Should I care what plane a flight school has?

[deek]

I'm looking at a few FBO training schools in my area (houston) and I noticed a difference in price and location of course, but also in aircraft types. One has Cessnas, other has Cessnas w/ glass, and one uses Tomahawks and Cougars! Now if go with the Tomahawks and Courgars, and get my CFI, will I be able to CFI in a Cessna at another flight school if hired? Or should I just stick with the basic Cessnas and Pipers? Or just look at bottom-dollar?

[DE727UPS]

"...get my CFI, will I be able to CFI in a Cessna at another flight school if hired?"

Yes.

I'd stay away from glass and would tend to go more towards the bottom dollar. I always say look for a balance between cost and quality. If the bottom dollar outfit takes okay care of their airplanes and the CFI's have some experience and show an interest in you, I think you'll be fine.

[PGA07]

I would have to agree with the above. In my short time I have seen too many people (in my opinion) wet themselves because they are flying (ugmm...primary training) with glass.

The issues I have seen those people have is that it takes them longer to learn basic instrument reading skills, they can not correctly identify instruments and when they see standard panels they are confussed as heck.

Learn the old way, advance to glass when you advance in a/c.

Just my opinion!

[Van_Hoolio]

I did most of my dual given in a type of airplane I had never flown before getting hired by the flight school I worked for. By the time you are going for your first CFI job, you will be comfortable enough in airplanes to have an easy transition between most common GA singles.

Mike

[MidlifeFlyer]

IMO, the only relevant issues for the airplane you use for your intial training are (in no particular order),

Is its safe?
Does it get reliable maintenance?
Is is generally available when I want to fly?
Will I fit iin it.
How much does it cost?

[mojo6911]

The transition between single-engine, fixed gear, is a pretty easy one for most people, so don't let that deter you from saving money.

[tonyw]

No.

As long as it's safe, the kind of plane doesn't matter.

Go with whoever is the best value, and that doesn't always mean the lowest price.

[ozziecat35]

You have to look at what works best for your situation....I solo'd in a steam gauge 1983 172, but passed my ppl checkride in a 2005 SR20...I had relocated, but you get the idea. However, I'm going down to the 152/172 for my instrument, as my CFII and I both agree I should learn instruments the right way...instead of having the Cirrus do it for me.

[shinysideup]

Originally Posted by ozziecat35

You have to look at what works best for your situation....I solo'd in a steam gauge 1983 172, but passed my ppl checkride in a 2005 SR20...I had relocated, but you get the idea. However, I'm going down to the 152/172 for my instrument, as my CFII and I both agree I should learn instruments the right way...instead of having the Cirrus do it for me.

Very good choice. He is right on the mark. The quality of instruction depends on the instructor, and if it brakes the bank. If you are paying top dollar for a glass 172 and run out of money before you are done, it doesn't matter. Find the best instructor you can, and the cheapest aircraft possible for your primary. During your instrument training, use the steam gauges. As someone who trained on steam then flew 200 ish hours in a Cirrus, I can tell you that it is an easy transition that way. But going the other way would be a problem. Good luck!

[Doug Taylor]

I got my private in a Tomahawk. I don't think anyone cared!

[Crockrocket94]

Haha Doug.

Yeah, everyone is on track. It is usually best to get a mix between cost and plane. Personally when i transitioned from 152/172 to the Cherokee there was not much difference other than the flaps and fuel drains


Fly what you want to fly.

High wing gives you a better view of the ground. But who needs that for instrument flying?

In the air, they fly the same.

[JEP]

If you're gonna go Cessna, stay away from the newer models 2000 and newer. Too many damn fuel sumps to drain in preflight, (13) if I recall correctly.

Currently flying a late 70's 172P and there are 2 sumps and one pisser check next to the oil..... Much better....

[JEP]

Originally Posted by Crockrocket94

Haha Doug.

Yeah, everyone is on track. It is usually best to get a mix between cost and plane. Personally when i transitioned from 152/172 to the Cherokee there was not much difference other than the flaps and fuel drains


Fly what you want to fly.

High wing gives you a better view of the ground. But who needs that for instrument flying?

In the air, they fly the same.

Unless of course the ground you are looking for is the runway on downwind-to-base....

[n57flyguy]

Fly the Tomahawk!!!! or in other terms the....well, I'll let you decide

[Minnesota_Flyer]

Originally Posted by JEP

Unless of course the ground you are looking for is the runway on downwind-to-base....

When you complete the turn, the runway will still be there. Been flying Cessnas since 1996, and I have yet to have a runway walk away on me.

[Mr.Maximus]

Maintenance
Training Reputation
Cost
Aircraft type


I would find a happy medium with those, with MX being a must. In the end, at the early stage of flying - the aircraft doesn't matter. I would also agree with an earlier poster - stay away from "glass", learn the basics first - glass is very easy to pick up down the road when you're actually ready to fly something professionally with glass.

Max