Fleet

We operate a modern well maintained fleet of 2 seat training aircraft and a 4 seat aircraft more suited to touring and advanced training.

Piper PA-38 Tomahawk

The PA-38 Tomahawk is Piper's two seat trainer. Before designing the aircraft, Piper surveyed flight instructors for their input into the design, making it one of very few civilian aircraft to be designed specifically for the task. Never has the old adage of the correct tool for the job been more apt.

Instructors asked for more space and better visibility over the other training aircraft of the day which included, mainly, the Cessna 150. The designers managed to achieve this using a wider cabin, low wing and bigger windows. This really does create a feeling of the space and comfort of a far larger aeroplane.

Instructors also requested a more spinnable aircraft for training purposes, since other two seat trainers such as the Cessna150 or Cessna 152 were designed to spontaneously fly out of a spin.

The Tomahawk's airfoil addresses this by requiring specific pilot input in recovering from spins, thus allowing pilots to develop proficiency in dealing with spin recovery.

Another characteristic of the Piper Tomahawk that favours its suitability as a primary trainer is that the flight control forces mimic those of a much heavier aircraft. As a result, student pilots that learn to fly in a Tomahawk transition much more successfully to larger aircraft, hence the popularity of the Tomahawk with U.S. Air Force flying clubs.

Such was the demand for the PA38 when launched that nearly 2500 were sold during the aircraft's 5 year production run. Long term operators of the Tomahawk included British Airways who used them as trainers at Wycombe Air park. It must have been quite exciting flying a light aircraft in airliner livery! (Click the link to have a look)

During the early 80's both Piper and then Cessna stopped production of their 2 seat training aircraft. This was not because of a problem with either aircraft but was reported to be because legislation at the time failed to provide the two manufacturers with enough protection against product liability actions. It is only recently that the two companies have again started production of 2 seat aircraft; it remains to be seen if they will live up to the reputation and ability of their forbears!

All aircraft remain a safe and exciting way to travel but according to the influential Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association Air Safety Foundation, which published a long term safety report on the Piper Tomahawk, the Piper Tomahawk has a one-third lower accident rate per flying hour than the comparable Cessna 150/152 series of two seat benchmark trainers.

For those who perhaps learnt to fly on Cessnas or would prefer to learn on that type please contact us and we will be more than happy to recommend several reputable operators.

PA-28 Cherokee 180

The PA-28 Cherokee is a family of light aircraft designed for flight training, air taxi and personal use and were built by Piper Aircraft.

All members of the PA-28 family are all-metal, unpressurized, four seat, single-engine piston-powered aeroplanes with low-mounted wings and tricycle landing gear. All PA-28 aircraft have a single door on the co-pilot side, which is entered by stepping onto the wing. Piper created variations within the Cherokee family by installing engines ranging from 140 to 300 hp. However the vast majority use the 151 hp or 161hp engines. Our Cherokee is fitted with a 180 hp powerplant.

This extra power makes it practical to fly with all four seats filled + still carry luggage (Obviously within sensible limits!) making it a true 4 seat touring aircraft as well as a very stable platform for advanced training.

Norwich School of Flying