TRAINING AIRCRAFT

[SAM]

I AM ALMOST THROUGH WITH MY PRIVATE TRAINING
AND I HAVE SPENT A MINT ON RENTAL OF 150 AND 172 CESSNAS.I HAVE FOUND A NICE CHEROKEE 140 THAT I CAN AFFORD. I WAS WONDERING ABOUT FLYING THE CHEROKEE-WILL I NEED A BUNCH MORE INSTRUCTION TO FLY IT? WHAT ARE THE ADVANTAGES/DISADVANTAGES OF A LOW WING TO A HIGH WING? I HAVE 100 HOURS, BUT I AM ONE OF THOSE PEOPLE WHO CAN ONLY FLY ONCE A WEEK,SO IT HAS TAKEN ME FOREVER TO GET MY PRIVATE.

[Gary]

Hi Sam,

I did all my training in a 152 and passed my check ride in one. Two weeks later, after about an hour and a half with an instructor in the airport's Warrior, I was free to rent it whenever. I Had only about 62 hours at this time, but spent a lot of time beforehand studying the Warrior's POH and just sitting in it to familiarize myself with it. You should not have any trouble at all, nor should you have to take much extra training if you do your homework on the Cherokee. I think you will like it more than the Cessnas when you're in the pattern, you still see the runway in your turns. Go for it.

Gary

[jhwelsch]

As I posted in the "Aircraft Ownership" area, I switched from 172's and 152's to a Warrior shortly before my checkride (I switched CFI's and FBO's)and had no problems. I now own a Cherokee 140. I like it a lot better than the Cessnas.

[n3ly]

Well I got a grumman aa-1b to train in and it is a little diffrent
The visibility is great and she is very responsive a little quick for a nebe I also am having trouble finding a cfi
After doing anual and having a oil cooler installed I feel the plane is in great shape and now all I need is the cfi
I just got my medical and student ticket and starting to foam at the mouth

I am based in charlotte N C If any one has information that can help I would appricate it
Thanks
Micahel N3LY

[wxwatcher]

Sam,

Know this is a little late, but just found the site a few weeks back and am still trying to get caught up on all the posts.

Cherokee 140's are outstanding aircraft if you know their limits. I learned to fly in the -140 and loved every minute of it. I've also flown the C172 and the Grumman AA-5 Traveler. I'll take the PA28 any day.

Reasons..

I found it easier to handle and more responsive than the other aircraft, but still very predictable.

Approaches and landings are easier because of the manual flaps. You know exactly how much flaps you are dropping with each notch you pull and it's the same every time. Closest I could come with the C172 and Grumman was to time how long it took to get full flap extension with the electric motor, then divide that by three and count off the seconds for each "third" of full deployement I wanted. Not exactly the way to have consistant approaches.

Loved the visibility and, in 1973 and later models, they had a "power quardent" for throttle and mixture similar to larger aircraft, not the push/pull setup like the C152/172's.

Downside.. You MUST be religious in doing your weight and balance for every flight. Solo and full fuel, I was within the "envelope" but as soon as the instructor got on board, and we had full fuel, we needed 100 pounds of sandbags in the baggage compartment to stay within c/g limits.

Also, The -140 is a good "flatland" aircraft, but will be severly underpowered in higher terrain, especially during high density altitude conditions.

If you need anymore info, let me know.

Also, let us know what you decide to do.

Good luck,

Jerry

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Comments and opinions are my own and do not reflect those of my employer.