HelenD

Is the PA38 certified for spinning?????????????

If I was into aerobatics I would go up in a real aerobatic plane, with a REAL aerobatic instructor. It's a whole different game.

In normal flying you won't ever get anywhere near a spin - except on the turn from base to final and if you stall/spin there you are probably finished anyway (too low).

Yes the PA38 is cleared for spinning but only in a clean configuration. As for instructors I will go up with one who regulary spins the PA38. I certainly wouldn't dream of spinning a PA38 with an instructor who normally only flys warriors or cessnas.

Get your instructor to spin the PA38 and watch the tail... you will NEVER spin another:eek:

I've spoken to a few people who have seen it waggle wildly from side to side... none have actually come off yet though.

Ninjabill,

Suggest that you forget all the hysteria regarding Tomahawk spinning and revisit the original question...

Last time I was at Sherburn - about a month ago for some aerobatic critique in my Pitts, I noticed a delightful CAP10B.

IIRC the hourly rental for that seemed very reasonable and I would suggest that you do at least some of your trg in that so that when it comes to skills-test time you could take your exam in the tailwheel aeroplane therby absolving you of the need to do an endorsement post PPL.

Stik

I agree with those who've said: train in the best aeroplane available. Stik's idea of using the Cap 10 is a good one, even though I'm biased. David Robson's aerobatics books reckons that it's the ideal training aircraft (and not just for aeros). The French Airforce thought so too. See also similar comments in the latest edition of Flyer. The advertised rates for the Sherburn Cap 10 are really good. I would say: go for that or the Robin, or a bit of both. There is no need to train on the usual tincans if there are more interesting choices available. When I dd the PPL, I avoided all the London Cessna/Piper schools and learned on Beagle Pups and a Bulldog. Much more fun, and the option of a loop or a roll to conclude a lesson was a bonus.

trail flight
 

Thanks for all your advice.

I took the plunge and had my first trial flight on monday, and found the aircraft very nice to fly. I was expecting it to be slightly unstable, as the wings were quire alot shorter than the 50 odd ft i am used to, and im not sure that my instructor was too keen on my gliderpilot-esq desire to fly towards the bottoms of the biggest darkest cu thatwere around because the rate of climb looked like it ould be about 6 - 8 kts greater there.

Im now just waiting until payday to buy my first block of hours, so i can start my training properly

Hopefully ill see you all around some day.

NB

:D

Bloody glider pilot converstions, its always fun teaching them.

Be gentle with the instructor, don't try and hoof the rudder pedal to stops everytime you bank. A wee squeeze will do.

And when doing PFL's don't do that dive it down to ground effect then try and bunny hop over the fence trick.

Glad you enjoyed it.

MJ

Started my training on a TB 9 then changed to C172.
The Socata was a dream to fly and very sensitive during flare.
The C 172 gave me good lookout instincts, very easy to land,but ours had a tendency to drop a wing during 'approach to landing 'stall. Once again good practice/experience.

After PPL have flown Tomahawk and Piper Archer.

DId some circuits at Point Cook with the PA 38.Not a pretty sight I imagined ,as could not get the 'Flare' technique right.
The Archer was very stable even in gusty conditions and my favourite.