If you are at flight school right now or are considering joining a flight school and gaining your certification as a pilot, then you are surely looking forward to your first solo flight. The question that might be first in your mind, then, is what plane should you start with? With various planes available at most flight schools that you can choose to train on, you need to decide which one you wish to become familiar with first.
While you may think that it doesn’t matter which plane you train in while you are at flight school, it does in fact matter. This is because every model of airplane is different, and one airplane might have certain controls that another airplane lacks, or one might require a slightly different set of skills than another. This means that getting training in the specific type of plane that you intend to fly after getting your pilot’s license is important.
Cessna 172SP �Skyhawk’
The Cessna 172SP, otherwise known as the Skyhawk, is among the most popular training planes at many a flight school around the world. This is mainly due to its easy handling and forgiving characteristics, making it an excellent beginner’s airplane and also great for those who intend to take up flying more as a casual hobby than anything else. The Skyhawk also has a reputation for being one of the safest propeller-driven aircraft ever built, and you will never have to worry about the integrity of your airplane while you are flying in a Skyhawk.
Cessna T182T Skylane Turbo
The Cessna T182T, also known as the Skylane Turbo, is among the most popular aircraft favored by private pilots around the world. With more power and a greater climb rate than the Skyhawk, the Skylane Turbo is for the more enthusiastic pilot who is looking for greater performance and maneuverability from his airplane. The built-in turbocharger ensures that the airplane never lacks for climbing power and will boost you into the skies at great speed. After climbing, the Skylane Turbo maintains great cruise speeds smoothly and with no trouble at all.
Cirrus SR20 GTS
The phrase �you get what you pay for’ certainly applies in the airplane industry. The most notable of the Cirrus SR20’s features is the airframe parachute that is built into each aircraft. In the event of a midair collision or other accident, the mechanism will do exactly as its name suggests, and deploy a parachute that will float the airplane and any passengers safely back to the ground, making this quite possibly the safest option you could choose. If you are concerned about safety, then this added safety feature of this particular plane surely makes it the choice for you. The Cirrus SR20 also seats four people comfortably, so if you are thinking of taking your friends and family along with you when you fly, then this is also the plane for you. Finally, the Cirrus SR20 comes complete with a full complement of technological features and gadgetry to aid you in your flying, such as satellite weather updates, terrain and traffic warning systems, and on-screen approach plates.
So whatever your personal preferences as to flying characteristics are, you are sure to find what you are looking for in one of the great airplanes described above. Train hard while you are at flight school and you will soon be flying solo in one of these airplanes, with the land spread out below you and the sky above, free as a bird.