Fun Day of Flying

TRocket

TRocket

Line Up and Wait
Joined
Nov 10, 2014
Messages
983
Location
Huntersville, NC
Display Name
Display name:
Uncle Jesse
Got the complex endorsement signed off today. Finally got out of a Cherokee (definitely not knocking it, but a change of pace was nice for sure). A couple of lessons and a few hours was all it took. The plane flew a little differently and I could tell it was heavier, but after the first lesson it was just about as comfortable as the Cherokee, just a little tougher to make a decent landing in. Had never gotten light signals from the tower before, asked for a takeoff clearance with the light gun and they were happy to accommodate. Best of all, shared the pattern with a C-130..."Caution wake turbulence" anyone?
 
I know I'll get flamed for this but the "Hershey Bar" wing Arrows aren't all that nice to fly. The Arrows & all Cherokees for that matter fly much nicer with the tapered wing.

Congratulations on getting your complex endorsement out of the way.
 
Last I knew, Arrows were still Cherokee, PA-28R-xxx
 
BillTIZ said:
Last I knew, Arrows were still Cherokee, PA-28R-xxx
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Indeed they are! You're pretty astute.

But thats understandable. You're a fellow CFIG & tow pilot.

I'm trying to buy a two-place sailplane - Grob, Blank, etc. Can you help me with that?
 
Any Blaniks available would be the L-23 model. I do not know of any available right now.
Be careful with Grob 103s. Some have airspeed limits based on an AD.
Others have been repaired so their usable weight makes them a glorified single seater.
 
Congrats,you'll enjoy the arrow,not the fastest retrac,but still a fun airplane. Not crazy about the 180 hp arrows.
 
BillTIZ said:
Any Blaniks available would be the L-23 model. I do not know of any available right now.
Be careful with Grob 103s. Some have airspeed limits based on an AD.
Others have been repaired so their usable weight makes them a glorified single seater.
Click to expand...

Thanks for your input. I have a lot of instructing time in an L-23. That would be my first choice. I may have to exceed my budget & buy a Duo Discus or something similar but now you're talking in the 90K range. I'll end up having more $ in the glider than the 182A I bought as my tow plane.

Things have changed since I had my soaring school in the early 90's.
 
BillTIZ said:
Last I knew, Arrows were still Cherokee, PA-28R-xxx
Click to expand...

I'm aware, the big difference there is the "R" and the constant speed prop. Technically, yes, it's a Cherokee "Arrow", however when you have spent all your time in a fixed gear 140 with a fixed pitch prop, it's different. So maybe I could have said, I got "into an Arrow" instead of "out of a Cherokee"...

frfly172 said:
Congrats,you'll enjoy the arrow,not the fastest retrac,but still a fun airplane. Not crazy about the 180 hp arrows.
Click to expand...

Thanks! This was a 180, CFI said I would definitely notice a difference in the 200 Arrow, going to try and get into one of those here in the next few weeks.
 
TRocket said:
....Thanks! This was a 180, CFI said I would definitely notice a difference in the 200 Arrow, going to try and get into one of those here in the next few weeks.
Click to expand...

so, not the one out of aerowood? that one is two hundid and a fun plane to fly.
 
eman1200 said:
so, not the one out of aerowood? that one is two hundid and a fun plane to fly.
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Nope, but I called them this week about taking it for a ride. Need 10 hours of complex and a checkout with one of their CFI's first of course.
 
Congrats, but you could have knocked out the HP at the same time in a different plane...:yes:
 
saddletramp said:
Thanks for your input. I have a lot of instructing time in an L-23. That would be my first choice. I may have to exceed my budget & buy a Duo Discus or something similar but now you're talking in the 90K range. I'll end up having more $ in the glider than the 182A I bought as my tow plane.

Things have changed since I had my soaring school in the early 90's.
Click to expand...
Sometimes you can find a Janus or SGS 2-32. The Janus C is a great bird if you can find one. Heavy wings, but that L-23 is not easy to assemble either.

Where was your school?
 
Twin_Flyer said:
Congrats, but you could have knocked out the HP at the same time in a different plane...:yes:
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You are exactly right, still need to get to 10 hours of complex to rent most places, so now I will do the HP in another plane while building the remaining hours, just a little cheaper this way.
 
TRocket said:
I'm aware, the big difference there is the "R" and the constant speed prop. Technically, yes, it's a Cherokee "Arrow", however when you have spent all your time in a fixed gear 140 with a fixed pitch prop, it's different. So maybe I could have said, I got "into an Arrow" instead of "out of a Cherokee"...



Thanks! This was a 180, CFI said I would definitely notice a difference in the 200 Arrow, going to try and get into one of those here in the next few weeks.
Click to expand...
After flying in our Arrow II (200 hp) I can't imagine have only 180......
But congrats on the complex rating!
 
It's a complex endorsement....

You might try out a Cessna retract. 172RGs aren't a big deal, but 177RG and 182RG are kinda nice. Just be prepared for a 12 second gear cycle.

PA28s are easier to land, but the performance is ... well, OK. You can get 130 knots out of a 177RG, and they will climb over 10,000 MSL without sacrificing your first born.
 
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