One thing about modern technology: you can find out about anything, even if all you have is a tiny clue. Take Piper Malibu training, for instance. Some of us are old enough that the name ‘Piper’ brings a hazy idea of aircraft. Others may think Malibu refers to Florida, where sandpipers may live on the beach, and suppose that these little birds can be trained for some useful task.
However, a little time spent surfing the net and you have the story: the Piper Cub was the first low-cost, easy-to-operate, private airplane mass-produced for the general public. Actually, the company history is pretty interesting, mainly from the ‘It’s not easy to succeed in business’ angle. The company endured the loss of one of its founders in a plane crash, several mega-wrangles of top executives, what appears to be hostile take-overs more than once, a war, a flood, bankruptcy, and finally foreign ownership.
Piper planes are still manufactured in Vero Beach, Florida, though. Simulator training is offered at near-by Orlando. The training is factory-approved and custom-designed to fit the needs of the pupil. The student-pilot learns in a cockpit tailored to the exact plane that will be flown. Classes are limited to a 2-to-1 ration of students to instructor for superior results. Virtual take-off, landing, and approach exercises get students ready for the real thing.
Training in a real plane is also available, but not in Orlando. Pilots have to go to Arizona or Texas for factory-approved courses. The rules for how many hours of instruction and solo flying are required for a license can be found online.
There are great pictures of these small airplanes online. Over and over you see claims that the craft are affordable, have good fuel economy, and are in every way suitable for civilian use. The Malibu is one of the single-engine models, but those who understand mechanics and engines will find details about horsepower and turbo-chargers to fill out the description.
Those of us old enough to remember the Cub may find the idea of simulator training intimidating or at least beside the point, but all those who grew up with computer games should have no problem understanding the value. Younger people should have all the virtual reflexes they need – honed by many race car game contests.
This question might be best answered by a customer service rep at the training center. Florida, Arizona, and Texas appear to be the main centers, but one would suppose that many smaller airports have instructors on staff. Again, you can start on the internet, get some contact information, and make inquiries.
The Malibu, the Meridian, the Mirage, the Matrix. These are only some of the Piper aircraft, which total almost 150,000 since the first Cub in 1927. An impressive number of those planes are still flying. If you think piloting a small plane high above the earth (the Mirage has a pressurized cabin) sounds like fun, check out this enduring company and its new models. Then see what’s involved in the training programs offered and approved by the factory.
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