On Wednesday, September 16, 2015 at 7:43:14 AM UTC+3, bumper wrote:
On Tuesday, September 15, 2015 at 11:58:18 AM UTC-7, wrote:

My options appear to be a Tomahawk or the like with a CFIG, or maybe an Aviat Husky taildragger with a CFI. I think landings with the CFIG sounds like good practice for me, the instructor will probably be able to help replicate glider landings like Cindy suggested.

Cheers,
J

I have an Aviat Husky and would recommend it over the Tomahawk - with reservations. The Husky is relatively complex compared to most training aircraft. Perhaps more importantly, the instructor, unless built like a spidermonkey, will not have a great view of the instrument panel or access to controls save for stick, rudder, throttle transmit button, and slapping the backside of your head. Everything else will be your baby; mixture, prop, mags, flaps, all radio gear, engine monitoring, etc. This can present quite a load to a beginning student pilot who's active brain cells will often be near saturation learning to start the engine and taxi safely. I've heard a few instructors make unfavorable remarks re. the Husky's suitability as a primary trainer due to this.

I will say that if you learn to fly the Husky with finesse, you should be able to step into most any single engine with a minimum of fuss. Not because the Husky is all that difficult, it's an honest plane, but it isn't a pussycat. Oh, and for shear fun it'll spoil you for most other power planes!

As he is not intending to solo the Husky and is mainly after skills that will transfer to gliding, he could sit in the back seat. There are plenty of controls there for his purpose.

Several years ago I went for a flight with a friend in his 180 Super Cub. I sat in the back. I couldn't see the instruments - or at least the airspeed.. I did half a dozen circuits like this. On the first two approaches my friend called the airspeed to me. On the rest he didn't bother .. I was already nailing the airspeed based on wind noise and control feel.

It freaked me out a bit though with the steep climb outs without being able to see airspeed. I was afraid I'd stall it, but he just kept saying "you can go much steeper than this .. you've got plenty of speed...".

Visibility of things *outside* wasn't a problem from the back. You're supposed to slip a bit on finals, right :-)