From Least-Most Difficult Planes to Fly!

[bobbysamd]

Not difficult, just different

I mostly go along with the lists above because I've flown many of the aircraft mentioned. I don't see Mooney mentioned, though. We had Mooney MO20s (M20J) at FSI. I believe ERAU-Daytona had them as well. I remember how the Mooneys broke suddenly and dropped a wing during stalls. Also, they require good advance planning and speed management for decents to the airport and pattern work, which is actually excellent training for faster and slicker aircraft. I had a total of exactly one checkout flight in a Mooney before receiving students. I wished I had more because I didn't feel sufficiently ready to instruct in them after one flight. They take some getting used-to after one's flying has primarily been in Cessna and Piper.

Same for the A36 Bonanzas. IASCO and, I believe, IFTA uses them for training. So does MAPD. They break suddenly in stalls and drop wings if you don't stay on the rudders to maintain wings level. Takeoff-departure stalls are a spin waiting to happen if you don't stay on top of the airplane. I remember how Mesa's syllabus required night stall practice in the A36s. I was not thrilled about that.

Really, an airplane is an airplane. If you've been trained properly, you should be able to fly any airplane. Some require more experience and training than others. Don't forget the story of the B-26. An extremely hot airplane for the times, with something like a 120 kt+ approach speed. "One a day in Tampa Bay" until the AAF figured out that new B-26 pilots weren't getting enough and proper training. It took Jimmy Doolittle driving B-26s around on one engine to prove that the airplane was fine.

We don't train Cessna or Piper pilots per se, but we train pilots to fly airplanes. Of course, going from something like slow Cessnas to Barons takes time because things happen faster, but you catch up.

PS-I don't see Seminoles mentioned. Really, an extremely friendly airplane. An Arrow with two engines, basically. Of course, as a twin it requires respect, but not as much respect as a Baron requires.

 

[cdog]

C-207 with 7 pax and freight, I'm sure there are a few AK folks that would agree.

 

[temcgrew]

its all relative

two years ago the list would have went:

1. Cessna 172
2. Lear 35

Today after flying the lear for a while and no Cessna 172 time the list would be:

1. Lear 35
2. Cessna 172

 

[ceo_of_the_sofa]

I thought a Seneca was a real pain in the arse to land...
GA highwings are pretty much the same for me, some are just less sloppy than others
GA lowwings take a bit more finessing, and there's more of a prop strike possibility

Take it for all that it's worth...but I think airplanes are meant to be high wing (look at birds )

 

[ShawnC]

For the easiest I would put the Cub at the top of the list. The hardest part is the descion making process of not taking it out on the windy days (10 knots surface winds max IMO).

Remember the Cub can just barely kill ya.

 

[SUPREME NTM]

Here is my list....

1) C-402C and B-767-300ER (These are both CADILLACs.)
2) B-767-200 ( Feels good )
3) HU-16. ( a Pleasure Everywhere )
4) J-41 ( Overall great airplane, just a bit tricky on landings)
5) B-757 ( Hard to grease with consistency, but the performance makes you forgive it )
6) PA-30 ( Same as #4 )
7) J-32 ( The worst ever in all aspects. I don't believe that thing was intended to fly... )

You probably heard it :
If you jump out of a perfectly trimmed Jetstream, the airplane will beat you to the ground..

Later......

 

[RightPedal]

1) Any single, or multi engine aircraft with a flat tire.
2) Any single, or multi engine aircraft with gustlock engaged.
3) Any single, or multi engine aircraft with to much Stuff On Board.
4) Any single, or multi engine aircraft with a check airman involved.
5) All Whop-Whop's with or without 2 thru 4.

Other than that they are all just flying machine's.