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Date: Wed, 04 Nov 1998 23:08:11 -0500
From: John Hartley <jhartle@ibm.net>
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Subject: Re: bigger planes?
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When I started it was with a 152.  CFI #1 didn't want me to use a 172, said
stick with a 152 to PPL and then get checked out.  Since I need at least a
172 for family flying I wanted to switch but then put it off until I soloed,
then waited some more for the post solo progress check, by which time I had
40hrs in the 152.  I switched at 40hrs to the 172 with CFI #3 & now have 50+
hrs in the the 172 & expect to get signed off for the check ride any day
now.  It certainly cost me a lot more time+money making the switch as late
as I did. If I had stuck with the 152, CFI #4 says I would have been done by
now.  I also think that had I started in a 172, I'd be done also.  On the
plus side, I'll have a lot of 172 experience by the time I make it through
the check ride & feel a lot more comfortable about flying people in it.

I found the 152 to be so light that it didn't matter much if you were sloppy
about rudder and pitch trim, but not so in a 172.  The safety record for
172's is better than 152's, the 172 is much roomier and a VOR cross fix is a
lot easier with 2 nav/coms.  The plane costs more $/hr, but gets me there
faster which helps offset some of the cost on the long x-country work.

If I had it to do over again, I would never have let them sit me in a 152 to
start, but having reached 40hrs in one I would not have switched - gotten my
license in a 152, then paid a CFI to check me out in a 172 & flown it solo
for a while until I was completly comfortable in it.

John Hartley

St Stephen Ames wrote:

> Being that I fly a 152, when would/or would you(more experienced
> aviators) suggest flying maybe a 172 or 182(some 4 seater)?...Any
> advantages learning on one of those as opposed to the 152?...Taking cost
> out of the equation...
>    Till the next time,
>     St Stephen Ames - 11.4hrs dual 1.8hrs solo 78 landings!
>    http://www.stephenames.com
> "When my abilities meet my desire & commitment, I will be one hell of a
> pilot!" - S. Ames
>      Personal flying site:
> http://www.stephenames.com/flying/flying.html



