- Aircraft Type
- Other
- Reg Number
- C-cccc
Hey everyone, apologies if this is a repeated question but wanted to get on here for some opinions on commanders as I never thought to look at one until I saw one taxing ahead of me on a cross country solo recently. I wish I could of stopped and talk with the owner but it really peaked my curiosity and now I am here.
Anyway long story short just about done my PPL here in Canada and thinking about renting for another year to build some time, likely another 50-100 hours of renting and I also want to complete a night rating as well, then begin the search for my first plane to purchase and do my IR in. I am the type of person that tends to research future big purchases really well, then with some background info start to find owners and people with experience to talk to about them and be ready for when the time comes to purchase, hoping to make the purchase around late fall 2026 to spring 2027 if all goes well.
Up until this point I was really set on a da40 pre g 1000, had the chance to fly one with a gentleman that hangs around the flight school I go to for a couple hours earlier this summer and it felt like a rocket ship compared to a 172 and a real joy to fly, my main reasons why I was leening towards it, its a more modern airframe for the price, amazing view, safe and simple airframe and one that you can upgrade avionics in pre g1000, only draw backs for I see are useful load, bubble canopy and the KAP 140 not having a retrofit solution and also a tight panel making upgrade choices limited.
Anyway I was wondering if you guys could give some insight on 114b's or if anyone on here has da40 experience to compare too.
I looking preferably for a post 1990 114b models, general budget?
Common things to lookout for? That are airframe specific
Safety of the handling charatistics of the plane for a new pilot and any well known things that get pilots into trouble that are specific to the airframe. Should a new pilot avoid this airframe all together?
Any tips for insurance with it being a new pilot and retract aircraft/HP? I might add my super long term goal is to hopefully own a pressurized piston or SETP in the longer future.
I will add my typical 80 percent mission will be 400 mile max cross country trips to visit college friends on weekends, with 2-3 passengers and to just cruise VFR around boring holes in the sky for now and maybe work on IFR proficiency but nothing too crazy.
Anyway long story short just about done my PPL here in Canada and thinking about renting for another year to build some time, likely another 50-100 hours of renting and I also want to complete a night rating as well, then begin the search for my first plane to purchase and do my IR in. I am the type of person that tends to research future big purchases really well, then with some background info start to find owners and people with experience to talk to about them and be ready for when the time comes to purchase, hoping to make the purchase around late fall 2026 to spring 2027 if all goes well.
Up until this point I was really set on a da40 pre g 1000, had the chance to fly one with a gentleman that hangs around the flight school I go to for a couple hours earlier this summer and it felt like a rocket ship compared to a 172 and a real joy to fly, my main reasons why I was leening towards it, its a more modern airframe for the price, amazing view, safe and simple airframe and one that you can upgrade avionics in pre g1000, only draw backs for I see are useful load, bubble canopy and the KAP 140 not having a retrofit solution and also a tight panel making upgrade choices limited.
Anyway I was wondering if you guys could give some insight on 114b's or if anyone on here has da40 experience to compare too.
I looking preferably for a post 1990 114b models, general budget?
Common things to lookout for? That are airframe specific
Safety of the handling charatistics of the plane for a new pilot and any well known things that get pilots into trouble that are specific to the airframe. Should a new pilot avoid this airframe all together?
Any tips for insurance with it being a new pilot and retract aircraft/HP? I might add my super long term goal is to hopefully own a pressurized piston or SETP in the longer future.
I will add my typical 80 percent mission will be 400 mile max cross country trips to visit college friends on weekends, with 2-3 passengers and to just cruise VFR around boring holes in the sky for now and maybe work on IFR proficiency but nothing too crazy.
