First Solo Flight in Piper Cherokee 235 - Private Pilot

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In this video, I take our new 1972 Piper Cherokee 235 out by myself for the first time for some solo landing practice.
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Airplane: 1972 Piper Cherokee 235
Airport: 4G7 (Fairmont, WV)
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DISCLAIMER:
I am a private pilot, documenting my flying adventures. These videos are intended for entertainment, and should not be considered flight instruction in any way. Editing removes important context. Please contact a local CFI to learn more about flight instruction.

[@cj10cj10]

This is so cool. Thanks for sharing. I’m in my first month of class and just flew for the first time on Wednesday. It was so insanely intense. I had a death grip for the first 20 minutes and flew for a total of two hours. Instructor claims I did two take offs and one landing (of course with complete voice instruction, and zero radio work on my end) but it’s all a blur. Looking forward for my second time next week!

[@zach9373]

Underrated channel.

[@iancranmer9595]

Chris, this is awesome. Solid Vid. Its how I am learned to land: talk myself through it. 10/10

[@tbeevers]

Great choice of airplane! I’ve got a ‘65 235 and absolutely love it! With 84 gals of fuel, my bladder fills up before the tanks are ever close to empty. Don’t think I’ve ever had to slip it because it will drop like a rock once that power is pulled. Enjoy!

[@PilotDiggerdavid]

I love my 235. Does everything I want it to do!

[@JasonWoodard]

Love the first methodical straight in approach! The controller in me didn't hear a landing clearance but I'm sure it was edited out! Love the airplane!

[@auroramcelroywilsones6377]

That was an awesome touchdown…

[@zach9373]

This vid is a solid 10/10. Nice airplane! I can tell you're loving it.

[@kimberlywentworth9160]

Wow nice powerful airplane.

[@bernardanderson3758]

Great flying and I’m right there with you all the way when I did my first solo flight in a Cessna 150 Commuter ,,,, !!!! Oh Ya

[@robertshaver4432]

Compared to a 140 or 180 the 235 lands like a fighter jet/ no floating, just approach, flare, and touchdown. I always did my best landings in the 235. Great Video, thanks for the memories!

[@bikefreakstl]

Looking real good and smooth with the new plane

[@markmaccani9411]

Nice job on the video and the landings. New to the channel. I was on a life video feed that Chris Palmer put out that I believe you were on so I headed over to check it out. I will continue watching. Nice Angle of Attack hat. I am in the process of completing my IFR ground school stage. Took Chris' course it was quite good. Have a good day and good luck on your future adventures.

[@MidlifePilot]

Hey, thanks! So glad you’re here. Appreciate you watching and taking time to comment.

[@samcowell2768]

As A Piper pilot 230 lbs 5'10 ias not sought to get in the benefits are useful loads....i own both a 1964 Comanche and 1965 Cherokee6 with the pipers the way the plane flys is very different you must carry power all the way to the ground especially when heavy.....for the other i would always want a constant speed propeller not difficult to learn at all....

[@bernardanderson3758]

Those Hersey Bar wings are stable and in a strong 10kt cross wind you can put the wing down and landings are like a professional pilot as you are and keep up the good work and I’ll catch you a ride on the next flight

[@susangardner294]

Great job and a very nice plane!

[@bradyoder5899]

I saw 52L at KLBE the other day and was hoping to run into you. Gotta love the 0-540 in the 235!

[@johnwyoder]

Nice little flight! Also, the call sign on the Cherokee is way too close to the call sign of the 172. 😀

[@MidlifePilot]

Right!? After spending the first 80 hours of my flying career in one airplane (hence one callsign), I'm having to really think about that on every radio call. Lol!

[@aeroringordmngr8739]

Love the Pipers. Did my training and PPL in a Warrior PA28-151. Good luck with the new aircraft. KAPF

[@irishcurse65]

Going for my ppl now. I would kill for winds calm. Lowest I have seen is 7 knots. Most times it’s above 10. Yesterday doing short field landings and softfield takeoffs I had winds 200@14 using runway 23. A lot of crosswind landings in my logbook. I am going to be confused if I see winds calm lol

[@MezWaves]

Dude the quality of your videos is awesome! What camera and camera lense are you using for the camera that is looking forward behind your back??

[@MidlifePilot]

Thanks! That is a GoPro Hero 8 Black in a FlightFlix metal safe case. I’m using their gradient ND filter on the lens so it reduces the exposure of the top half of the image (outside) where things are brighter so you can see outside and inside the cockpit a little better.

[@bernardanderson3758]

I’m always interested in flying the Piper 235 Pathfinder with the constant speed prop or the powerful Piper 235 Dakota

[@bernardanderson3758]

I’ll have to make a flight up there and I probably stop off at Clarksburg

[@kimberlywentworth9160]

How do you like you headphones?

[@themediocrepilot9174]

Nice job! 2 questions: 1) how do you like/dislike the one door and having to climb over to the left seat? 2) how do you like/dislike the hand flap lever? Thinking about transitioning to a piper Cherokee but I’m a big guy (6’4 245) and not sure about having to wedge myself in and out of one door? Thanks!

[@leemoore9933]

I hear ya, but a lot of people really like older Piper aircraft kinda puts that at ease or at least for me. You have some of the same thoughts as myself.

[@ervinthompson6598]

Must be a bear transitioning from high wing to low ; touchdown sneaks up on you a lot faster !!

[@TWO_GENDERS]

Lol the last 3 of my Cherokee is 152 😂

[@Haines_riders_907]

I like the hat

[@SLK11542]

What year is it

[@AmericanGi370]

I fly a warrior and maybe I'm new and suck but it seems like it likes to float a bit. Even more experienced pilots I know still float sometimes. I'd rather float then get too slow and plant it on the pavement.

[@sxf093020]

Thank you for the video! Any recommendations/resources for transitioning to a constant speed prop airplane? I have only ever flown and trained on a fixed pitch C172. How difficult was the transition for you?

[@thebadgerpilot]

I’m new to your channel. Do you own this plane or will you be flying it a bunch in the future?

[@MidlifePilot]

This is my plane and yes for sure - lots of content coming!

[@thebadgerpilot]

@@MidlifePilot awesome! You have a new subscriber out of me! Really want to buy a 235 some day.

[@CountryAireDesign]

What Ipad apps do you use?

[@PeterDudek1]

I appreciate what you're doing, but I couldn't watch the video past 1:23...the music is just way too annoying. Best wishes on your journeys though. Nice airplane.

[@MidlifePilot]

To each their own. Thanks for watching.

[@999dallas999]

Is the 95 landing speed knots or mph?

[@MidlifePilot]

MPH, but not landing speed. That’s the speed I’m targeting on final. Slowing over the numbers and in the flare - landing much slower than 95mph.

[@michaelputz4694]

@@MidlifePilot I wondered? I have 66 Cherokee 235 and POH says approached at 90 but that's too fast. If you use the 1.3x stall rule it would be 78. So I use 80 as a nice round number and it seems to work well minimizing too much float.

[@DANCINGERN]

What do you mean 1st SOLO LANDING???? Where is your INSTRUCTOR TO SIGN YOU OFF ON YOU STUDENT PILOTS LICENENSE AND YOUR LOG BOOK ENDORSEMENT????????

[@MidlifePilot]

Huh? My first solo flight in this airplane - I’m already a private pilot.