Quote:
Originally Posted by aap1966
Self evidently some aircraft require greater skill to fly than others.
Assuming cost no option, what is the easiest aircraft to fly once on solo, and why?
I'm mainly curious about design features that make it easier: nose vs tail wheel, canards, v-tail, etc. (Flight means A to B type stuff, not acrobatics)
Thanks guys / gals.
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Pop and other are your go to folks here on private pilot affairs. His post is excellent.
I have a lot of helo and fixed wing time as well as instructor time across a broad set of stuff: NVG's, shipboard quals, instrument, etc. but it was all military.
What I will add is that just about anyone can be taught the physical skills to pilot an aircraft safely. Judgement is the great discriminator.
The most benignly design aircraft with excellent fixed tri-gear, great stall performance, perfect power response in the pattern, a generous landing profile is a lawn dart if the pilot fly's the aircraft in regimes that are inherently unsafe or exceeds his or her skill level. Lack of situational awareness and judgement have killed far more folks than any single mechanical failure point.
I fly once a month or so with my neighbor. We fly off his grass strip in his Cub. I am always grateful for the opportunity because my neighbor (also a retired Navy pilot) have the judgement to prepare the aircraft and ourselves to fly safely.
That, Sport's Fans, is the key.