Yesterday I did my first ride on a (real) PA28. I already got to know the C150 (which I use to train on) and the C172 (which we took when one of the sparks in the C150 didn't work). This saturday the C150 was already occupied and we decided to take the Archer this time. Naturally the PA28 behaves different than a C172 although both are sort of the same size: The PA28 behaves less 'hectically' on the flare and on takeoff you have to need to make distinct movements on the yoke to take the PA28 off the runway while it is sufficient for a 'clean' takeoff on the C150/C172 to rotate at the desired speed. O.k., this is the wording of a beginner and 'old' pilots are supposed to use other terms but I still think that this description somehow points into the right direction.
Today I took the PA28 in FlightGear and I was terribly surprised that the feeling of the model matches the original aircraft _that_ close.
Thank you very much for the feedback. I know what you mean about yanking the Cherokee off the runway -- with a 172, as soon as you raise the nose, the plane flies off; with a PA-28, it feels like you have to give it a hard yank. You can work around that in a couple of ways:
1. Use two notches of flaps even on a long, paved runway. The plane jumps off the runway and climbs like a rocket.
2. Raise the nose and wait a few seconds -- the Cherokee really will fly off, but it takes a bit longer because of the higher stall speed.
In landing, you have to keep up your approach speed right to the pavement. You cannot do a high, gradual roundout like you do with a 172 or you'll drop it in from a few feet up, because the speed decays so fast in the flare (especially with full flaps). If you do find yourself a bit high in the flare, too slow, and otherwise out of options, add a bit of power with the throttle before you drop -- it will both raise the nose (to avoid a bounce) and ease the plane down. Mind you, those struts are built to take a lot of abuse.
All the best,
David
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