Piper Tomahawk | Maintenance Flight | ATC Audio 

Few thousand hours ago my first aircraft was a Tomahawk so many pilots with bad stories and when asked have you actually flown or owned one “Well no but I heard??” Australia is large and that little plane travelled a lot of it. I learnt so much fm it and always smile when see photos of her. I found it to be all you have found, so easy and forgiving to fly. A lot of my flights were late at night and on those magical nights clear full moon and endless stars through that canopy I just wish every pilot could experience that sight and feeling. My years with our Tomahawk was some of my most memorable flying times. I fly modern fast aircraft now but still our PA38 holds a place.

What a treat it is to watch this video again after finishing my PPL and Instrument. I remember watching this video before I had even logged an hour in a Tomahawk but knew I would be flying them at my local flight school. Appreciate your wisdom to help me along the journey Josh. You're an ambassador to GA and aviation around the world.

I have about 15 hours in Tomahawks, they are wonderful airplanes. A shame their production run was so short.

Nice film this, brought back many happy memories. I learnt to fly and got my PPL in Piper Tomahawks in 1986 at Ipswich airport in the UK. After qualifying I added other types to my experience - Cherokees, Cessnas, Robins etc but I never lost my love for the PA-38. You're right, stall, incipient spin and spin recovery needs to be assertive and timely using standard recovery procedures, but she will recover nicely. The full power, maximum rate turn pull to the buffet and stall is as dramatic as it probably gets, whichever wing stalls first it feels like you're entering an inverted spin - your not - sit back, let it settle and standard recovery will work but don't try this exercise below 4000'. Anyway, I spent a couple of months in 1996 working in Minneapolis and flew from Lake Elmo. They checked my credentials and wheeled out a dusty old PA-38 for me to do my check ride. After pumping up a flat tyre we got airborne, my check instructor took me through the usual aircraft handling routine until it came to stall recovery/ incipient spin recovery. I demonstrated the power off wings level pull to buffet recovery and that was it! He didn't want to go any further and happily signed me off. Think I flew that Tomahawk more over that two months more than she'd been flown over the last two years. Finally, turned up one evening after work for a flight - Tomahawks having a 50 hour check - would I be happy taking a 152? No Check ride but just as we walked to the aeroplane from the clubhouse a shout 'Phil! Don't let her get below 55 on finals!' There seemed to be be a genuine fear of the PA-38 in the USA at the time How are you getting on with yours?

Brings back memories of my 1st airplane to solo in...The Tomahawk! Great video!

Brilliant VT which brought back many Happy Memories. Thanks from an Old Brit. Ex ppl!

Love the Tomahawk, great little trainer, yep watch that incipient spin to the left in a stall, did my first 40 hours in one :)

Great video Josh. Always fun to watch.

Thanks for taking us along👍✈️

I did my check ride and received my PPL in a '79 PA-38 Piper Tomahawk just like your new baby, way back in 1980! It was a fun plane to fly, and as you said: "...it does have some goofy stall characteristics, but if nothing else it will really teach your students to stay coordinated." I remember some awkward recoveries, one being the accelerated stall. I remember that maneuver sometimes brought "interesting" results, like being shot out of a sling shot! It definitely calls for a coordinated recovery, as you point out. I sure enjoy your little "short hop" video to get the vacuum pump. A really nice, high-quality 20 min video production (I've been crafting videos since my HS days as well). This segment brings back memories of days long past for me. I do have a Tomahawk II in my "flight line" with Lockheed Martin's P3Dv4 (flight sim), which is very immersive and flies just like the real deal. I too wanted to be in aviation, however, the fire service got a hold of me, where I served almost 35 years, now retired. I have friends who are in aviation, my next door neighbor just received his PPL and another buddy is a Captain with Southwest, to name a few. Josh, I enjoyed the ride and hope things are going well for you and your friends in your endeavors. Thank you for sharing!

Always loved the Traumahawk. It has a soft spot in my heart. I good friend of mine back in 1988 took me for a flight from San Diego to Palm Springs in July. I literally overcame my motion sickness that day. If you ever have a passenger who is becoming nauseous, simply have them fly the plane for a short while. They will usually completely forget about feeling sick.

I love seeing the start up sequence in your videos! Makes it seem almost more authentic. And yeah some thing about the Pipers get really hot quick. I fly a Cherokee out of Michigan. It can be fifteen degrees outside and I'm cooking inside.

Nice Josh. Good luck on your business venture. I am sure you and your business partners will be very successful. Keep up the great work.

