What aircraft did you learn to fly in?

Question

I learned to fly in a 1946 Talyorcraft. At the time I hated that plane. It had separate brake pedals from the rudder pedals, but that didn't matter because the brakes didn't work. When ever I flew it solo I had to wrap a tie down chain to the tail wheel when I propped it (I know dangerous as h**l). My flight instructor weighed about 75 lbs more than me, so it was a whole different flight when he was in or out of the plane. No radio, just a handheld, and of the instruments it had I think the airspeed and altimeter were the only ones that worked correctly.

I hated that plane at the time, now I wish I had one :-)

I am curious what some of the pilots in here learned in, and what they ended up doing as pilots later on.

Answer 1

First I soloed in a glider followed by the Aeronica Chief, then the next best thing were the Beech-18 and DC-3.  For me these were the three true airplanes I have flown during my flying career. Oh, I shouldn't overlook the J-4 and the Champ that I have flown only a few times each!!

Answer 2

I first started my training in the Cherokee PA28. Then did my multi engine and IFR training in the PA34-220T. Used these for both when I was doing my commercial training. Both great aircraft

Answer 3

C-172. A great learning plane. But bad in the slightest gusts.

Answer 4

the c-172

Answer 5

The fist one was a Tomahawk.

Next I moved on to a Cessna 172.

Taildragger training on a Decathalon.

I bought my first Citabria(awesome plane)

Now I'm in love with an Extra 300.

The most fun I had training was in a Chipmunk.

Ground handling is a dance.

Answer 6

I earned my private ticket in an old Cessna 150.  The cowling didn't match the paint on the rest of the airplane, and the paint was peeling off the wings, but it was ultra-reliable and flew great.

My instructor and his current student were killed in this same aircraft about five years later when another airplane tried to land on top of them while both were attempting an approach to an uncontrolled airport.

Answer 7

I soloed in an Aeronca Chief.  Went on to a Cherokee 140 for my private checkride.  In the intervening 40-some-odd years have flown everything including a C-118 (cargo version of a DC-6), a Convair 240, a B727, and several models of B747.

At retirement, I went and found that old Aeronca Chief.  It had sat in a barn for several years, with the wings hanging from the beams overhead.

But it was restorable, and I bought it for I won't tell you how cheap, and now I fly it every week.  Very much like your Taylorcraft, and I hope you get a chance to find another one.  Looking back on it all, the Chief is the greatest!

Answer 8

Cessna 150. They sold it right after my first solo, so I switched to a Cherokee 140, which I got my license in. Since then, just been flying C-172's, Warrior 161's and archer 181's. All good airplanes, IMHO.

Answer 9

First A/C......Piper Cub (J-3)

First Twin....Cessna UC-78 Bobcat w/330 Jakes

First Multi land....Boeing B-17

First float plane...Taylorcraft BC-12D

First Multi float plane......Beech D-18

First Seaplane....Grumman Goose G-21

First Helicopter...Bell 47D-1

First Multi Helicopter .....Boeing Vertol 114

Answer 10

Took my check ride in C-172P

Before my "checkride" I had logged time in no certain order:

PA-12

PA-18

PA-28-160

PA-28-180

PA28R-180

PA-28-181

PA-38

DA-20

C-152

C-172

C-172RG

C-177

Currenly I co-own  a 1970 PA-28-180

Mostly fly for recreation ,short trips. Young Eagles etc.

Instruct part time

Answer 11

TH55 helicopter in the army. 72 aircraft types in all categories except lighter than air since over four decades.

Answer 12

I started in a PA 38 Warrior, Garbage heap I had declared 2 emergencys before I got my Private. Then bought a Tomahawk and finished up my single ratings, did my tailwheel training in a Cub, Seaplane rating in a Super Cub, and Aerobatic Training in an S2-C I sold the Tomahawk and bought a single hole Pitts after the S2-C training ( hooked )

I learned the most about flying from the Pitts.

I agree with your statement about having that old airplane, I like to go balls out in the pitts but also like the low and slow flying in a Cub.

As for now I am working on a CFII rating and holding down a day job to feed the family.

Answer 13

Cessna 172, then Cessna 152 for solo stuff.

I learned tail dragger in a 1946 Taylorcraft BC12 (seems like almost all of them are 1946).  Yep the brakes were annoying (and didn't really work on my plane either).  The hand propping was fun.  So were the contortionist moves required to enter the thing.

I wouldn't mind buying one.  You can still get them for pretty cheap (as far as certified aircraft go these days).  I rebuilding a Citabria 7GCAA which has a lot more power and an electric start, but still those annoying heel brakes.

I fly a Cessna 206 as my main mount with a little time in a 172 and a 337 here and there.