121Dispatch
Pre-takeoff checklist
Well, my wife and a few friends were planning to fly from Atlanta to Charleston, SC for a weekend in April. We were on the schedule for the 172RG well in advance, then I got a phone call from the flight school stating the aircraft needs to be used for a checkride on the day we want to depart. Part of the agreement with the school is that checkrides always take priority. They offered several other aircraft, but unfortunately, none of them offer the payload capacity that we require. Now I am looking at some other FBO's and have come across an M20J and an Aero Commander 112A.
I am wondering how difficult the transition is from the Cessna to these others. I really don't want to load an aircraft up with wife and friends after a basic checkout unless I feel completely comfortable in the aircraft (especially if we will encounter IMC conditions enroute). I understand the M20J will be a bit cramped, and it is a "slick" aircraft, so it's difficult to slow down in comparison to the 172RG...I assume staying several steps ahead of the aircraft is the biggest difference (other than the placement of the wings of course). I have heard very little about the Aero Commander though.
Anyways, I will toss the question out to you guys...What have you experienced with a transition between these types of aircraft, and is one easier to fly than the other? We also need about 1000 pounds of payload capability, and I haven't even looked at the numbers yet to see how close these planes come to providing that.
I am wondering how difficult the transition is from the Cessna to these others. I really don't want to load an aircraft up with wife and friends after a basic checkout unless I feel completely comfortable in the aircraft (especially if we will encounter IMC conditions enroute). I understand the M20J will be a bit cramped, and it is a "slick" aircraft, so it's difficult to slow down in comparison to the 172RG...I assume staying several steps ahead of the aircraft is the biggest difference (other than the placement of the wings of course). I have heard very little about the Aero Commander though.
Anyways, I will toss the question out to you guys...What have you experienced with a transition between these types of aircraft, and is one easier to fly than the other? We also need about 1000 pounds of payload capability, and I haven't even looked at the numbers yet to see how close these planes come to providing that.