The number 1 way to ensure your success in becoming a pilot is by properly managing your time and money.
And the easiest way to properly manage your time & money is by doing ground school before it’s too late and ACTUALLY understanding the material
5 years ago I saw NO ONE mentoring unsuspecting students on the traps in flight training that was costing them $1000s.
This is why I created the Part Time Pilot Online Ground School.
The ground school was created with these ideas at the heart of our mission statement:
How does Part Time Pilot compare to other Online Ground Schools?
I went to the website of each of the Top 10 Online Ground Schools and gathered ALL the relevant info a student pilot like you needs to make an informed decision.
Things like cost, student ratings, lifetime access or not, types of lessons, bonuses included, scholarships included, support available and more.
Then, I lined them all up and compared them all in a single table so that student pilots could make the best, most informed decision on their training.
TLDR
For Private Pilot Training some of the best aircraft for reliability are the Cessna 172, Piper PA-28 or Diamond DA40. For cost some of the best aircraft are Cessna 152, Tecnam P2008/P92, Cessna 172 or Piper PA-28. For safety some of the best aircraft are Cessna 172, Diamond DA40, Cirrus SR20, Piper PA-28 or Sling TSI. For advanced features some of the best aircraft are the Diamond DA40, Cirrus SR20 or Sling TSI.
For Sport Pilot some of the best light sport aircraft for reliability are the Van’s RV12, Evektor SportStar, Tecnam P92/P2008 or Vashon Ranger R7. For cost some of the best light sport aircraft are the Van’s RV12, Tecnam P92 or Vashon Ranger R7. For safety some of the best light sport aircraft are the Van’s RV12, Flight Design CTLS or Tecnam P2008. For advanced features some of the best light sport aircraft are the Van’s RV12, Flight Design CTLS or Vashon Ranger R7.
The short answer: The reliable one that fits your budget.
But it is more nuanced than that. There are technically advanced aircraft with digital flight displays and GPS systems that can make flying a lot easier. There are old reliable aircraft that are preferred by pilot purists and help you learn the fundamentals better. There are safer aircraft with more redundant systems and safety features to make your loved ones feel better about you flying.
The right aircraft for you depends on your budget, what is available and how you want to learn. This article will cover all the most popular options and what’s best of each of them so you can make the right choice!
Note: Not everyone will have a choice. In some cases students may only have one aircraft in at their flight school or in their budget. That’s OKAY! It is more important to find an aircraft that works and a good flight instructor than anything else. Don’t get too caught up in finding a fancy aircraft… that can come later!
Private Pilots can train in any single engine aircraft as long as it has two front seats and dual controls for an instructor and is not an experimental aircraft. Sport Pilots, which we will discuss below, must train and fly as a certificated Sport Pilot in what is called a Light Sport Aircraft or LSA.
The most important aspect to acquiring the skill of flight and doing it affordably is momentum. Gaps or delays in a student’s training can cause skill to be lost and lessons to be repeated (which costs $$$).
If your aircraft is down for maintenance, this can be problematic… because you can’t fly! So it makes sense that having a reliable aircraft, like a car, is very important.
Here are some aircraft considered by the aviation community to be the most reliable based both on maintenance data and word of mouth:
As I mentioned earlier… it is much more important to find a reliable aircraft that will be there for you when you need it and an instructor that you vibe well with and knows his/her stuff than it is to save a few bucks every hour on aircraft rental.
However, I understand money is an issue and if you save $10/$20/$30 or more per rental over your training… it can really add up.
The price of aircraft rental varies depending on where you are flying and the demand for the aircraft, but generally, the most affordable aircraft are:
Safety is a huge component of flying and choosing an aircraft. No one wants an aircraft engine failing or flight controls jamming in flight.
Plus, it can help to assure our loved ones that we are training in one of the more safe options for aircraft. Aircraft are considered safe if they have a low accident rate, are forgiving in stalls, can glide really well (so if you lose an engine you can glide somewhere safe), have good visibility, and if they have new advanced safety features like collision avoidance, parachute systems, etc..
Advanced features can make an airplane safer but sometime less reliable. However, the main benefit to them is that they make a pilot’s job easier.
Things like glass cockpits with flight displays and GPS, or parachute systems, or additional instrumentation, designs or material innovations are all considered in this category and can make your life as a pilot easier.
Note: A lot of old/purist type pilots believe in the old school analog instruments and flight control systems because they make pilots have to understand and be more in tune with the aircraft while they fly. They believe it makes you a better pilot to learn on an old school aircraft. I tend to agree with this. However, we can’t just act like this technology doesn’t exist and doesn’t really help. I always recommend students learn the old school way before using the new technologies. This way, they understand how to use both and should the new tech fail… they are prepared.
Sport Pilots are required to fly in Light Sport Aircraft or LSAs. LSAs are aircraft that have a max takeoff weight of 1320 lbs (or 1430 if a seaplane), have a max airspeed of 120 knots, have fixed landing gear, are single non-turbine engines and have a maximum of 2 seats (1 passenger).
Students training for Sport Pilot will therefore fly in Light Sport Aircraft (LSA). Here is a breakdown of the best LSAs for pilot training.
The most important aspect to acquiring the skill of flight and doing it affordably is momentum. Gaps or delays in a student’s training can cause skill to be lost and lessons to be repeated (which costs $$$).
If your aircraft is down for maintenance, this can be problematic… because you can’t fly! So it makes sense that having a reliable aircraft, like a car, is very important.
