll have to pay when you're broke to get some hours to become Cessnafied, because the operators'll want you to have enough hours on 'em to be comfortable.
Seen it often.

[Tinstaafl]

He's going for his GFPT. Aircraft type experience while training for a CPL for a possible career down the track isn't particularly relevant at this stage. Go for the cheaper aircraft while you can.

If anything a decent instructor is more important.

[solowflyer]

The cheapest machine you can find is the best, at the end of the day bum in the seat is all that counts. Who cares if it is slower or does not have digital this and LCD that. Worry about faster and more complicated systems later in your training and save the coin for more flying. Don't let flying schools pull the wool over your eys and NEVER pay in advance.

[eocvictim]

For the GFPT its simple really. Cheapest you can get.

You need a little compromise on the PPL but $290 is a bit rich. There is no reason to be spending more than $240/hr for a warrior and they're more than adequate for nav ex. CPL, well I'm not touching that; I have my preference but each to their own and what ever you can get your hands on really.

At the end of the day the only people I've seen struggle with different single engine pistons at CPL level were pretty hopeless anyway. Personally I put that down to poor instruction rather than a lack of ability.

[mcgrath50]

How hard is the transition from Piper to Cessna? I have done the other way and it wasn't that big of a deal, I certainly would pay $70/hour less and make the transition if I could.

[Old Akro]

I'd do a shandy of both. I think flying multiple types helps your experience.

[The Bunglerat]

Traumahawk?!? Ughhhh...

[MakeItHappenCaptain]

There is no reason to be spending more than $240/hr for a warrior

Yes there is.

You won't find a school that will hire one out with an instructor for that rate.

PS Not one that you'd probably want to be more than 3' off the ground in anyway.

PSS Which is about how far you are off the ground when it's not moving.

[eocvictim]

There are good warriors for hire at $205/hr. I still use them to take family on Jollies. They're not as fancy as some but they get the job done and I certainly dont see an rational reason for using anything else.

[Tee Emm]

They're not as fancy as some

Meaning they are just a little bit airworthy?

[eocvictim]

That or everyone else is getting ripped off by polished turds. When I was training I wanted to pay for a plane not its paint job.

[Lodown]

Doing a 2 hour nav, you'll never get lost in a Tomahawk. After an hour, you can still see your departure point. In terms of number of circuits, I don't think there's much of an issue. You'll get close to the same number in either a/c. If you have an instructor/operator who considers your pocketbook and not just his/her own, then that would be the way I'd go.

[Nose wheel first]

Go for the Tommie and save some bucks.... you'll need them later on.

I did my entire PPL (except for a couple of flights in a 152) in a PA38, navs and all..... was a great little plane to fly. I transitioned to the 172 before I started my CPL.

As previously mentioned, a good instructor will make more difference to you now than the aircraft you fly.

Take the Tommie now and the 172 later.