Husky for Private Pilot Training

[imsam67]

Hi,

Can I train and get my private pilot license in an Aviat Husky?

Just wanted to see if there were any regulatory requirements that a Husky may not meet.

Thanks,
Sam

 

[weilke]

Sure and none are the answers.

Two issues:
- Need to find a CFI capable and willing to do primary in a Husky.
- Get insurance that covers primary training.

With the husky being expensive as taildraggers go, insurance for a zero hour TW pilot may be pricey.

 

[GRG55]

First post. Welcome to PoA!

Not only can you do it, it should be encouraged.

My only suggestion, you may want to consider a lower hp, fixed pitch propeller plane such as a Citabria or Cub for your first few hours of tailwheel time. Then step up to the Husky for the rest of your training.

 

[mondtster]

Before everyone gets too excited about telling the OP it can be done, how is the Husky equipped? It is probably fine but nobody here is going to have the answer unless they know the plane in question.

As noted above, the bigger hurdles are likely finding a qualified and competent instructor and dealing with insurance.

 

[Hank S]

Before everyone gets too excited about telling the OP it can be done, how is the Husky equipped? It is probably fine but nobody here is going to have the answer unless they know the plane in question.

There's a minimum equipment list to usa an airplane for training? And beatup, 40 year old C152s with a single Nav/Com meet it, but you're worried that a Husky won't?

 

[mondtster]

There's a minimum equipment list to usa an airplane for training? And beatup, 40 year old C152s with a single Nav/Com meet it, but you're worried that a Husky won't?

Can you complete all the tasks necessary on the private pilot checkride in it?

Some airplanes you can’t.

 

[MauleSkinner]

Can you complete all the tasks necessary on the private pilot checkride in it?

Some airplanes you can’t.

It’s probably better equipped than some of the jets I've flown.

At least, that’s been my experience with Huskies.

 

[Zeldman]

About 3 years ago a friends son did his private in a cub. So why not a Husky.??

 

[Stingray Don]

Except for the Husky’s propensity to land on the taxiway. *cough* Harrison Ford *cough*.

 

[mondtster]

It’s probably better equipped than some of the jets I've flown.

At least, that’s been my experience with Huskies.

That’s been my experience as well. But it is something to be considered.

 

[MauleSkinner]

That’s been my experience as well. But it is something to be considered.

Worse comes to worse, an electric T&B is cheap and easy to install, and they’re allowing hand-held nav for the Private Checkride, I think.

 

[imsam67]

Thank you all for your answers. I agree that a bit more information here would be helpful. My primary concern was that I'm not sure about the certification type of Huskies e.g. light sport, experimental or "regular".

The Husky that I'll be flying in is actually a new 2018 A1C with a pretty nice set of equipment including a G796 touch-screen GPS with MVP-50 digital engine monitor.

As per me, I must be one of few people with over 70 hours logged but no license!! (Not proud of it)

I was flying regularly about 15 years ago. I soloed in a Diamond DA-20 Katana and later switched to a 172. My instructor kept telling me that my skills had developed nicely and I needed to go out on my own but I just didn't have enough confidence. In particular, I felt inadequate in my navigational skills. Around that time, my instructor moved away and that's when I stopped flying.

Since then I moved and now live in Wyoming and the Aviat factory is literally 30 min driving distance. So as you can imagine, there are lots of Huskies around the area and I just fell in love with the aircraft.

I've now decided to start flying again and get my license and keep on flying...

 

[JCranford]

You can if you have Husky money!

 

[FastEddieB]

Husky would be fine as a primary trainer.

I’ve signed off Private Pilot applicants in both a Citabria and a Cirrus SR22. Each passed.

Both had their own challenges and peculiarities, but no show-stoppers.

I’d say go for it.

 

[GRG55]

Can you complete all the tasks necessary on the private pilot checkride in it?

Some airplanes you can’t.

Valid point. And something to verify in any particular airplane.

But when one looks at any given year every Husky seems to be equipped similarly, for the era. They have always been a somewhat expensive (for what they are, imo) and well equipped plane when new. The older ones are all 180 hp, constant speed prop, with vacuum systems and a more than adequate panel for VFR training.

The new ones have a fuel injected 200 hp option, glitzy paint and the now mandatory swaths of glass imbedded in the panel. Any of them are probably more exciting to train in than the common well-used vintage 172.

My 1996 has more in it than I would prefer, all King state-of-the art circa mid-1990s. It even has a moving map King GPS. Talk about ambitious. I am considering stripping out some of the stuff to lighten it up, as it's a purely day VFR plane for me.

I think if one is fortunate to train in a Husky it's going to be hard to step back to something with more sedate performance.

 

[RyanShort1]

Also check with the qualified instructor if he or she knows of an examiner that's qualified...

 

[mondtster]

Valid point. And something to verify in any particular airplane.

But when one looks at any given year every Husky seems to be equipped similarly, for the era. They have always been a somewhat expensive (for what they are, imo) and well equipped plane when new. The older ones are all 180 hp, constant speed prop, with vacuum systems and a more than adequate panel for VFR training.