Here are some aircraft considered by the aviation community to be the most reliable based both on maintenance data and word of mouth:
As I mentioned earlier… it is much more important to find a reliable aircraft that will be there for you when you need it and an instructor that you vibe well with and knows his/her stuff than it is to save a few bucks every hour on aircraft rental.
However, I understand money is an issue and if you save $10/$20/$30 or more per rental over your training… it can really add up.
The price of aircraft rental varies depending on where you are flying and the demand for the aircraft, but generally, the most affordable aircraft are:
Safety is a huge component of flying and choosing an aircraft. No one wants an aircraft engine failing or flight controls jamming in flight.
Plus, it can help to assure our loved ones that we are training in one of the more safe options for aircraft. Aircraft are considered safe if they have a low accident rate, are forgiving in stalls, can glide really well (so if you lose an engine you can glide somewhere safe), have good visibility, and if they have new advanced safety features like collision avoidance, parachute systems, etc..
Advanced features can make an airplane safer but sometime less reliable. However, the main benefit to them is that they make a pilot’s job easier.
Things like glass cockpits with flight displays and GPS, or parachute systems, or additional instrumentation, designs or material innovations are all considered in this category and can make your life as a pilot easier.
Note: A lot of old/purist type pilots believe in the old school analog instruments and flight control systems because they make pilots have to understand and be more in tune with the aircraft while they fly. They believe it makes you a better pilot to learn on an old school aircraft. I tend to agree with this. However, we can’t just act like this technology doesn’t exist and doesn’t really help. I always recommend students learn the old school way before using the new technologies. This way, they understand how to use both and should the new tech fail… they are prepared.
Here are some frequently asked questions about the topic of the best airplane for flight training.
This is not a yes or no answer. It depends on your financial situation and long-term aviation goals. It’s true that it is possible that buying an aircraft can be a great financial and lifestyle choice to make but there are several things to consider:
The best aircraft for beginning pilots is usually considered the one that is the most forgiving. What does most “forgiving” mean? Well, this has to do with the dynamic and static stability of the aircraft. In other words, when the aircraft is derailed from equilibrium in straight and level flight, will its natural design want to bring it back to equilibrium? Another key factor is how hard it is to stall the aircraft. Some aircraft are harder to stall (when flow over the wing of an aircraft separates at the critical angle of attack and lift is dramatically lost, causing the aircraft to drop in altitude quickly) while others are easier. When you are flying as a beginner, it is nice to know that your aircraft is less likely to stall on you while you are learning how to avoid stalls and fly safely.
The Piper PA-28 was designed from feedback from flight instructors in order to make the best and most forgiving trainer aircraft. Cessna aircraft, like the 172, is also very forgiving and known to be incredibly hard to stall… even when you are trying to stall it intentionally during training.
There are a few things to consider if you are a bigger, heavier or taller person who wants to find a good aircraft to fly in.
Some aircraft that are good for taller or heavier people are ones with good horsepower and spacious cabins such as Cessna 172, Cessna 182, Piper PA28, Diamond DA40 or Cirrus SR22.
I recommend going to different flight schools that have these different aircraft in their fleet and asking them if you can sit in the cockpit as well as discuss the weight and balance for their aircraft with your weight included.
I have flown both as have many pilots. One of the most common trainer aircraft is a Cessna 172, which is a high wing, while the other most common aircraft is a Piper PA-28, which is a low wing. I personally like the visibility below me of a high-wing but all pilots have different opinions.
High wing aircraft like a Cessna 172 are good for visibility below you which makes sightseeing, aerial photography and ground reference maneuvers easier. Due to the high wing, they are easier to get in and out of because you don’t have to step on the wing. They are better for bush flying because there is more ground clearance for the prop. And finally, the fuel system is considered more robust because it is gravity fed and can have an additional electrical pump for redundancy.
Low wing aircraft like Piper PA-28s or Diamond DA40s are good for visibility above you and during banks to your left and right. These aircraft often have cleaner aerodynamic design and less drag because there is no need for wing struts. And finally, low wing aircraft usually have more robust landing gear because they are integrated into the wing design for a wider and more stable stance.
Yes and no.
Traditional instruments that run off of the vacuum and pitot systems usually have less points of failure and are considered more robust. Learning to fly off of traditional 6-packs and less computer elements often leads to a better understanding of the aircraft systems and how they work.
However, newer glass cockpits are here for a reason. They make getting information while flying more efficient and easier to see. The clear screens, GPS and large displays allows for pilots to remove a lot of confusion from instrument readings.
I typically recommend student pilots learn off the traditional 6-pack before adding some training with a glass cockpit because, as I mentioned before, it helps them to understand their aircraft and the atmosphere around them better.
The following rates are averages across the US and will vary from location to location. Typically in more urban areas the rates are higher than in rural areas. The rates below are also “wet” meaning it includes the cost of fuel and students don’t have to pay for the fuel they use on top of the rental rate:
For a total cost of flight training a student should also keep in mind the hourly rate of their instructors which can range between $40 to $90 per hour, ground school, gear and insurance.
Yes! However, every new aircraft is going to take 2-3 flights to get the hang of, if not more. Even a different aircraft of the same type is going to have a different feel and balance in the air and will take some getting used to. Because of this, switching aircraft will likely cost you the price of a few extra hours of flying but it is certainly allowed to switch during training.