small aircraft vs big jets?

Each one has its own unique novelties. And don't for a second think that flying the heavies is just button pushing...pilots can and do fly them "hands on" by the seat of their pants all the time. It's not the size of aircraft, it's how sophisticated you want to make it. A small business turboprop like the Piaggio Avanti is just as sophisticated as a larger airplane...it has fully integrated flight management computers, flight directors, and autopilots. So if you like button pushing, you can find that in any size of aircraft.

My personal preference are the heavy aircraft like the 747. I have never flown such aircraft but I have quite a few hours in various sims, including the 747, 767, and a few in the 727. I like it for its complexity. It's a giant spaceship that can fly 8000 miles and travel across continents and oceans with jaw dropping accuracy and totally pampered safety. Then again, the Cessna Citation X that I do fly is every bit as sophisticated in the avionics, flies faster than any commercial jet, and is almost as safe.

But for a short excursion on a summer's eve and watching the sunset reflect off the water, you can't beat a Cessna 177.

What's the mission?

I've never flown a jet, but I am instrument and multi-engine rated. If the goal is to get from point A to point B and the weather is less than good, I prefer as much speed as possible, a nice stack of avionics, and good autopilot. In the past I've hand flown a Tobago ,with only 2 VOR's as its nav suite, for 3 hours of solid IFR. There are many better ways to spend an afternoon.

If it's a nice weekend afternoon, and I want to take friends up for a ride, or to go for a $100 hamburger, or just to get some air under my butt, a 172 fills the bill nicely.

Even the 1958 172 they used to rent over a Perkiomen Valley, with one radio and a transponder as the only electronics, is in many ways more fun than boring a 200kt hole through the air at 14,000 ft

I often defend the usefullness of flight sims, but they in no way are close to the physical sensations, or joy, of actually flying a plane,

Flying The Big Jets

The dream of every pilot is to fly Jet engine planes once in his life. However it may sometimes be up to the pilot if he prefer to be flying turbo props or Jets. Personally I prefer turbo Jets/ Jets, cause they are better than props, but sometimes you may feel to fly a prop plane as a Hobie or for fun/pleasure itself, and there is more privately and personalized feeling when flying a small aircraft all by yourself.