Please don't make me learn to fly in a Cesspit!

[FullyFlapped]

Clearly wasn't a C172 then.

Quite right, but still a Cessna single nonetheless.

Each to their own though.

The best and most accurate comment ever written on PPRuNe !

[Final 3 Greens]

Of course, a tri gear-only pilot could make a correctly held-off landing

What part of my comment "If you can land a trike competently" did you find difficult to understand?

[TommyGun]

Why do you like the DA40 so much? I initially started flying on DA20 in Dundee...finished off my PPL in Jersey on PA28 and preferred the PA28. Warrior III and Archer III are great aircraft. DA20 was little more than a powered glider...is that why you like them?

I would suggest learning to fly in a training aircraft like the PA28, as after you get your PPL (if you pluck up the initial courage) you can hire aircraft from various clubs all over the country, as I'm not sure how many clubs operate the DA40 (you probably know more than I).

Of course you may be minted and planning on buying a DA40?

[Wessex Boy]

There's probably more choice of aircraft in clubs nowadays than there has ever been. around where I live (S. Cambs) you can fly the following:
C152
C172
PA28
Robin 2160
PA28R
Duchess
Chipmunk
Piper Cub
Tiger Moth
Pitts
AT3
Extra 200
Harvard

I think most people could find something amongst that lot that whets the whistle?

[dont overfil]

Got to agree 100% with TommyGun. I have, albeit briefly flown the DA40 (Avgas) and although it feels less like a powered glider than the DA20, it feels delicate compared to a PA28. I did not think it handled nicely-the ailerons were stiff. The performance was slightly better than an Archer but I believe the diesel version doesn't go as well, and I've not compared available payload. If you are a renter there is no advantage in cost.
Maybe it's an age thing but getting in a PA28 (or a Cessna) is like pulling on a comfy pair of slippers.
DO.

[englishal]

DA40 has a stick. Has a 25G impact cockpit and seats. Has VP prop. Has more comfortable cabin. Better performance (Avgas version) than a basic 172 due to VP prop. Better visibility in my humble opionion. Nicer to fly IMHO again ..

Still a pretty basic SEP, with basic SEP performance. Most of them (SEPs) are very alike and if you can fly one, you can fly the others and the rest is just personal preference....

[Windy Militant]

Ungrateful Wretch! We should make him learn in an Evans VP 2. A few hours of that and he'll be begging to fly a 150.

[Inniehoek]

Cesspit

You obviously don't know a good aircraft. I have done hundreds of hours in Cessna's and they are beautiful aircraft. Never ever had a bad experience in one in my 27 years of flying !!!!

[Inniehoek]

Well said !!!!! Windy Militant

[Inniehoek]

I did my training on a 150 . My instructor was a WW 2 instructor. He taught you to land a trike as if it were a taildragger. When converting to a taildragger it was very simple ..just had to work the rudder pedals a bit more . Taildraggers does make you more wake up !! Come and fly in South Africa ...taildraggers are bettter on some of our airstrips!!

[Shaggy Sheep Driver]

I have done hundreds of hours in Cessna's and they are beautiful aircraft. Never ever had a bad experience in one in my 27 years of flying !!!!

Nor a good one, I suspect. I did my PPL on Cessnas and have loads of Cessna hours since, including paradropping and a host of other stuff. They do the job. It's flying so it's even fun (as long as each flight isn't too long). But over 80% of my logbook is tailwheel time.

There's a reason for that. The nicest aeroplanes to fly are not Cessnas (or PA28s, which are far worse in the boring stakes), and they have their little wheel at the back.

SSD

[OneIn60rule]

They are old and proven aircraft.

Although I do prefer the C172.

My reasoning, the cockpit is bigger.

The 152 is cheap, reliable good fun to fly solo.

Da40 is not reliable, due for PFD failures whenever you pick one.

Did I forget the problems Thielert is facing?

1/60

[Final 3 Greens]

The nicest aeroplanes to fly are not Cessnas (or PA28s, which are far worse in the boring stakes), and they have their little wheel at the back.

How many hours do you have on Hunters?

They are not taildraggers, but every one who has flown one thinks they are pretty nice to fly

[5 Greens]

I'd rather drink lager than fly a Cessna & those who know me i Don't drink Lager!

[Pilot DAR]

I'm sure that I can find something nice to say about any type I have the good fortune to fly. The privilage to fly must be extremely free and available in the UK, if so many posters from that side of the Atlantic would apparently remain on the ground than fly a Cessna. How nice for you that there is so much choice! Appreciate it, others in the world consider themselves lucky to fly at all!

I'll be sure to wave, when I happily fly over in a well maintained Cessna, Piper, Beechcraft, Bellanca, Champion, Ercoupe, Maule, Mooney, Stinson, deHavilland, Lake, Teal, Found, Britten Norman, Douglas, PZL, Hughes, Bell, Schweizer, or Robinson. I have enjoyed them all! Each for thier own special reason....

[PropArt]

Like most I learnt to fly in 152's and they did the job for getting my ticket but since then I have deliberatly chosen to avoid them. Its certainly not snobery but there are much better light aircraft out there to fly.

[shortstripper]

Funnily enough, having spent years flying various homebuilts, gliders, TMG's and such-like, my last revalidation was in a C152. It wasn't the first time I'd flown one, but it had been a while! Anyway, I thoroughly enjoyed the flight! We messed about no end doing chandelles, spins, flying using the trimmer without touching the yoke, ect. We even flew into my 250m strip (there was a good wind blowing). How anyone can say they ar boring I just don't know? Perhaps it's just lack of imagination or something?

SS

[Rod1]

Lets go right back to the original question. We have a glider pilot who wants to convert to power. Back in 1991 I was in a very similar position. I did my conversion on a PA38, which I found very hard to fly, but easy to operate. Late on in my training I switched to a DR400 and suddenly I could fly it really accurately and I was not just operating it. I would have passed the tests by just operating the PA38, but it felt horrible. I can fully understand why a Glider pilot would find some aircraft much more attuned to their “seat of the pants” than others. The new VLA types give very good feel, so in my opinion, would be ideal for an ex glider pilot to convert on.

Rod1

[Piper.Classique]

Rod1 says

Lets go right back to the original question. We have a glider pilot who wants to convert to power.

Well, I don't think he does. I reckon it is a very sucessful wind up. Mind you, I got a real diatribe when I asked about his gliding experience

I have seen no evidence from his posts that he is serious about flying power, and if he is then it is time he got on with finding a flying school that he likes and getting in the air.

Off to go flying now, and I really don't mind all that much in what, as long as I am airborne.Today it's weightshift, as a student.

[Shaggy Sheep Driver]

I thoroughly enjoyed the flight! We messed about no end doing chandelles, spins, flying using the trimmer without touching the yoke, ect.

That explains it. The thing that's awful about those aeroplanes is the terribly unresponsive and soggy flight 'controls'. If you fly it using the trimmer, the doors, and shifting your weight, it's probably quite good.

SSD