My dad has over 2000 hrs in the Tomahawk back in the late 70s early 80s during is learning and training days so simple and nice to fly low and slow and check things out in.

With those style of throttle I hold it at the base by pinching between my thumb and finger, resting on base part if you know what I mean, that way you don't move the throttle when you hit the bumps ;)

Okay its an old item, but watching it, I feel perhaps I should mention one of my first student pre-flights on a Cherokee 160. I am guessing the Tomahawk flaps actuator mechanism is similar on both aircraft. I watched the Cherokee arrive and the pilot bounce out and come briskly to the office. He announced the plane was wonderful. In the Pre-flight, I got as far as the starboard flap. I inspected what I could see of the actuating mechanism and noticed that the clevice pin was almost fully disengaged. No split-pin or washers. Upon declaring the plane U/S - the instructor and the pilot could not believe it, and so went to the plane to look for themselves. Their manner was they doubted this student. Soon they turned white. Asymmetric flap appeals no more to them than me. But too many of us get negligent in a lot of vital aviation aspects.

I love the Tomahawk. I did the opposite than you: Made the PPL training in a Tomahawk and then transitioned to a C-152. I found the transition extremely easy and flying the C-152 almost boring, and I was soon back in the Tomahawk. It is not only much more comfortable (especially at 6' 4"), but much more fun!

Good conversation (Not too much, not too little). Interesting flight (Not boring). Good video (Didn't get dizzy). Good luck with the school.

The Tomahawk is a really sweet little plane.

I just finished my PPL(A) on this plane and the Cessna 172( I have more time on the Tomahawk), I must say that I fell in love with this plane, and you just made me smile by flying it ! Keep on the good work! Love your vids

Great bird, I currently own one and rather fly this than a 150/152/172. Easy to fly, cheap, and good speed for being a trainer.

I'm glad you decided to become a flight instructor and make your own school. to me that seems like something you would be very good at. I recently just got to college and am actually majoring in aviation flight at Lewis University. Next Tuesday I start my first lessons in a Cessna 172 S and hopefully by the end of this year I will be a private pilot. if i didn't have the opportunity to go to this school, i would have definitely gone to yours once it is up and running. your videos are very inspiring. Keep flying!

Great ! Josh for this extraordinary quality video. Thank you very much . You are a very good confirmed driver and you can also be a good instructor.

Yup, Piper has had the manual " parking brake handle" for the flaps since before forever :-) I remember it on a friends Cherokee 140. When I flew it, I remember how much the Cherokee wanted to float before touchdown. The low wing definitely takes some getting used to, transitioning from the C-172. Happy holidays, CAVU and Merry Christmas!

Hey Josh, cool video as always. One small comment - it may be worth checking that your aileron controls are free at full yolk back too - doing the four sides of the 'square' makes sure that cables/rods don't bind at full deflection. Also, thanks very much for the prompts to listen to the new frequency before speaking :)

*In the middle of a flight on VATSIM *Notification "MrAviation101 uploaded a video" Me: >:)

Never heard of the Piper Tomahawk until this vid.Nice!

one of my fav. airplanes flown by a top notch instructor!

Congrats on the new venture! I'm with you, I always did like a trainer that would bite a bit if you didn't fly it right... "You teach best that which you most need to know." -- Richard Bach Good learning to you!

Great Video! I have fond memories of a training flight I did on one of these. We departed Santa Barbara Airport (SBA), flew over the cliff at UCSB and then down the Pacific coastline to look at sunbathers and then landed on Runway 15 R. The aircraft has probably the best visibility in civil aviation, but I imagine it would be a somewhat of a heat bubble during a Texas summer flight.

I learned to fly in Cherokees and flew 172s later so I've encountered some of the same issues you mention with the Tomahawk, just in the opposite direction. On the Cherokee you get used to resting your hand on the base of the quadrant and holding the throttle with your fingers. Neat little plane! :-)

I learnt to fly in a Tomahawk in New Zealand. Fantastic aircraft. Great video, brings back some memories.

Good luck on the new gig. Really like the Tomahawk too. Thanks for the ride.

Nice! Did all my training in that plane here in Fresno, CA. Good plane.

Keep up the good works and have fun along the way.

Congrats on the new school. Teaching others to fly is very rewarding. I have students who now fly 737's, 777's and many others in between. You mentioned the incredible visibility in the tomahawk and and how hot it was several times. they go hand in hand in that plane unfortunately ! Best of luck.