The new ones have a fuel injected 200 hp option, glitzy paint and the now mandatory swaths of glass imbedded in the panel. Any of them are probably more exciting to train in than the common well-used vintage 172.

My 1996 has more in it than I would prefer, all King state-of-the art circa mid-1990s. It even has a moving map King GPS. Talk about ambitious. I am considering stripping out some of the stuff to lighten it up, as it's a purely day VFR plane for me.

I think if one is fortunate to train in a Husky it's going to be hard to step back to something with more sedate performance.

I agree with everything you said. I’ve never seen a minimally equipped husky either but with the type of flying huskies and similar airplanes are often associated with I would be less surprised to see one stripped of extra equipment than I would to find a stripped 150 or something like that. That’s the only reason I even mentioned it.

And in case someone doesn’t believe that people would remove equipment from an airplane, I’m doing a panel upgrade in a Super Cub right now which includes removing the vacuum system and all gyros. The “upgrade” wouldn’t have enough equipment to do a private checkride. The goal is to make the plane as light and simple as possible to maximize performance.

 

[Crashnburn]

I agree with everything you said. I’ve never seen a minimally equipped husky either but with the type of flying huskies and similar airplanes are often associated with I would be less surprised to see one stripped of extra equipment than I would to find a stripped 150 or something like that. That’s the only reason I even mentioned it.

And in case someone doesn’t believe that people would remove equipment from an airplane, I’m doing a panel upgrade in a Super Cub right now which includes removing the vacuum system and all gyros. The “upgrade” wouldn’t have enough equipment to do a private checkride. The goal is to make the plane as light and simple as possible to maximize performance.

Oxymoron

 

[deyoung]

Except for the Husky’s propensity to land on the taxiway. *cough* Harrison Ford *cough*.

Really, the Jar Jar Binks avatar is giving Han Solo grief??

 

[Stingray Don]

Really, the Jar Jar Binks avatar is giving Han Solo grief??

Missa never land onda taxiway

 

[Duster]

Yup, I did my ppl in a high performance tailwheel, no issues. As mentioned, the DPE has to be ok with the type of aircraft; there where two in my area that flew tailwheel, and now there are three.

Good luck, and have fun!

 

[Eric Stoltz]

GO FOR IT!! A great airplane to teach you how to fly. Even when you get 10k hours, it'll still teach ya somethin.

 

[murphey]

I know students who started in a twin....you can learn to fly in anything, even a jet if you'd like. Of course the insurance is outlandish....

Here's my favorite entry in the airmen database....brownie points if you know who it is

Medical Class: First Medical Date: 2/2019
MUST WEAR CORRECTIVE LENSES FOR NEAR AND DISTANT VISION.
Certificate: PRIVATE PILOT
Date of Issue: 12/28/2018

Ratings:
PRIVATE PILOT
AIRPLANE SINGLE ENGINE LAND
AIRPLANE MULTIENGINE LAND
INSTRUMENT AIRPLANE

Type Ratings:
P/B-707 P/B-720 P/CE-500 P/CL-600 P/DA-2000
P/EA-500S P/G-1159 P/HS-125 P/LR-JET

Limits:
ENGLISH PROFICIENT.
B-707 DA-2000 SIC PRIVILEGES ONLY.
AUTHORIZED EXPERIMENTAL AIRCRAFT: SO-G2.
CE-500 (VFR ONLY).

 

[Hank S]

I know students who started in a twin....you can learn to fly in anything, even a jet if you'd like. Of course the insurance is outlandish....

Here's my favorite entry in the airmen database....brownie points if you know who it is

Medical Class: First Medical Date: 2/2019
MUST WEAR CORRECTIVE LENSES FOR NEAR AND DISTANT VISION.
Certificate: PRIVATE PILOT
Date of Issue: 12/28/2018

Ratings:
PRIVATE PILOT
AIRPLANE SINGLE ENGINE LAND
AIRPLANE MULTIENGINE LAND
INSTRUMENT AIRPLANE

Type Ratings:
P/B-707 P/B-720 P/CE-500 P/CL-600 P/DA-2000
P/EA-500S P/G-1159 P/HS-125 P/LR-JET

Limits:
ENGLISH PROFICIENT.
B-707 DA-2000 SIC PRIVILEGES ONLY.
AUTHORIZED EXPERIMENTAL AIRCRAFT: SO-G2.
CE-500 (VFR ONLY).

Gotta be John Revolta. Don't know of any other Private pilots rated in B-707s . . . . . It's sad that the hangar he built at his hoise is too small for it, but at least the cockpit is shaded.

 

[djpacro]

Since then I moved and now live in Wyoming and the Aviat factory is literally 30 min driving distance.

Give Mark a call http://www.aviationservicesdirectory.com/company/afton_flight_services/4815

The Husky that I'll be flying in is actually a new 2018 A1C with a pretty nice set of equipment including a G796 touch-screen GPS with MVP-50 digital engine monitor.

I'm about to fit an MVP-50P to my Super Decathlon so interested in reviews. (I still part-own a Pitts and regularly fly and instruct in a Husky.)