On 12/6/2007 1:23:39 PM, Dallas wrote:

Is this a little stiff or is it the normal practice?

I would say it is normal. The one time I rented far from home I had to go
through a three hours checkride for a C172S rental, a model in which I had
about 500 hours at the time, at an FBO in Palm Springs, CA.

Look at it this way: It is always valuable to have a different instructor
evaluating your piloting skills. If you are fortunate you might actually
receive some previously unknown tips or lessons from the instructor during
your checkride.

--
Peter