Why are there no Tomahawks in Florida?
 

I am currently undertaking my PPL training in the UK in a Tomahawk. I am heading to the US of A at the end of November to cram in a quite a few hours training in (frustrations with weather and cancelled lessons etc......). However I can only find flight schools training with C152s for the most part. I will not complete my PPL whilst in America (and will subsequently complete in the UK on a Tomahawk)so am reluctant to change aircraft types. Are there any flight schools that use Tomahawks?

If not, would I be better upgrading to a Warrior?

Is there a reason you're reluctant to fly a 152? You'll find it's what most places in the US use. The Traumahawks are pretty rare at schools here, mostly in the hands of private owners. I believe most folks are of the opinion that the 152's have more docile handling; plus the Tomahawks had their reputation tarnished with that glut of A.D.'s in the early 80's. The Warriors or Cherokees might be an option, but you might find yourself spending more $$$ than it's worth rather than just checking out on a 152.

Changing "type" is part of the learning process. They are both more similar than you think, and the Cessna offers a much better view of the ground below. Enjoy the "conversion", will take you all of 30 minutes.

Rod

There are no ****ing tomahawks in ****ing Florida because no ****er in ****ing Florida ****ing wants to ****ing waste their ****ing money on such a piece of ****ing **** you ****ed up piece of ****ing **** .

[ 13 October 2001: Message edited by: EGDR for ****ing spelling]

[ 13 October 2001: Message edited by: EGDR ]

Hi Red Hot Amateur,

The only place I know of is Mazzei located at Fresno, CA ...

The bad news is: during winter time it is a bit foggy ... otherwise great location.

And it's FAA only ...

Maybe it is because they've all been sent to Afghanistan! :D :D :D

I saw one in Merrit Island however this was probably privately owned and was also a few years ago.

Agree with all the above -

Tromahawks got a reputation of have the tail flipping in manuevers such as stalls -

My first lesson was in a Tomahawk and of course I had never heard of such things - now I wouldn't touch one!

What a lot of ill-informed tripe. As long as a Tomahawk is well maintained and has had all the AD's done, there is nothing remotely unsafe to be concerned about unless you mishandle the aircraft. I have hundreds of hours in both types, and sincerely believe that if you can fly a PA38 well, you will be a better pilot than someone who sticks to Mr Cessna's product. Someone I know has 15,000 hours instructing in the Traumahawk, and hasn't killed himself yet. Why are there so many opinionated 50 hour test-pilots on this forum?

I learned to fly in a Tomahawk hence PA38 and have very fond memories of the brill little aircraft.
It is more unforgiving than most trainers, but if you can master one and fly it well, then you can fly ANYTHING.
I now fly a Warrior and still like to get my bum in a PA38 whenever I can, just to tighten up on stalls ect. :D

I did hear, although I stand to be corrected, that the Tomahawk has a much shorter life on its mainspar than say a 152, so maybe they're just falling by the wayside as folks don't want to fork out for a major mod.

I think that's a correct assumption. The wings are a throw away item at, from memory, 11,000 hours no matter how good they seem to be. Sourcing new ones is a real problem. I bought a set of second hand wings a year or two ago after searching the world for months. Mister Piper will sell new ones, but that is not really an economic option.

"If you can fly a tomahawk you can fly anything"

Unlikely I think. Try flying any military jet, land a taildragger on a crosswind, anything aerobatic with more than 250 ponnies or a fully loaded airtractor... The truth is that in the states they tend to have better newer equipment and got rid of the tomahawk due to their tendency to spin characteristics and Ad's.

Most aircraft can be safely handled by a properly trained pilot but if I was doing my PPL I would stick to the cessna.

Have to agree with PA38 and G-LOST on this one. I trained in the C152 and PA38 and found the PA38 to be a great teacher and a damn sight more comfortable that the 152.

And the PA-38 spins the way aircraft should and recovers the way an aircraft should when the correct recovery action is taken unlike the C152 that recovers its self if you let go of the stick.

Speaking as both an instructor and student on both aircraft I firmly prefer the Tomahawk. There was a notable thread on this topic about a year ago. When the SEARCH function is back I will go find it.

WWW

red hot amateur ,

I believe there are two reasons why Tomahawks are hard to find for rent, especially in Florida.

1) Tomahawks were made from 1978 to 1982.
1978 821 Aircraft
1979 1179 Aircraft
1980 189 Aircraft
1981 173 Aircraft
1982 122 Aircraft
Total 2484 Aircraft

C-150/152's were made from 1959 to 1986

I will not list all the years and 10's of thousands produced. Just look at 1978, Cessna produced 2698 C-152's in that year alone. 1978 completely eclipses the entire Tomahawk run in a single year.

2) The Tomahawk is like an oven in the cockpit during summers in the tropics. It is just not fun flying in an aircraft with a cabin temperature above 110F in Florida.

Those are just my thoughts,

Capt. Richard J. Gentil, Pres.
Naples Air Center, Inc.

Whilst in the EU the figures are different, as are the temps, as are the prices, as are the merits.

WWW

And just because the US mass manufactured it more DOES NOT meen it was best...

The PA38 *is* a better basic trainer than the C152. For shoulder width considerations if NOTHING else.


Cheers, WWW

I know its not in florida, but there is a flightschool in Oklahoma that has 3 tomahawks for flight training. the school is in Bethany,OK. hope that helps