Cessna vs Piper: The Ultimate Showdown

For the past thirty years, general aviation has seen two manufacturing competitors struggle continuously to surpass the other in the most recent and user friendly aircraft for trainers and sport flying. Most pilots will immediately recognize that these two companies are Cessna Aircraft Co. and Piper Aircraft Inc. Every couple years, each company releases a new model of aircraft into the market in order to compete with recent demand. Recently they have released new light sport aircraft and even ventured into the very light jet market with Cessna having the Skycatcher and Citation Mustang and Piper having the PiperJet. However, it is their single engine piston powered airplanes that have been used for decades to train students into becoming professional pilots.

Firsthand experience is a great way to compare these two types of training aircraft. When I first began flying as a student pilot I spent most of my time training in a Cessna 152 for about 80 hours until I received my Private Pilot Certificate. The small space can be slightly uncomfortable for a larger individual but it is still a great airplane to learn the basics of flying. The 152’s particular strongpoint was its ability to make a smooth and easy landing with little action needed by the pilot. The airplane can basically land itself by just using the correct amount of trim, power setting, and drag. I was pleasantly surprised after I received my license to be introduced to the high performance Cessna 182 Skylane. This aircraft is still my leading favorite in all of the planes I have flown because of its speed, maneuverability, and spacious cockpit that make every aspect of the flight enjoyable. The 182 rides very smoothly and is ideal for long cross-country trips.

After flying Cessna’s most of my high school career I had to start over in college with Purdue’s fleet of Piper aircraft. The Piper Warrior PA-28-161 is the current airplane that I use for flight training and it is strikingly different than a Cessna more than just by its appearance. The Warrior stalls much smoother than a Cessna and is more stable in flight than a 152. They go much faster than a 152, but can’t compete with a high performance airplane such as the 182. Peripheral vision is also greatly changed in a low wing aircraft because there is no longer a line of the horizon to the sides. The change to your line of sight also effects your landings in a Warrior because it is more difficult to judge when to round out and flare upon touchdown. Most would agree that it is easier to land Cessna’s than Pipers but with practice it is not hard to master the technique of flying a low wing aircraft.

There is no doubt that these two giants in generally aviation will continue to battle for number one in sales of their training aircraft. Newer companies are also beginning to catch up in the lead over light piston powered aircraft such as Diamond and Cirrus. Over the past few years their newly designed aircraft have been very popular among flight schools both for training and leisure flying. It is not certain who will come out on top in the next few years but during that time pilots can just sit back and enjoy the ride.