Flight Training - November 2019 - 41

MIKE FIZER

CubCrafters, and Cruiser Aircraft have
delivered aircraft in the hundreds. Metal,
composite, low wing, high wing-you name
it-you can find your preferred design features
in a Light Sport aircraft. And manufacturers
continue to innovate with new designs: The
Magnus Fusion 212 and Vashon Ranger entered
the market in 2018, and Texas Aircraft is
approaching ASTM approval for its Colt.
Light Sport manufacturers aren't alone in
capitalizing on growing demand for pilots and
aircraft to train them. Italian manufacturer
Vulcanair brought a new entry to the American
training market with the V1.0, a metal highwing four-seater originally designed in the
1960s as the Partenavia P.64/P.66. And, Piper
is targeting flight schools with the new Pilot
100 and Pilot 100i, trimmed-down versions of
the PA-28 Archer TX.
General aviation aircraft live long and storied
lives, so don't expect to see school flight lines
transform overnight. But, slowly and steadily,
general aviation ramps are diversifying. You
don't have to learn to fly in the airplane your
father flew-more options are increasingly available. Decide which features are important to you,
then ask around. The best model may be one you
hadn't even heard of yet. -Sarah Deener
VASHON RANGER

CESSNA 140
Seats: 2
Introduction: 1946
Best for: Students who
think tailwheels are cool
Don't use for: The
quickest route to the
airlines

CESSNA 140
LEARN TAILWHEEL FIRST
Shortcut to great fun
BY KOLLIN STAGNITO

If your dream is to fly a Piper Super Cub, Van's RV-8, or P-51 Mustang-among many
other airplanes pilots drool over-you're going to need a tailwheel endorsement.
Learning to fly in a tricycle gear airplane and then transitioning to a conventional
gear (tailwheel) airplane will add 5 to 10 hours to your training. Consider starting
your primary training in a classic tailwheel-equipped airplane: the Cessna 140.
Almost 7,000 Cessna 120/140/140A airplanes were manufactured between 1946
and 1951 (with the majority being 140s) and many are still flying today-mainly
because they're inexpensive to operate, fun to fly, and make great trainers.
The Cessna 140 demands precise rudder usage during every takeoff and landing to
track the runway centerline. Appropriate rudder usage is also required during turns
to maintain coordinated flight. But these rudder skills don't take long to learn and will
translate to every other airplane you will ever fly. Transitioning to tricycle gear after
learning tailwheel is a cinch-and requires no endorsement.
Oh, and there is a bit of a cool factor. As if learning to fly any airplane wasn't cool
enough, being one of the estimated 15 percent of pilots who have learned to fly a tailwheel airplane earns instant cred for your stick and rudder skills.
Cubs, Luscombes, Taylorcrafts, and Champs also offer low-cost entry into tailwheel flight training and aircraft ownership, with the added benefit that many are
classified as Light Sport aircraft that can be flown with a minimum of a sport pilot
certificate and valid U.S. driver's license-no medical required.
kollin.stagnito@aopa.org
AOPA.ORG/FT 41

http://www.AOPA.ORG/FT

Flight Training - November 2019

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Flight Training - November 2019