Pilot Journey Forums

I am just about to begin my lessons and I want to make sure I'm getting the biggest "bang for the buck" as far as accumulating hours. 

My goal for after I receive my private pilot license is to be able to rent a plane that will seat 4 and be able to take short trips around New England. 

Does it matter what airplane your flight school uses when it comes to renting after you have your license?  I would assume yes, since the companies that rent the planes would likely want you to have a minimum number of hours on their particular aircraft. 

What suggestions do you have?

Hi Tom,

Thanks for the question, I will offer some input and perhaps someone else can make sure I am close to being correct  :)

When it comes to 'hours' in a particular make and model of airplane, usually that is for airplanes that have retractable landing gear or a constant speed propeller or some other type of special equipment.

Your typical training airplane will usually only require a "check out" at another airplane rental place.  The check out will usually be slow flight, turns, landings, stalls and maybe some navigation.  You can not 'fail' this type of flight because an instructor does this, not an examiner.  The flight usually last an hour.  The people renting the airplane just want to make sure you are safe is all.

In your post you mentioned 'seat 4' - as you will learn or know generally a 4 seat airplane will not hold 4 adults from a WEIGHT perspective.  Your limiting issue is weight really, it all depends.  I used to say 3 people and some baggage for planning trips that lasted overnight.

I hope I got to the answer?  If not let me know.

Thanks for visiting Pilot Journey!

This is great info.  I didn't know that they did "check outs" when you go to rent an airplane.  So basically as long as you have your license you can theoretically fly any single engine small airplane with some kind of a "standard" configuration?  How do those categories work?

Thanks for the info!