First Flying Lesson - Cessna C150 or Piper PA28?

[HereBeMonsters]

Just booked my Red Letter Days half hour intro to flying (which I can extend on the day if I want, and I don't get airsick!) at Hurn.
Do I want to do it in a Cessna C150 or a Piper PA28 for £20 extra?
Both look about the same speed, same service ceiling. I can take a passenger in the Piper, but I doubt I'll find a willing volunteer!

So, which is easier to fly, and which would I enjoy more do you reckon? If I really like it, Wife will buy me a bunch of lessons for Christmas, so probably makes sense to have a go in the one I would carry on flying later if I decide it's for me.

Really looking forward to it, brief though it will be. Just want to make sure I choose the right aircraft!

[mikef]

For a first flight you can't beat a 150 aerobat and an enthusiastic instructor. There's excellent downward visibility with the high wing and you get your own door so less messing about. PA28 is a great tourer once you progress to cross country flights

[15peter20]

Obvs most C150s are not Aerobats, and most club instructors not aerobatically trained, so OP would be lucky to encounter this.

I'd stump up the £20 for the PA-28 purely for the proper throttle rather than the crap choke-style plunger on the Cessna. You feel less like you're sitting on each other's laps in the Piper also. The handling qualities aren't significantly different between the types, both very benign.

If you decide to plump for the full course, an hour in the other aircraft will be beneficial, get it in early to see if you can put up with the Cessna and save some cash.

Edited by 15peter20 on Wednesday 20th November 17:06

[RWD cossie wil]

I'd go for the Cessna, much more fun to fly IMHO, I passed my PPL in one, then did another 15 hours in the PA28, good little aircraft but the Cessna is more responsive, trims better, has lighter controls & is easier to fly, and more importantly more fun.

Edited to add, C150 max take off weight is about 740kgs iirc, if you are over 13 stone you might find with a similar size destructor, you are over the weight limit & might have to go for the PA28 anyway.

Edited by RWD cossie wil on Wednesday 20th November 18:18

[Dr Jekyll]

Both dead easy to fly, but the PA28 is merely cramped while the Cessna is ridiculous.

[montymoo]

Hurn, is that Bournemouth?
I'm slightly bias but it has to be the PA 28, its a lovely & very docile Aircraft to fly,
Don't like C150 myself, docile like the pa 28 but the wings when turning are a pain.

I suppose you will get better pictures from the cessna

[AdeTuono]

I flew the PA28 out of Hurn earlier this year. First time ever, and it was most enjoyable. Can't comment on the Cessna however.

[mattdaniels]

Comparing and contrasting the two:

C150:
Nice view down
You both get a door
Very *very* cosy
Avionics and controls made by Fisher Price

PA28:
Nice view up
Only the driver gets a door
Very cosy
Avionics and controls made by Meccano

[mikef]

PA28: only the passenger/instructor gets a door

Based on 500 hours crawling over passengers

[jev]

Shouldn't matter to much. C150 will be cosy as it's a small plane. Main difference are that It's a high wing. The Piper is low wing.

Got my PPL on a c152. Great little aeroplane and now fly a "luxurious" 172.

Be aware that the weather at this time of year means cancellations are frequent.

Enjoy!

Edited by jev on Wednesday 20th November 22:39

[magpie215]

jev said:

Got my PPL on a c152. Great little aeroplane and now fly a "luxurious" 172.

likewise except I did mine mostly on a C150 also back in the day did full spin training in a slab wing PA-28

montymoo said:

I suppose you will get better pictures from the cessna

one from yesterdays flight :-)

[HereBeMonsters]

Cheers chaps, the weight limit for the Cessna is 16 stone, apparently, so I'm well within that!

We seem to have a bit of a split here, with no consensus either way! I guess it all comes down to whether I can convince a passenger to come up with me. Pregnant wife might pass on that one...

[JBACON01]

magpie215 said:

one from yesterdays flight :-)

I must go flying again! And get a night rating, that looks beautiful

[Spoof]

I did 50 hours in a 152 and then hours building for my CPL in a PA28.

I prefer the PA28, even with the low wing, you still get good views.

[montymoo]

Spoof said:

I did 50 hours in a 152 and then hours building for my CPL in a PA28.

I prefer the PA28, even with the low wing, you still get good views.

Hmm Phoenix Arizona, OAA by any chance ?
Lovely picture.

[Penguinracer]

The PA28 feels more solid to me, although I'm comparing it to the 172.

[ccr32]

If you're flying out of Hurn (most likely Bournemouth Flying Club/BCFT), they also have a few Robin R2120/HR200's there - that's where and what I did my PPL training in and I think they're great little things. Yes, it's as cosy as a C150, but the visibility with the bubble canopy cannot be beat.

I've since done conversions on to Cessna's and PA28's and would say that they're probably a bit more docile than the Robin's which I always found tended to be a little harder to keep in trim. Cross country they're pretty much the same though and as I say, if your main intention is looking out the window, then you have sure fire winner right there.

Oh, and they're cheaper by the hour too

[mrloudly]

ccr32 said:

If you're flying out of Hurn (most likely Bournemouth Flying Club/BCFT), they also have a few Robin R2120/HR200's there - that's where and what I did my PPL training in and I think they're great little things. Yes, it's as cosy as a C150, but the visibility with the bubble canopy cannot be beat.

I've since done conversions on to Cessna's and PA28's and would say that they're probably a bit more docile than the Robin's which I always found tended to be a little harder to keep in trim. Cross country they're pretty much the same though and as I say, if your main intention is looking out the window, then you have sure fire winner right there.

Oh, and they're cheaper by the hour too

You probably can beat the vis from the Robin

[AdeTuono]

mrloudly said:

You probably can beat the vis from the Robin

That's a tiny planet. Whereabouts in the galaxy is that?

[perdu]

AdeTuono said:

mrloudly said:

You probably can beat the vis from the Robin

That's a tiny planet. Whereabouts in the galaxy is that?

Clangers?