Apparently your position is that if one can handle the workload than all
should. I and others have suggested that most (not all) students would
be better served if they concentrated on the particular topic at hand,
which is learning to fly.

I stand by that position. Learning to fly is a complex and very
expensive endeavor. In the interest of both the learning curve and the
pocket book, students would be well served to focus on the learning
rather than the buying.

Besides, if the student is still learning to fly, how in the world does
he or she have the experience to know which make or model is right for
him or her? Sure they can post "what do I buy" questions on newsgroups,
but that too adds to the distraction of learning.

It is too bad that neither of us can substantiate our position with
data. It would be interesting to see the numbers on student pilots that
buy before getting licensed and how long they are happy with their
decision versus pilots that have rented for a while before they buy and
their happiness duration.

I also take issue with your position that 90 to 180 HP fixed gear
aircraft are all about the same. There is a tremendous difference in the
handling of a Cessna 177, an American Yankee AA1A, a Piper Cherokee 140,
and a Beech Skipper. Flaps on the Yankee were ornaments and the
non-steerable nosegear was a challenge for most at first. The elevator
ran out of effectiveness on the C177 before the slotted elevator came
along. The Cherokee was interesting in July and August in Texas and
Oklahoma and came down pretty fast until that low wing hit ground
effect.

The point is that each aircraft model has its own peculiarities as well
as systems and speeds. Learning one set before taking the PP check ride
is usually enough for most students with limited time and money.


-----Original Message-----
From: Tim ]
Posted At: Wednesday, January 24, 2007 5:51 PM
Posted To: rec.aviation.owning
Conversation: First plane
Subject: First plane

Jim Carter wrote:


I call BS on that. I bought a grumman cheetah while learning to
fly.
It was a great learning experience. Where do you get the data for

"most

cannot handle the added distraction?"

I would not recommend that a student of mine be trying to learn to
fly
our trainers while at the same time looking for a different aircraft
of
their own. First, they should be concentrating on the make and model
they will be flying for their tests. They should know the systems
cold
and become intimately familiar with that aircraft. Then by the time
they
get their license (usually only a couple of months) they understand
what
they should expect to learn as they move to other makes or models.
Trying to do that all at once leaves gaps. I sure wouldn't want a
student to be learning in a PA-28 or a C-152 and be looking at or
trying
to buy a Grumman. I've taught in all of them and they are different
birds. Let's learn one thing at a time, and learn it very well.


90 HP to 180 HP single engine fixed gear planes are all about the
same.
I am not sure why this is a problem. (excepting tail draggers) It
is
pretty simple - teach the speed to fly at the different phases of
flight
and all is straightforward. Teaching a specific aircraft is
problematic.

Again, what is it about your experience with students that leads you
to
believe they cannot handle "the distraction" of owning an airplane?

snip