"Jay Beckman" wrote:
Except when you get into a really oddball situation (like I did early on...)
where you are flying a C172M with an ASI calibrated in MPH ! Mental
gymnastics were the last thing I needed when all I wanted to do was remain
upright and headed in one general direction.

I understand.
But that's assuming that the Cessna Pilot Course is a necessity too,
which is not the case. I'm not knocking CPCs, but a skilled, structured,
in-tune CFI can take a motivated student that does his/her homework and
turn them into an equally competent pilot with or without the Cessna
Pilot Course. If you are not using the videos or trying to match the
Cessna course material, you learn the V-speeds, weights, fuel burn and
other info *for your airplane*. If you are able to use a C152, for
example, you're paying only a little more than half what it costs to
rent an SP ... over the 60-80 hours it takes to get your license, that
translates into a sizeable chunk of change.

As far as the avionics go, I'm something of a gadget-geek anyways so I
didn't find the electronics all that intimidating. I was able to get beyond
simple "Direct To" pretty quickly.

I wasn't talking about being intimidated. I realize this is personal
opinion, but the point I was making was just that renting an SP to learn
how to fly is a lot of money for gadgets you don't need and don't have
to learn in the initial stages of flight training or for your license
*if* you have access to an older, less expensive but well maintained
Cessna or Piper. If the difference is only $15/hr, go for it; but if the
difference is $35-$50/hr (the diff between a C152 or older C172 and a
new C172SP), it's something to consider ... unless money is no object or
you must have the CPC.

Some CFIs insist that their students learn to navigate with a chart and
a VOR before showing them how to work the GPS anyway. Why pay for the
GPS and Autopilot if you aren't going to be use it?

Of course, comfort level is a consideration, too. If a person doesn't
feel comfortable or safe in an airplane without all the bells and
whistles, the C152 or older C172 won't work.