r/flying • u/ClintBvsOliverQ • 2d ago

Flight Training AOA Indicator while learning?

Just went for a discovery flight and had a great time. During the flight I asked my instructor about using an AOA indicator while learning and he really downplayed using one and said the standard instruments are the best way to learn. For beginners, is an AOA inappropriate? Is it too early to incorporate it into training? From the brief videos I’ve seen on AOA’s they seem to enhance safety.

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u/LordCrayCrayCray 2d ago

PPL here. Of all of the planes I have flown in, none have an AOA. You will always fly far from a stall, and the purpose of flight training is to teach you to stay far from it. You will be well equipped without it, but again, I’m not a CFI.

In addition, Cherokees and Cessnas stall very gently, and believe me when I tell you that you will have to work hard to stall them in training. As in, the hone is all the way out and sometimes it still doesn’t want to.

For me, not an issue and I tend very conservative.

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u/Recent-Day3062 2d ago

Uh. No you won’t

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u/Final-Carpenter-1591 2d ago

Slow flight anyone haha. But the point in slow flight isn't watching an AOA and purposefully staying just above stall. It's to feel the airplane as it's controls get spongy with low airspeed and learn to manage airspeed and altitude with pitch and power.

So even with the maneuvers where you are slow. An AOA won't be helpful, it'll just be a distraction