flystraightin

Okay thanks for the quick replys, now here is the info you guys asked about.

- They are at different schools
- The Katana is brand new '06
- The Cessna is late 70s-early 80s

Its $104/hr to rent or train (wet) in either aircraft, but its $52/hr for an instructor for the DA-20 and $48/hr for a Cessna instructor. Either way, it comes to around $150/hr dual time.

Im leaning towards the C150 right now, since I've already got a few hrs in a 152, plus a bunch of guys from work fly at the school with the 150. They also offer a "buy 10hrs, get one free" frequent flyer card. But the DA-20 looks soo nice lol!!!

Golden Flyer: Nope, not in Toronto, Im on the west coast, Victoria YYJ. Its good cause we are on the east side of Vancouver Is. so we're shielded from the rain and we dont get snow. Vancouver gets it! haha Its actually hotter than Seattle or places south of us. 80F right now lol Cheers

edik

06' DA20, why are you even thinking about a c152. only 4 bucks more for the da20, it will only cost you at the most 200 bucks extra.

ToiletDuck

Cessna 152 is a tank. Plain and simple. I've seen students do more to those poor planes. I wouldn't get into those Katanas until you managed to get some hours and just want to try one. Avionics don't do anything for a first time student except keep him from learning how to do things old school if they fail.

Ottopilot

I instructed in both planes. I have a few hundred hours in the 150 and more in the 152. The 152 has 10 more HP and is newer- 1978 and on I believe. The Katanas came out in 1995-6, and our flight school was one of the first to get them. I instructed in them for about 500 hours. In the big picture, they are not that different. Small, two-seat plane that has no useful load. Two 180 pound pilots and 10 gallons of fuel is close to or over gross weight.

IF, they were a different price, go for the cheaper. You say they are the same price? Go witht he Katana. It's a nice plane. It's been flying 10 years and has done great. The seat cusion is not soft enough, but I brought a thin cushion. A cessna checkout later in life will be easy, don't worry about it now.

My advice to normal sized men and people 180lbs and more is to fly the Cessna 172 or similair. The two seat trainer can be uncomfortable.

Fly the Katana.

LAfrequentflyer

I have 2 hours in a 152...I could no longer take rubbing shoulders / arms/ legs with the CFI...I switched to the 172 and will remain there...Just like the extra room...


-LAFF

Laxrox43

I have flown both, but I am partial to the C152...like everyone on here says - "it's a proven a/c --- tried and true."

In your case, it doesn't really matter if it has fancy avionics or not. Just as long as it is properly maintained, and whatever av's it has in it work properly. In the begining of your flight training, you do not need to be overwelmed with the sophisticated GPS's or any of that stuff. If I have learned one big thing thus far in my aviation career, its this short and sweet acronym: KISS!

Keep It Simple Stupid!

Start with the basics and then perhaps when you start working on your instrument, sidestep to the DA-20 and learn the 'fancy' avionics in conjunction with your Inst. Certification. Besides, you need to know how to do a GPS appch for your checkride these days anyway...

Just my .02c

Lax

ryane946

No question, go with the Katana (for similar price).

Katana is brand new.
152 is old.

Both seat 2 people, yet...
The 152 is very CRAMMED (you literally rub shoulders with your instructor)
The Katana is very COMFORTABLE.

The Katana has an amazing field of view.


I can go on and on, but there should be no question that you should fly a Katana.

GliderCFI

135 kt cruise? what 20 are you flyin. We've got the DA20-C1 at MTSU....its a great plane, easy to fly, spins better than a 150, newer avionics, and it actually climbs at max gross. It's fun to fly, good visibility, and from my experience, realistically about 115 kts is to be expected. Another great thing about the 20 is if your flight school has DA40's (which a lot of them do now), its a great step to an IFR machine. The 40 is one of the most efficient, comfortable true 4 seat singles I've ever flown, other than a 300hp Debonair, but that doesnt really count.

Second, why in the world do they charge 50 an hour for dual? That's rediculous. I'm a CFI too, and I like making money, but really lets be serious here, how much of that 50 is the CFI actually getting? 25 like the rest of us?

I love how flight schools charge a premium and overhead on their CFI's.

ryane946

Airline academies do this all the time. They charge $55 an hour for instruction while you are training. Then they turn around and pay you $14 an hour to instruct with them.
Personally, I think all flight instructors should be independent contractors. They should keep every dollar of the money they make.

As for 50 an hour, I guess it depends where you live. In California, brand new CFI's with like 400TT and like 100 or so instructing charge $50 an hour. The experienced guys make even more. But that's California. In Colorado, the going rate is like $35 an hour.

GliderCFI

Thats insanse. Very Embry-Riddle-esque.