Braniff From United States of America, joined Sep 2001, 108 posts, RR: 1 Reply 1, posted (11 years 3 months 2 weeks 2 days 19 hours ago) and read 10323 times:
An F-14
j/k...the Cessna 172 is often used as a trainer. It's versatile, has very tolerant flight characteristics and it's pretty economical to buy, use, and maintain.
Other good trainers are Cessna 152, Diamond Katana, and Piper Tomahawk.
Flyf15 From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 2, posted (11 years 3 months 2 weeks 2 days 19 hours ago) and read 10297 times:
I'd say the Cessna 172 is the best compromise between power, price, performance, and handling characteristics out there for basic trainers. If it wasn't, there wouldn't be so many of them
Drewwright From United States of America, joined May 2001, 621 posts, RR: 1 Reply 3, posted (11 years 3 months 2 weeks 2 days 19 hours ago) and read 10297 times:
The Cessna 152 is the best basic trainer. The rent cost less than a 172 and the 152 is in the "utility category", which means it is built to take extra G's. Also you can spin a 152 ,unlike many other planes like cherokees and 172's(at full weight) which are not spin certified. Although the 152 is not fast and the cabin is very small, it is a docile flying machine with few bad habits.
ThirtyEcho From United States of America, joined Dec 2001, 1635 posts, RR: 1 Reply 4, posted (11 years 3 months 2 weeks 2 days 19 hours ago) and read 10294 times:
The C152 without any question. I know its tiny compared to the 172 but you learn basic "stick and rudder" flying beyond a doubt. Plus, you can spin it and I think everyone should have actual instruction in spins and spin recovery. After solo, the 172 is a good introduction to real world flying and a great airplane for instrument training. Consider a few hours instruction in a taildragger just to broaden your experience.
FlightSimFreak From United States of America, joined Oct 2000, 720 posts, RR: 0 Reply 5, posted (11 years 3 months 2 weeks 2 days 19 hours ago) and read 10287 times:
Beechcraft BE-77 Skipper! Actually, I learned yesterday that the one that I train in (N3857J) only has a year or so left on the wing spar with no kit to repair or replace it, so, in about a year or two, my flight school is going to get a 4 or 5 plane fleet of Cessna 172's... perhaps 3 older, high time ones for training, and 1 or 2 really nice ones (with the nice GPS's) for flying friends around in.
SA365C1 From United Kingdom, joined Apr 2001, 131 posts, RR: 0 Reply 6, posted (11 years 3 months 2 weeks 2 days 14 hours ago) and read 10258 times:
I learned to fly in the Austrian Diamond Katana in the Kissimmee Fl, USA, a nice aeroplane to learn to fly in very docile and very modern, smart ship.
The C150, 152, 172 are very popular but they are now getting old and wont be around forever, to be fair however some new cessna skyhawks are very smart.
VonRichtofen From Canada, joined Nov 2000, 4621 posts, RR: 40 Reply 7, posted (11 years 3 months 2 weeks 2 days 14 hours ago) and read 10252 times:
You CAN spin a 172, as long as the total weight falls in the utility category. Usually you'll have tanks less than half full with you and an instructor on board.
So the argument that you can spin a 152, and not a 172 doesn't fly (pun intended).
Konstantinos From Greece, joined Jun 2001, 389 posts, RR: 0 Reply 8, posted (11 years 3 months 1 week 6 days 7 hours ago) and read 10230 times:
I started my training with a C-172 but then went on to finish my PPL with a PA28-140. I liked to PA28-140 very much. It is a very stable aircraft and talking about spins, boy can that airplane spin and the good thing with it is if you mess up on the spin, all you have to do is let go and it will recover.
Sushka From United States of America, joined Nov 1999, 4784 posts, RR: 16 Reply 9, posted (11 years 3 months 1 week 6 days 4 hours ago) and read 10216 times:
I recomend the Diamond Katana. Im flying that right now and it is a very good sturdy plane. They are alot better than ancient Piper 28's or C 152's
CV990A From United States of America, joined Sep 1999, 1391 posts, RR: 0 Reply 12, posted (11 years 3 months 1 week 6 days 3 hours ago) and read 10186 times:
I learned in a 172- and still feel it is one of the best aircraft around...
N79969 From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 13, posted (11 years 3 months 1 week 6 days 2 hours ago) and read 10169 times:
I like the C-172. I learned to fly in Arizona. The C-152 does not fare well at TUS because of the 2,500 altitude. What you save on rental in the 152, you lose on slow climbs to altitude.
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