172 vs. Warrior for private pilot training

[DieselDragRacer]

I've lurked here for year but this is my first post and this site helped me find the fire inside to fly once again that I've had since I was about 10 yo.

My small school had the lease of one of its two C-172's come up so the plane was returned since demand didn't quite justify two planes.

The problem for me is demand is about perfect for the other 172 so the plane is staying close to fully scheduled.

The school also has a 152 (not interested) and a Warrior available for training and they rarely see use compared to the 172. As a student pilot who will solo on his next flight (assuming the winds finally cooperate) how hard would it be to transition to a Warrior at this early point in the game? What am I trading off between the two planes (they rent at the same rate) generally speaking?

Thanks!

 

[cbflydog224]

The transition isn't bad....But as a student who hasn't soloed yet, DON'T attempt the change. The visual cues will be considerably different from the high wing 172 to the low wing warrior. My suggestion is stick with 1 plane, complete your private, then fly everything you can get your hands on.

 

[Metro752]

Cesspool 152 or Bellanca Citabria

 

[desertdog71]

I agree, stick to what you know for now. Once you get proficient in the C-172. I mean good enough to pass a checkride with ease. Then you could make the switch with little to no trouble. In fact you may find that the Arrow won't float near as much on landings.

 

[kf4amu]

Arrow? He said Warrior...

I like Pipers better, I dont like spring steel landing gear because it seems to bounce more as opposed to oleo struts.

Plus the wing struts are an extra support the pipers dont have, cutting down on wind resistance.

The 140's and Warriors I flew all had a direct link to the nose gear, as opposed to that spring thing 172s have making you swerve or use the brakes to turn.

And low wings just look more like a plane should look.

 

[Lazy8]

It's funny... almost four years in this biz and i still hear the same things.

1. Cessnas float longer on landings and Pipers don't
2. Pipers are easier to land and don't bounce
3. Pipers float longer on landings and Cessnas don't
4. Cessnas are easier to land and don't bounce

All are bogus.

Now since Diamond has entered the picture I'm hearing the same arguments for them. After flying all three quite a bit I can safely say they all land and fly just fine. I think if you've been flying a Piper for a while and jump into a Cessna, then yes it will be more difficult to land. There is a small noticeable difference in spring loaded gear vs. oleo struts, but none that would cause you to bounce down the runway. It's all about sight pictures, tactile feel in the control wheel, and knowing the airplane.

I would suggest you stick with the C172 since all your time is in it. If you can't then the C152 would be my next choice. It's just a smaller 172. Warriors aren't rocket science to fly- just remember to switch fuel tanks often!
I agree that low-wings feel and look more like an airplane should, but when it comes to flight training i'm Cessna all the way. Now if only they'd start making twins again...

g

 

[kf4amu]

Well of course by "bounce" I mean an inch or two...I've never bounced more than that..... :laugh: :laugh:

 

[Black Hawk]

Cessna's glide better than Piper's so you have an easier time with engine out procedures and forced landings. Stick with one airplane early on though to avoid confusion.

 

[epic!]

i prefered the warrior over the 172 when i was training. but i agree stick with the 172 for now and transition later, its good to break up the monotony of flying the same plane.

 

[Fearless Tower]

I would hardly say that Cessna's glide better....it's pretty much like what Grove pointed out. If you're used to one and then switch to the other it's going to handle differently. I got my private in a Warrior and had a perfectly easy time with simulated engine out landings....after getting my ticket I tried an engine out landing in a 172 and using the same procedures that I would in a Warrior found that compared to the Piper, a Cessna drops like a brick when you add flaps. It's not that one is better than the other, it's just a matter of slightly different procedures. If time/money is a factor, get your license in one and then fly as many different planes as you can to get experience.