GilBuettner
Wisconsin CFI
I had two training flights today in other owners' Pipers. The first was a very attractive PA-28-140 with the 160hp engine. The owners, husband and wife, both are seeking private pilot certificates. This is a very pretty airplane with new paint, good radios, etc. Always fun to fly and compare to my own 140 which is the same year (1969) but not nearly as pretty. We did pattern work for an hour, and with gusty winds she did a pretty good job.
Later today I had the pleasure of checking out a former Stinson owner who is going to be renting a friend's PA-28-181. This was a very attractive airplane with good paint, leather interior, and a very interesting panel. It had a KNS-80, which is familiar to me from my Bonanza ownership, and also a KLN-90B which I also had in the Bonanza. Autopilot, ADF, GPS, etc. all of which was unfamiliar to this former taildragger pilot. I was pleased at how well he flew the airplane in winds gusting into the mid-20s. We did not spend much time on the avionics... he is more used to pilotage.
We did steep turns, stalls, short field takeoffs, soft field takeoffs and landings on grass, all with crosswinds of 30 to 40 degrees, a go-around starting from 40-degree flaps, etc, etc. His first flight in a Piper taught him what a pussycat it is, and I think he will really enjoy flying it with his family.
I love my job.
Later today I had the pleasure of checking out a former Stinson owner who is going to be renting a friend's PA-28-181. This was a very attractive airplane with good paint, leather interior, and a very interesting panel. It had a KNS-80, which is familiar to me from my Bonanza ownership, and also a KLN-90B which I also had in the Bonanza. Autopilot, ADF, GPS, etc. all of which was unfamiliar to this former taildragger pilot. I was pleased at how well he flew the airplane in winds gusting into the mid-20s. We did not spend much time on the avionics... he is more used to pilotage.
We did steep turns, stalls, short field takeoffs, soft field takeoffs and landings on grass, all with crosswinds of 30 to 40 degrees, a go-around starting from 40-degree flaps, etc, etc. His first flight in a Piper taught him what a pussycat it is, and I think he will really enjoy flying it with his family.
I love my job.
