Does anyone here have time in a Tomahawk? I have a private student that is looking at buying one. I was trying to get him to buy a 150 and he looked but couldn't find what he was looking for in his price range. He went and did some looking and found a Tomahawk. He did some reading and decided that it was a good plane for him. He wants to go on and get his instrument, so he will be putting some money into instruments, but he is looking to spend around $20k. I have heard that they are scary to stall because they like to spin and not come out of them. Can anyone tell me more about how they fly and what to expect?
Shaun

http://www.pipertomahawk.com/Qualities.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Piper_PA-38_Tomahawk

They are a basic trainer just like the 152. They use a little more runway but fly faster than a 152. They are easier to get into. Have a more modern panel layout. If you crash upside down you most likely will be trapped inside. During stalls and spins they are more difficult to control than a 152. The tail shakes wildly in stalls and spins. It takes more deliberate rudder control to get out of a spin. Too much and it will snap roll in the opposite direction. They are not perfect but but not a monster either.

SKyHigh

Yea Shaun !!! You live in the SEA area don't you? If so I am not to far away.

Traumahawk is not a bad plane, especially if you are goin to do IFR work with it then you dont have to get into tne scenarios where things can getout of hand. Enen then an incipient stall wont cause you any grief. Its when you allow them to get fully developed, ie 3 turns or more and aggravate them with a tucked aileron that things can get pretty ouy of control. As A basic IFR trainer you cant go wrong, they are very cost efficient because people ar eso scared of the stall/spin characteristics thar the prices have gone down. Its not really a big deal, its a piper after all. Take it out ,fully stall it,unload it,and thats all there is to it. In my experience a 152 will get much more wild than a traumahawk. Its a good litle plane, dont worry about it.

http://flighttraining.aopa.org/learn...icles/0107.cfm


SkyHigh

I am looking to get a Tomahawk if I can sell my Taylorcraft.

It looks like the guy sold the plane out from under my student. He is looking for another one though. I was going to recomend he look at something else, but from what I have read here, my mind has been changed. It will be a nice change from the 152s and 172s that I spend most of my time in. I think that this student needs a plane that will make him respect stalls a little more, and from the sounds of it, this should do just that.

SkyHigh, I am at Bremerton Nat'l, about 18 miles West of SEA. It seems like I heard that you lived in Enumclaw or somewhere over there?

I grew up in Issaquah and have worked for most of the better known companies in WA. When I was a kid I spent my summers at the Issaquah Airport and would buy rides in the tow planes for $5 each. (My mother doesnt know I did that so please don't tell her.) I don't know if Pegasus flight school is still in business but I checked out their only MEI at the time in an Apache that they just bought. I later ran into the guy at Horizon Air and I guess that he is a DE now. I am currently trying to sell my Taylorcraft and get a Tomahawk or 152 myself. Maybe you could give me a BFR and check out?

SkyHigh

Why sell a Taylorcraft to get a spam-can with training wheels? Man up and get rid of the T-craft for a Stinson Reliant, Cabin Waco, Staggerwing or C-195.

From yor posts, you sound very successful since leaving flying and taking control of your destiny - which should help with the care and feeding of the aforementioned airplanes.

The Taylorcraft hurts me too much. I bought it in my 20's to help advance my career as an Alaskan Bush Pilot. My plan then was to then put it in the hangar until I became a major airline pilot then I would pay to have it professionally restored. Well the plan didn't work out and I can't bring myself to fly it, look at it or even to sit in it. In addition I live in a place that has strong winds. A spam can with a nose wheel and toe brakes would make it much easier to fly.


SkyHigh

I have relatives in Issaquah. I don't fly up there really often, but I know the area a little. Just let me know if you want a BFR and a checkout, I would be happy to. This student of mine might be interested in your Taylorcraft. He was thinking of a cub (I love tailwheels, so I liked that idea). I am not really sure how serious he is about the instrument rating, but that might not be the best plane for that. I will ask him if he has thought about them. Let me know details and what you want for it and all that.

Shaun