Robert M. Gary wrote:
I generally don't recommend student pilots switch back and forth
because they are still learning and becuase they need to become "one
with the plane" for their checkride. However, any private pilot who
flys semi-regularly should have no problems switching between the Piper
and the Cessna. At some point the differences between planes become
almost non-existant. Often times the first experience I have in a new
type of airplane is sitting right seat with a student pilot.

The FBO where I learned had two C150s, an older model with the straight
turtledeck and no back window and a later version with the "omni view"
or whatever Cessna called it. The older one also had manual flaps vs.
electric in the new one. The avionics were totally different. I
switched back and forth often during my training and never found it a
problem. Personally, I think it actually helped when I moved up the the
172 and then 182.

I believe it is very important to learn to make the airplane do what you
want it to do with whatever control inputs are required. I think
switching airplanes now and then helps develop this trait. I hear way
too many people who move to a different airplane and then land on the
nosewheel, or drop it in or some such thing and then say "well N12345
didn't require that much pull to flary." Who cares what the last
airplane required to flare? You are flying the one you are in now, not
the one you were in last.

Matt