By Brian Brickley
Like so many other pilots, I trained in mostly Cessna aircraft; 150s, 152s and 172s. My experience in any Piper aircraft, prior to my purchase of one, was limited to a one-hour check-out in a Piper Warrior. I wasn’t all that impressed with the Warrior, to be honest, so shortly after getting my ticket I bought a 172. It was a gem of an aircraft. A low-time, 1966 G model with a new interior. Best of all, it was in a hanger three minutes from my front door on a great grass strip. When I bought the plane, I inherited the hanger lease. Perfect!
I put in some cool avionics and flew around a lot. Whenever possible, I invited friends and family up and we did what I call “fly in circles.” Now don’t get me wrong, they were big circles! We typically took an hour flight from my location in Southeastern Michigan, where I can fly over some of the most beautiful scenery in the Midwest.
Often, I would flight plan a trip to a destination several states away and that’s where the problem started. With a top speed of about 90 knots and 39 gallons of fuel, it was almost always better to drive my car. The little Cessna just wasn’t fast enough for my expanding mission and desire. On top of that, I bought a home in northern Florida. Flight time in the 172 was over eight hours with three fuel stops. So really, it is more like nine and a half hours. I needed a faster plane!
As a high wing Cessna guy, I was drawn to the 182, 206, and 210 models. The other part of the mission was four to five people and lots of stuff. Rule out the 182. Cessna 206s are really expensive. Rule out the 206. I flew a used Cessna 210 and immediately came to the decision that I wasn’t ready for retractable gear. My insurance quote of over ten grand confirmed this was a wise decision. Rule out the 210! I also flew a Beechcraft 36 at the same dealership. Once again no retract for me.
A Quick Decision
Through all this research and online shopping, one plane kept popping up. The Piper Cherokee Six. Great speed, fixed gear and huge payload. But I had never flown one. My good friend and flight instructor, Clint White, owner of The Flight School of Jackson, knew of one in a hanger I could at least go inspect and sit in. Well, that was something anyway. We met at the hanger and the dust-covered hanger queen was open. The first impression when seated was how roomy it was. Tons of room in and between the seats. Everything else seemed, well, like an airplane. It seemed like a very possible option.
About 24 hours later, a 1965 Piper Cherokee Six 260 came online. I bought it 5 minutes after it was listed.
Okay, now what have I done! Fortunately, the owner in Mississippi had a family trip that took him right over an airport near me. He flew in on a beautiful summer day and took me for a spin with me in the right seat. The plane was very different than a Cessna, but it felt like I could handle it and get used to it.
So, while I waited for a prebuy inspection and final closing, I pondered my concerns about transitioning to this newer, high-performance aircraft.
Would flying this aircraft be fun?
Would it be overly complicated to fly?
Would I feel comfortable landing the plane? What about grass landings?
Would the low wing, climbing on the dang wing, only one door up front, drive me crazy?
Would I feel safe?
Fast forward to four months of owning the Cherokee Six. The insurance company required 10 hours dual and some of that we got when Clint and I flew down on a commercial flight to Mississippi to pick up the plane. The remaining hours were done within about two weeks of getting the plane back to Michigan. I can’t imagine doing less than 10 hours in an aircraft so different than what I was accustomed to.
Finding the Answers
Would flying this aircraft be fun? Yes it is! And to be honest, this was my biggest concern. After all, I fly mostly for fun so that’s the entire point! It’s just as fun, or more fun, than my 172. It’s fun to go faster! It’s fun to go farther! And it’s fun to climb faster!
Would it be overly complicated to fly? No! With the addition of a constant speed prop, fuel pump and four fuel tanks that require switching, there is a learning curve for sure. But it all makes sense quickly. And I think, like most pilots, mastering the aircraft through studying the POH and lots of chair flying is part of the joy of owning a plane.
Would I feel comfortable landing the plane? Yes, it’s fine. My first landing was in IMC back in Michigan. (I am an IFR student, so that was interesting.) With Clint’s help, we broke out on the ILS at about 1000 feet agl and I nailed my first landing. The landings in subsequent training sessions were downright ugly. The plane is heavy and when you pull power it comes down now! My tendency to chop power and glide, from the 172, will not work with this plane. Also, the sight picture once over the numbers was different. It takes patience to allow the plane to settle down on the runway. My best landings came when I was signed off and I could fly by myself. Now I find it easier than the 172. Especially true in any crosswind. It’s just heavier and more stable. Plus, the low wings seem to stay in ground effect extremely well.
During the training, I kept the plane at an airport with a paved runway. Since I have a hangar at a grass strip, I needed to see how it performed on grass. I started at a nearby grass strip that was a little longer. Upon my first landing there, I realized the Cherokee stops as quickly, or perhaps more quickly, on grass than the Cessna. That was a real surprise. Taking off with the additional power of the 260-horsepower engine, compared to the 145-horsepower of my old plane, made takeoff very easy.
Would the low wing, climbing on the dang wing, only one door up front, drive me crazy? It might! Still not a huge fan and I find myself walking up to the nonexistent passenger side door on occasion. But it’s not a huge problem. The back door helps for loading people and gear and peace of mind.
Would I feel safe? Absolutely! It’s very similar to my old plane in that it’s in great shape. The design of the Piper is tried and true. Stall characteristics are unremarkable, and I fly often. It’s really up to me to be safe in any plane.
For anyone considering the Cherokee Six, I think you will find it a wonderful aircraft that is easy and fun to fly. And my, is it a head turner at any airport!
