Originally Posted by rickair7777

The only benefit to the cessna in my mind would be that down the road if you have a few hundred cessna hours you can always jump in any 150/152/172 and go.

I would however recommend that you learn instruments on on a NON-glass airplane. Learn round gauges first, PPL & IR, then maybe transition to glass for the commercial.

It's going to be a lot harder to learn steam gauges later on if you start with glass. many entry-level airliners and other kerosene burners still have steam gauges. If you had never flown them before, you would be at high risk for flunking out of initial airline training. Best to be prepared for worst-case as long as the old instruments are still common in commercial aviation.

Originally Posted by Yoda2

You might have been born to fly but you were not born a pilot. Pilots are made. Your success as a pilot is all up to you and your instructor. You can learn everything you need to know in either aircraft. To safely and properly operate the other would merely be a matter of a proper checkout with differences training. A challenging aircraft is not going to make you a better pilot; first you need to be up to the challenge, and that will pervade throughout your career anyway... BTW, the challenges between the two choices you have provided are negligible; each have their pro's, con's and attributes. Personally I have PIC time in over 80 different models of aircraft and I can trace any success with that directly back to the quality of my primary flight instruction. For the purposes of flight instruction, it doesn't really matter which you pick. For a number of reasons I do prefer the Cessna for knock'n around and as an instrument platform. Good luck!

Originally Posted by mspano85

I definitely plan to learn on the steam gauges. I was mainly curious if learning the G-1000 is essential, or a big plus?

Originally Posted by mspano85

Would there be any advantage in one over the other?

Originally Posted by jackal24:

I would definitely start on steam gauges.

Originally Posted by rickair7777

Glass time during entry-level training is not essential, in fact it can be detrimental. If you can always reference the moving map for situational awareness, you may never develop the knack for knowing where you are by just glancing at a CDI, RMI, HSI.

I'd say once you're very solid and comfortable with old school instruments, then you can benefit from glass.

If you never do glass as a student, not to worry, it's very easy to pick up...that's why it's so dangerous in general aviation, it creates a false sense of complacency.

I'm absolutely certain the glass has enhanced safety in professionally flow aircraft...but it's a documented fact that it's more dangerous in GA than the old school stuff.

Originally Posted by jackal24

I never flew glass until I was hired by an airline and didn't have any issues with the transition. Transitioning to steam gauges from glass would probably be a lot harder. I would definitely start on steam gauges.

Originally Posted by UnderOveur

Yep.

The 172 has two doors, the Archer only has one. Additionally, you can crack the windows open on both sides of the 172 (esp. on the ground during taxi/run-up)...a BIG plus in summertime weather in planes with no A/C. You can't do this in an Archer. It was also already mentioned that it is far easier to find 172's to rent at other locations vs. the Archer, another significant advantage in my book.

Fwiw, I got my ppl in Archers & Warriors. Did my commercial and CFI in Cessnas. In hindsight, I would've started in Cessnas knowing what I know now.



Absolutely this. No question about it.

Originally Posted by mspano85

That is definitely something to consider. Comfort would be nice. I'm not sure if they are equipped with ac or not.

Since I mainly plan to be a flight instructor, and unlikely to go any further than that, maybe the Cessna is the better choice because that is more than likely what I would train in the rest of my career.

Originally Posted by N9373M

Air Conditioning is not an issue. IIRC you can use it during taxi and just as the cabin starts to cool, it must be turned off for take off, then you're flying and have the air vents and windows. We had the AC removed from our club's 172 for that reason (extra weight and possible maint issues too).

As an aside - our club also had a Cheetah - nice bubble canopy. Always scheduled my BFR in July. CFII wanted OUT, so the flight was "exactly 60 minutes" or thereabouts