PPL Training in USA switching from Archer to Cessna 172
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Join Date: Jan 2008
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PPL Training in USA switching from Archer to Cessna 172
Getting trained for PPL here in Alderney is a problem, with indifferent weather, availability of the sole Club Archer, and of the QFI. So after much soul searching I have decided to do a month with EFT in Florida end January. By that time I might have achieved 10 hours here and solo'ed, plus hopefully done all or most of the theory exams. Reading past threads EFT seem the best option, but they only have Cessna 172s - is the transition from the Piper Archer to the Cessna likely to be difficult - people seem to think the Cessna is better for learning cross-wind landings (very popular here in Alderney!)? I will be back flying the Archer again when I return, hopefully qualified!
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Hi rneilharvey,
I think you'll find the Cessnas a little easier to handle being a tad lighter and with bigger flaps. Also, no fuel pump or tank switching to worry about. They're fun aircraft. It's possible EFT use fuel injected 172s - if so even easier to fly with no carb heat.
Hope you get good weather in Alderney until then!
Rgds, Neil
I think you'll find the Cessnas a little easier to handle being a tad lighter and with bigger flaps. Also, no fuel pump or tank switching to worry about. They're fun aircraft. It's possible EFT use fuel injected 172s - if so even easier to fly with no carb heat.
Hope you get good weather in Alderney until then!
Rgds, Neil
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Shouldn't be much of a problem. The 172 has electric flaps, no switching of fuel tanks(gravity feed). You will notice the lack of visibility in a turn due to the wing, but you just have to take a good look before turning.
The big advantage in Florida is the high wing which acts as a sunshade so the cockpit is much more pleasant. And it has two doors.
The advantage of changing type is that you will be OK with either when you get your licence.
I think the instructor is more important than the type of aircraft.
ZA
The big advantage in Florida is the high wing which acts as a sunshade so the cockpit is much more pleasant. And it has two doors.
The advantage of changing type is that you will be OK with either when you get your licence.
I think the instructor is more important than the type of aircraft.
ZA
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The Piper is easier to land. If you don't nail your approach speed in the Cessna you will not achieve a good landing and there is a higher risk (anecdotal evidence) of you doing some serious damage to the nose/firewall. Of course, your instructor should already be ensuring you get the right speed. 
Apart from that, they're both much of a muchness.
Apart from that, they're both much of a muchness.
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No big deal. The wing loading on a Cessna is much lower (about half of a Piper, if memory serves), so the first couple of landings may be a bit, err, different. Other than that, Cessna has more room, two doors, easier to get in/out, generally better viz.
PS: I learned to fly on PA-28/161 and /181s and have mostly flown Cessnas since.
PS: I learned to fly on PA-28/161 and /181s and have mostly flown Cessnas since.
The Cessna 172 is a thing of beauty. I have about 380 hours, of which more than 50% is in Cessna 172s of some variety. Until I recently discovered the Cessna 182, it was my favourite aircraft!
Unless EFT have seriously upgraded their fleet since I was there (which I sincerely doubt), their Cessnas are of ... considerable vintage. However, I was perfectly happy with them. I don't think you'll have any problem switching from one type to another; I have flown a lot of different light aircraft since getting my PPL, and the basics are all very much the same; just pay attention to the relevant speeds, and you should be fine.
Unless EFT have seriously upgraded their fleet since I was there (which I sincerely doubt), their Cessnas are of ... considerable vintage. However, I was perfectly happy with them. I don't think you'll have any problem switching from one type to another; I have flown a lot of different light aircraft since getting my PPL, and the basics are all very much the same; just pay attention to the relevant speeds, and you should be fine.
)....Upto The Buffers
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The Piper is easier to land.
Whilst the PA28 is a nice, stable aircraft to fly, it's a tuat to get into (last time I took pax, she put her back out clambering in and out of the damn thing) and whoever designed the thing with 1 door should be shot.
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Initially, I found a PA28 (Warrior) more difficult to land than the 172 (I learned ab initio on the 152). I just couldn't grasp why the Warrior wanted to float so much until I was able to stop and think about it (low wing in ground effect, combined with holding too much speed as the stall warning sounded at a higher speed above the stall than the one in the 172). That said, neither are particularly difficult to land once you know how to do it.
The "approved" way to break a Cessna nosewheel is to hold too much speed on final, balloon during the flare, try to force the aircraft down onto the runway, bounce, try to push it down with the airspeed now decaying, bounce again, lose too much airspeed during the bounce and land nosewheel first with the elevator full back. If you do it well enough, you can damage the firewall as well! To not do this, you could add some power after the first bounce to control your speed then land properly, or go around (my preference).
The "approved" way to break a Cessna nosewheel is to hold too much speed on final, balloon during the flare, try to force the aircraft down onto the runway, bounce, try to push it down with the airspeed now decaying, bounce again, lose too much airspeed during the bounce and land nosewheel first with the elevator full back. If you do it well enough, you can damage the firewall as well! To not do this, you could add some power after the first bounce to control your speed then land properly, or go around (my preference).
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Hi
I got back from EFT a few weeks ago. I did my PPL in a PA28-161 Cadet. They currently have a fleet of 2 so i'm sure If you requested a PA28, you would get a PA28!
Good luck! EFT is a good choice! I solo'd (is that a word?!) in 6 days and passed the skills test in 22 days! They do everything they say they will - aslong as you put the work in!
Best of luck!
Mike
I got back from EFT a few weeks ago. I did my PPL in a PA28-161 Cadet. They currently have a fleet of 2 so i'm sure If you requested a PA28, you would get a PA28!
Good luck! EFT is a good choice! I solo'd (is that a word?!) in 6 days and passed the skills test in 22 days! They do everything they say they will - aslong as you put the work in!
Best of luck!
Mike
