The Cessna 172 is the easiest airplane to learn to fly in, according to a survey of flight schools around the world on Insider Monkey. Also on the list: The Cessna 150/152, Piper PA-28, Diamond DV20/DA20 Katana, and American Champion Citabria. Check out the full story here, then weigh in: Do you agree with the list? What airplane would get your vote as easiest trainer?
A tail wheel is the best to teach proper coordination and this is a quality sadly missing in many of today’s pilots. The Champ is the best to learn in. This is the best for results.
I agree whole heartedly, but the insurance companies have a different view and they are not entirely wrong, todays CFIs, on the fast track to burning kerosene, not only do not have the desire to teach in old, vintage, tailwheel aircraft, their teaching skills as well as their aviation skills are not up to the task.
The first plane I ever flew was the an old world war two piper cub. I thought it was incredibly easy.
C172 is definitely easiest of the airplanes I’ve flown. As others have said, more like learning to “drive” than fly. I hear some operators have their students keep their feet flat on the floor while flying them. Kinda sad. They’re safe, I suppose, but boring. They’re easy for getting you started out, but if you really want to learn stick-and-rudder airmanship, you gotta transition to something else.
I did primary in a J-3 Cub. No, I’m not that old, I lucked out and my local FBO had one they used for tailwheel and light sport training. What a superb little trainer! Needs to be plus-sized for bigger guys like me (6’4″), but the handling characteristics really teach you how to *fly*, and how to keep alert when ground handling. The great thing is that it’s relatively easy to get started in, but very difficult to master (I still haven’t). That keeps it interesting and fun for many, many hours. Plus, when the sun comes out and things warm up, there’s nothing like skimming freshly mown fields at 65 mph with the door open. 😉 For a modern version more suited to bigger people, I think the Cubcrafters Sport Cub is an excellent option.
All of the preceding comments made me re-think my initial training in 152’s and 172’s. But at that time I felt too busy to think that I was “driving!” 🙂
I learned to fly in ’65-’66 on purpose choosing the low wing tri-gear wide stance Piper PA-28 because of visibility in the pattern turns and manual flaps quickly set or released. I’ve had time in C140s, C150s and C172s since but prefer low wing aircraft like a Piper or Mooney. Some C150s with slow electric flap trim I consider dangerous because your attention is diverted watching that infernal thermometer-type angle degree gauge near the door hinge instead of where the plane is going.
With the PA-28 you can also with experience “ride” the flap “Johnson” bar on final for precision flap landings runway placement with no vision diversion. Sure, the PA28 requires control harmony, but isn’t that what good coordinated flying is all about?
Many aircraft accidents are in the airport traffic pattern landing phase, and that is where situational awareness and visibility counts. Low wing aircraft have it all over high wing aircraft there in pattern entry and turns to base and final. The C150 is so sensitive in trim flown solo that just retuning the com or other reaches while leaning forward causes a descent.
Boy am i going to upset a lot of people, the absolute poorest excuse for a trainer out there, is the 150/152, if you can keep the wings level and the nose pointed at the runway, you can drive it, you never develop any feel for an airplane or develop any sense of energy, personally i feel teaching people to fly in a 150/152 borders on committing fraud.
172, not much better than 150, at least when you get done you can carry pax in the airplane that you know how to drive.
Pa-28, descent trainer, have to learn to manage energy, requires good control coordination, you cant just drive it to the runway and hope for the best.
BE-23, best of the modern trainers, not forgiving but also not dangerous, great handling but requires good control coordination, requires a good sense of energy management, students transition easily to larger faster aircraft. are an excellent stable trainer for all phases flight training.
Learning to fly in a PA 28 and very happy with it’s characteristics. Shopping for a 172 as easier for a senior citizen to get into. After learning to “drive” will go for tailwheel endorsement.
Like the rest of the population, the prospective pilot population has a larger body mass to fit into a Cessna 150, so the 172 becomes the trainer of choice. From what I’ve heard the handling characteristics are somewhat alike.
The Cessnas are undoubtedly the easiest to learn to “drive” an airplane in.
However to learn to fly I think the Cub, Taylorcraft, or Aeronca, would better teach how to “Fly” an airplane.
For a more modern I’d nominate the Citabras..
Good article, other than having a 172 picture accompanying the 150/152 description. Not a biggie, but I haven’t had coffee yet this morning, so I’m still
persnickety, I guess.