Nice have that big fan on the front to cool you down when you popped the door open

Cool Platue field to fly into Josh! Ive only landed there once in a 172SP and they say be careful with the down drafts when landing there. Great vid and thanks for sharing.

Thank you, Josh! Fantastic video, and I'm pleasantly surprised at the Tomahawk. Having flown Cessna 150s and 152s, a Piper Cherokee and a Beech Musketeer, it looks like a very good basic aircraft.

I'm not normally a Tomahawk fan.. But I think you guys have got yourselves a good little airplane. Clean, Fresh engine.. I like the paint scheme on yours, very attractive... good score.

Nice little airplane. Great visibility!

thank you so much for being such an inspiration. A pilot is a technician, an aviator is an artist in love with flight. keep up the good work.

Love that Tomahawk ! I've yet to fly one myself, but have always wanted to. Best of luck with this airplane Josh and your training students in it, I hope it serves you well.

thats a lovely looking machine.

Learned flying on a 38.... also my first solo... would love to fly it again...

Fabulous video, Josh. I love flying the PA-38 Tomahawk II, here in eastern Australia. Keep these videos coming, please. They're a valuable teaching/learning resource. Good job, mate.

Great channel, Sir. I don't know what's the deal with that, but it just calms me to listen to just the audio while working with my browser in the background. The hiss, noise and professionals communicating with calm voices about things I don't really have any idea about. I would love to have a person like you as a instructor some day. Keep them up and good luck with the flight school.

Thanks again for sharing you flight. Wish you the best of luck with you flight school.

Beauty Josh. Working towards my first solo!!!

Well good Luck in your venture hope you will revord and share some of your lessons at a later date!

I always loved the 'Hawk. It's a great trainer IMO because it forces the student to really learn what piloting s all about. Newer aircraft with anti-spin features are great, but a student really doesn't learn rudder work or to avoid or get out of a spin. The PA-38 was built or this while still being a fairly stable platform. I'm a fan.

nice post, its a tie for me when it comes to favorite planes, this 1 and the piper cub

Got my private flying mostly Tomahawks. Great visibility. Great cheap flying. It was interesting to watch the "T" tail on these planes wobble during power off stalls. Scary. We never did spins in this aircraft, saved that for the Cessna high wings. I really enjoyed flying the Tomahawk.

I truly enjoy your videos, thank you for sharing your experiences with us.

Josh Congratulations on becoming a CFI. Hope your flight school will be a big success .

I've made that approach to Rusty Allen several times. Always a bumpy ride all the way down. Wind always gusty.

Awesome seeing you doing more of these Tomahawk videos. There's something about it that I like... maybe it's that I'm more of a low wing guy :)

Short or long flights, like them all, Thanks kid.

Thanks. It's interesting to fly without vacuum if you are used to the instruments. On the very first flight after I got my license, a ferry flight from the maintenance shop to my flight school as part of the familiarisation flights on my Socata Rallye with my flight instructor, the vacuum pump failed. We got home fine by magnetic compass (and an ancient GPS), and I continued some more familiarisation flights without AI and DG. Not a big deal in VMC.

Really enjoyed this video. I'm currently doing my PPL in a tomahawk, after starting in a C152. Glad I made the switch, its more fun and you have to be a little sharper, esp in stalls. I really appreciate talking through the things you're doing and going on around you, that's really helpful.

man that was a great flight seeing majove you talking about Edwards afb was stationed there for a year till I got out then flying into pecos brings back memories of home dad lives in Kermit tx to plus the mountains and big bear in ca went snow sking in big bear but also the mountaons was pretty

nice landing, great videos looking forward for more..

That's really awesome that you're starting a flight school Josh! That's been a dream of mine for a little while. Just need to get some more time and ratings under my belt. Always enjoy your videos man

Proud of you Josh👍 Keep up the good work. You are an inspiration!!!☺

You will have fun if you spin it. Make sure you do not have aft CG. I used to instruct in the Tomahawk. When they first came out without the stall strips we called them the Hatchett. That is when no student were around.

Nice video thanks - I also have grown to like the Tomahawk - great for training

I try not to critical on things. This time though I'm going to mention something that I saw. The lack of Carb heat will put you down fast. 90 some degrees as you mentioned doesn't matter. Flight school i worked at lost a 152 into a bean field off the end of a runway. The CFI and student were not hurt and actually flew a 172 over the accidents site within an hour of the accident. They got carb ice on a day just like the one you filmed. The airplane flipped on it back and broke the rear wing spar and attachment points. After bending the crankshaft flange back we started the engine with a test club on it. That instructor was praying it wouldn't run but it did. The FAA literally told him before they left "You better start figuring out exactly what happened" He got lucky and they didn't do anything more than have him go for a checkride with them at the local FSDO. Just something to think about cause outside air temp has no real affect on carb ice. Its the temperatue of the fuel air mixture in the venture that makes the ice. Fly save and keep the videos up cause they are fun to watch.

