VFR Flight Training - High Wing or Low Wing?

Question

I'm going to be presented with the option of either doing my VFR training in a Cessna 172N or a Piper Cherokee 140 and I'm trying to decide which one to choose. Can anyone assist in giving me some pros/cons for each aircraft from a beginners standpoint. Also, if for example, I choose the Cherokee 140 as my training plane, and then later decided to purchase a Cherokee 180 for my own use, would my time in a low wing aircraft make any difference as far as insurance ratings go?

Answer 1

I don't think the high vs low-wing would make any difference. I agree that to some points, that high-wings have the advantage of better visual to the ground, but on the other hand, as to my experience, low-wings are easier to land.

Answer 2

No, it won't make any difference as far as insurance ratings go.  They're both "single-engine land under 4000lb".  If you live in a hot or sunny area, the Cessna is always much cooler inside (the wing provides shade).  Pipers _really_ need air conditioning in hot regions!

Answer 3

This is kinda like asking what is better a boeing or airbus.  It's basically a wash.  You will find some people saying cessna is best, others will say cessna sucks and so on.  

In terms of training I have flown both and think they both make fine trainers.  The 172 will have more power and you may like that better.  People say that cessna gives you better visability, but a cessna makes it very difficult to see upwards so you will pick up your wing before you turn to make sure the area you are about to turn into is clear.  On the other hand, like someone previously mentioned, I think a low wing is a better airplane than a high wing.  A low wing is much, much easier to land and I believe handles better.  Some of the bigger cessna's 182 and up, really handle like a dump truck.

All that said however, I'd pick whichever one was the cheapest to rent.  If the rent was the same, i'd walk out on the ramp and sit in them and decide which was the most comfortable.  After that if you still can't decide, I'd go for a flight in each of them and then pick.  Neither is going to make you a better pilot for picking it, nor will either make you less of a pilot.  I really don't think your insurance will give a c**p whichever one you fly.  By the way, if you really want to lower insurance premiums, get your instrument rating after your private.  Good luck, you will have a blast!

Answer 4

A high wing is always idealistic as a trainer.

Answer 5

Not much difference.  I have a 172N (with the 180 hp conversion and oversize fuel tanks), and it's a nice bird.  I have flown a 140 once, and decided that it wasn't very fast, but otherwise it was fine.  There is no effect on ratings.