Since Florida Tech has a fleet of Pipers, and that’s where I want to go to college, I made the jump a few months ago from the Cessna 172 to the Piper Warrior II. Switching from a 172 to a Piper Warrior II is kind of like trading in your pickup for a sporty little coupe. The Warrior feels quicker on the controls—snappier in turns and a little less forgiving on landings—while the 172 is that steady, loyal bird that forgives your rougher days. The view changes too: in the Cessna you’ve got that panoramic look straight down, but in the Warrior the low wing means you’ll be tilting to peek. And don’t forget the entry—two easy doors in the 172 versus climbing up on the wing and squeezing in through one door like you’re joining a club: at 6’1″, that’s fun! Once you settle in though, the Warrior has a fun, smooth feel that makes you grin in the pattern.