Learned to fly in a tomahawk. Great airplane.

Flight school, awesome news! I am in Round Rock and thinking about taking the PPL next spring... Was considering only Georgetown, but south becomes an attractive option :)

I absolutely love your videos they are a blessing... they give me life and wishing much success for your flight school looking forward to more great videos too...

Good luck with your flight school. It will be successful I am sure. Nice plane for students.

I would imagine us Powered Parachute pilots and or Ultralight pilots with no radio drive you guys nuts. Watching your videos has made up my mind to get instructions on radio communications and invest.

I enjoy watching your videos. Thank you.

Hey Josh, great vid! Congrats on the CFI license and best luck with the flight school project. The tomahawk is a nice trainer. Great visibility and ample cockpit. Just need to be cautious as not very forgiving with stalls and spins.

I learned to fly in Tomahawks. I liked them.

I soloed on that runway back in 1982.

I love this plane, I enjoy this setup format as well, another great video

I trained in a Grumman Yankee and later in a Piper Tomahawk….both are extremely fun to fly, but to buy again it would be the piper

Josh, I love to watch your videos. It would be a dream if someday I'll be able to live/fly in US. Today I fly a Mitsubishi MU-2 (MEDEVAC) in Brazil. But things in aviation here are difficult. I expect that the investors come back after the president impeachment and it would be possible to be a First Officer at a big Airline. Great production and editing! Good to see you like to share what you love.

@MrAviation101, im from a family of GA pilots, I fly all the time with my buddy in his 150 and Bonanza but I've never had an instructed lesson. If you ever make it up to Oklahoma City, I'd be honored to buy my first lesson from you sir.

Use to own a thawk. Over 300 hours in PA38. Great airplane

Maybe you can also have a sightseeing company in case the school doesn't pan out. That aircraft is cool for looking out the windows.

I was learning in a C172 before changing to a Tomahawk - biggest thing, for me, was the nose position on the artificial horizon. I found myself having to put the nose much lower in the Tomahawk and took a bit of getting used to.

My best friend just moved to largo vista so I told him when I turn 16 in February I'll come and visit him but now he can go to your flight school and come visit me!

Hahahah I can tell why you needed a new pump

Plane still has an ashtray. Sweet! 😉

I solo'ed in a PA38 - I love these aircraft.

Good video had some lessons years ago in a tomahawk going to start lessons in the spring for ppl

Hey Josh, I love the Tomahawk I've got about 35 hrs in the pa-38 from my early private pilot days out of N. Las Vegas, NV. ( VGT ). Like you said the cabin space is really good for such a small plane. I love T-tails for some reason, been getting my Commercial multi in a BE-76 Duchess.. You and Brandon and a friend starting a flight school, that's pretty awesome we need more. Hope to meet ya'll someday, have to plan a trip to San Marcos. In the meantime, keep putting those great videos out; i' m learning my editing right from you; LOL. SEE, you're teaching already and don't even know it, or maybe you do. Avid follower sir; avid follower. Fly safe man, more videos, videos, videos....

fun looking machine.. good luck with the "school"!!

Good luck with the flight school! We're about the same age and you've gone a lot further with your flying than I have.

I started my power training in one at my home airport (KUNV). Very nice, simple airplane. Seems like a great, economical trainer. $100/hr wet. (The flight school isn't making much money at that price, but countless new CFIs are getting lots of hours.)

Looking forward to hearing all about your adventures running a flight school...

I'm really happy for you and good luck for your flight school

I prefer the Tomahawk to the 152. I used to fly PA38s quite a bit several years ago, and one of my sons got his PPL in them. Your video brought back some memories. I haven't found one to fly for some time. For your school (and good luck with that!), they are much cheaper to run than a 172 or PA28. Without mods., the spin can be nasty. I never fancied trying out spinning one!

been liftin', gettin swollllll

Another PPL via Tomahawk pilot. I really liked that plane except for the doors. I've had the ceiling latch pop open twice during flight.

Cool video thanks for sharing.

Thank you--great info. I'm considering a PA-38 for my first plane. Best wishes on your new venture.

great video, like the way you explain all that you are doing..