Learn in 172 or DA40

[flyingcheesehead]

Now I'm looking to essentially just start all over with a new instructor and get my license. The question is is there any reason for safety that I wouldn't want to learn in the DA 40. I plan to rent the da40 once I finish my license. I'm not concerned about the cost difference. My only concern is if it is too squirrelly of a plane to be a newbie pilot in.

For instance if it's too easy to get into a stall or too hard to get out of one excetera.

Having a fair amount of experience in both, the DA40 is exactly the opposite of what you're concerned about. It's one of the safest certified GA planes ever made, and flies *beautifully*.

If anything, I'd recommend you train in the 172 because the DA40 is TOO EASY to fly! It doesn't really "break" at all in a stall and in comparison to the 172 it practically lands itself.

If it's all you're ever going to fly, there's nothing wrong with training in it. However, if you want to fly other types right away, you might be better off training in the 172. Same for glass vs. steam - Train in the harder one, the transition from steam to glass (and from 172 to DA40) is easier than the other way around simply because it takes more effort to fly the 172 and to fly steam gauges.

However - If you're thinking you might just rent one type and eventually buy a Bonanza (such as another poster suggested), I would actually suggest the DA40 would be a better way to execute that scenario. A Bonanza is also relatively easy to fly, what gets people in trouble with them is their speed. The DA40 has a good 20 knots on the 172, or even closer to 40 knots if you're comparing a new DA40 to an old 172 (vs. an older DA40 with a new 172). Because of that, you'd have an easier time transitioning from the DA40 to the Bonanza because you'll be used to a faster airplane already.

Really, you can't go wrong either way, you'll just have a different experience. To me, the most important consideration would be availability during training. If your school has one DA40 and 3, 5, or more 172s, go with the 172. If they've got multiples of both, take your pick.

 

[Henning]

I haven't flown a DA40, so I cant comment on it's flight characteristics, but since I know the particular plane you're looking at flying, and park my own plane right next to it I can comment a little on it and offer my 2 cents.

I've looked over that plane a lot and met the owner a few times, it's a really nice plane. However because of this it's also used by club members a lot. Because of this you may find that it's difficult to schedule for all of your flights, both during and after training. Since it's the only DA40 in the fleet if it's out on a day you planned to do a training flight, then your training gets to wait. On the flip side the club has several cherokees and 172s, so if you're doing your training in either of them you always have backups. This can be a big deal for training, as not having access to a plane will slow things down a lot. It can also be a real bummer when you have a trip planned and the plane isn't available.

I did all of my PPL training in one plane, but immediately after it seemed like I was flying everything in the club, simply because of availability. Thankfully I was checked out in the 172, and PA-28 so I had a lot of planes to pick from. The DA-40 is much more limited in selection, one at CRQ and I think 2 at MYF.

This is a major issue in the training scenario. My advice, train in them all.

 

[RyanB]

Cant go wrong with either. Like many others have said cost is a big factor. If the DA40 fits your budget by all means go for it! If the 172 fits your budget better go with that. When I started lessons my school has 152's which were cheaper than 172's and I did most all my training in them and then got checked out in the 172 after I got my license.

 

[Flying Viking]

Last I heard, our 2 MYF DA-40's will be sold and taken out of the club.

Both of them??