Hi all: I am an older dude now but I never completed the requisite training to complete my private pilot's license. Way back in 1978 I got my 3rd Classs Medical Certificate (which did double duty as a Student Pilot's License when properly signed by an over-seeing CFI or CFII) and also passed my FAA written exam for Private Pilot certification, but I did not finish all of the requisite flight hours, cross-country flight, etc. and of course never took my check-ride. So here I am again, this time I'm sure I will finish it but I have a question for all of you:
Most of my early flight training was in Cessnas: 150's, 152's, 172's; I actually solo'ed in a C-152. I accrued somewhere around 20 hours (dual and solo) time when I began working at the local FBO which offered Pipers. There I began flying Warriors and Archers and an occasional Tomahawk flight and I became a fan of Pipers instead of Cessnas. Just speaking for myself, what I like about Pipers are: 1) I like the low wing WAY better than the high-winged Cessnas mostly because I can see in the direction I am turning into; 2)I really like the manual flaps that you can crank down/up in an instant instead of the electric ones on the Cessnas and 3) Pipers to me just "feel" more solid....like I said, just my opinion.....
SO to my question: At my age (almost 60), I intend to get my Private, then an Instrument Rating. I hope to one day own and fly for recreation an RV-8 as my own airplane (I can dream). Should I seek out training in a taildragger to better prepare myself for an RV-8, or should I simply take the normal regimen of Piper (Warrior) primary flight training, then conversion training to the RV-8? Or should I take more primary training in another taildragger like a Super Cub? or just get tail-dragger rating after getting my private? I feel I am deficient in proper turn coordination that flying a taildragger will help me with....
Anyway I appreciate your honest opinions and constructive criticism!
Most of my early flight training was in Cessnas: 150's, 152's, 172's; I actually solo'ed in a C-152. I accrued somewhere around 20 hours (dual and solo) time when I began working at the local FBO which offered Pipers. There I began flying Warriors and Archers and an occasional Tomahawk flight and I became a fan of Pipers instead of Cessnas. Just speaking for myself, what I like about Pipers are: 1) I like the low wing WAY better than the high-winged Cessnas mostly because I can see in the direction I am turning into; 2)I really like the manual flaps that you can crank down/up in an instant instead of the electric ones on the Cessnas and 3) Pipers to me just "feel" more solid....like I said, just my opinion.....
SO to my question: At my age (almost 60), I intend to get my Private, then an Instrument Rating. I hope to one day own and fly for recreation an RV-8 as my own airplane (I can dream). Should I seek out training in a taildragger to better prepare myself for an RV-8, or should I simply take the normal regimen of Piper (Warrior) primary flight training, then conversion training to the RV-8? Or should I take more primary training in another taildragger like a Super Cub? or just get tail-dragger rating after getting my private? I feel I am deficient in proper turn coordination that flying a taildragger will help me with....
Anyway I appreciate your honest opinions and constructive criticism!