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The internet just listed the 5 easiest planes to learn to fly in. The 150/152 was the 3rd easiest with the Piper PA28 as number 2 and the Cessna 172 as number 1 easiest to learn to fly. I had never heard the comment below that the 152 had cheaper maintenence" than the 150. Is this true?

3. Cessna 150/152

Designed as a replacement for 140 model, Cessna 150 proved to be one of the most successful airplane design in history. Together with its modernized version dubbed Cessna 152, more than 31,500 units were produced. 152 model featured more powerful engine and cheaper maintenance. The production ended in 1985, but thousands of them are still flying in pilot schools and private hands. The successor model, Cessna 162 Skycatcher, failed to repeat the success of its predecessor. Only 272 were built before the company ceased production in 2013.

I haven't heard that either.

The 4th easiest to fly was the Diamond DV20/DA20 Katana and the 5th easiest to fly was American Champion Citabria. I question some of the choices but I could not say as I haven't flown all of these. I've flown the Cessna172, Piper Pa28 version the Warrier, and the Cessna 150. The Katana or Citabria i haven't flown.

Yeah... I saw that on the AOPA daily blast. Interesting observation.

I'd say the 172 is easier to fly because it has a higher wing loading (doesn't get beat up as much in rough air) and a bit more power, plus a bit more room than our birds. Makes sense to me.

Maybe a higher TBO would equate to cheaper to maintain if flown in a flight school environment.

The 152 has cheaper maintenance because it's not plagued with stuck valves and the associated down time.

That makes sense--the Lycomings don't seem to have the valve problems the Continentals have.

Another thing I noticed from the reading the forum is that the O-200 tends to need some partial engine work before reaching TBO, while the O-235 is relatively trouble-free until it needs a full overhaul.

Good grief, none of those are as easy to fly as an Ercoupe. Students have started from scratch and soloed in a day in them - was kind of a big deal in the 1960s, fair amount of magazine coverage each time someone would do it.

A Citabria easier to fly than any nosewheel airplane? What are those folks smoking?

Cherokee 140/180, series are all easier to fly than a 172, the rudders don't need to be used in flight and you can bang them onto the ground out of almost any kind of approach. A 172 requires a little skill.

The easiest plane to learn to fly? I guess if you consider complexity of operation the 150/152 is, in my opinion, the easiest. If you asked me this question 50 years ago I would have said the J-3 Cub or Ercoupe. In fact, given a competent instructor, all small trainers are similar in difficulty but are different in the technique required to fly them. I would say the "easiest plane to learn to fly" has more to do with the instructor and less to do with the aircraft but, who am I to challenge the authority of "the internet" on the subject.