UnAnswerd said:
The question is, how did you feel about flying something completely different after you got your license???
I mean, what if all you've ever flown is a PA-28. Did you think twice about taking off solo for the very first time is a high-wing Cessna??? Or did you grab an instructor just to make sure the aircraft wasn't going to break your balls??? Anyone ever just get in, accelerate, and pull back????
I wanted to rent our FBO's Katana for a long weekend and a long cross country from south central wisconsin to Green Bay and then on to FT Dodge Iowa. Since I was an experienced 135 pilot with the company and checked out in 6 makes/models of piston twins...from Aztec to Cessna 414...the owner said go for it.
I took an hour and half and read over the aircraft manual, noting differences and similarities of light singles that I had flown, then went out at night with a flashlight and the check lists. Familiarizing myself with every detail in the check lists. Before I did this, I got some real time fuel burn, performance and power setting information from the experienced CFI's at our place.
Once I felt it was time to untie the plane from the tie downs, I felt very much "good to go".
Since I had never flown a plane with only differential braking for ground steering, that was experimented with on the taxi out. I found it very easy to just use the rudder peddals, since thrust was flowing over the rudder, so I only used the brakes for tighter turns.
When it was time to line up on the runway, the night time visibility in the Katana was very new to me...having been used to 152's other high wing Cessnas and all the other typical GA fare. When the runway edge lighting went by and I was moving, my heart stired with anticipation...this was freaking fun! I had never flown a "stick" airplane before...and once again, the visibility was awesome.
As I climbed out, I couldn't get over how much fun this was...flying a plane not much larger than a gold wing with wings.
The flight to Green Bay was beautiful and I landed and parked at the FBO. The wife walks up to the fence and points at the plane and says, "You expect me to fly with you in that 'BUG'?"
We left together the next morning and flew in loose formation with a group of friends in a Cessna 205 that we hooked up with at Shiocton, all the way to FT Dodge and the wife totally enjoyed the trip.
Before I get beat on by the "puritans" of aviation, I spent quite a bit of time familiarizing myself with that plane and felt totally comfortable with checking myself out...however, I would warn anyone that is thinking of doing such a thing to seriously evaluate what they are contemplating doing and the consequences, both legally and liability wise.
I need to get back in the air with an Aztec soon, just to do some old fashioned piston multi flying. I'll be renting from the same FBO. If the owner throws me the keys and says, "You know what you're doing!" I'll proudly turn the offer down.
First of all, even though I have been flying piston single on the weekends, I haven't flown a piston twin in 5 years. Second of all, I don't want to survive an "accident" just to find out that I'm subject to charges for criminal criminal negligence regarding property damage, personal injury or death. I'll pay the FBO for time with the instructor and go up flying...it'll be fun and a great way to get my feet wet again. Plus, I'm not rich, but I do believe in sharing the wealth...which means, if you can afford to rent a twin, you can afford to put beans and biscuits on a CFI's table! It's the reasonable and prudent thing to do.
Just hop in and go! 
