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Flying is one of my biggest childhood dreams, and I'm planning to make it come true in the next 8 months, since I got an intern job in San Jose, and California is perfect for flying (cheap fuel/rental compared to Canada, good weather).
My plan is to get a private pilot license.
Is anyone here a pilot? (or has a pair of wings, or is a Voldemort)
Does LSD count?
No, actually, when I was a teenager my mother had a boyfriend who had a private licence took me up in a Cesna and let me grab the controls for a bit while we were up there... that's as close as I got. He, as a person, was a total D-bag so I think that might have turned off any potential dreams of flying as I subconsciously try to be nothing like him... but that's another story.
I've had a few friends with pilot licences and they love it... it can be a fun hobby and it's always a good conversation starter, so if you're into it then go for it.
I've taken an introductory flight in a Cessna 152 about a year ago, too. Absolutely loved it.
I say ... go for it!
If nothing else it will boost your employability somewhat.
I've had a couple of lessons but that old demon "family obligations" got in the way and I never did finish... wish the heck I had; always dreamed of being a bush pilot as a kid.
Oh and... a programmer with a pilot's license? Watch "The Net" ... the movie with Sandra Bullock, not the TV series...
Now would be a good time to finish!
I would except it's gotten a little beyond my reach, financially, up here.Quote:
Originally Posted by cyberfish
Trust me... learn to fly in the States. You'll save a bundle.
Yeah the fuel price difference is quite significant. I was looking at ~$11000 here in Canada (all included). In California, it's about $7000-$8000 (with more hours of flying, since FAA requires night flying in private pilot, and Transport Canada doesn't). People have reportedly finished it under $5000 in rural places in the states.
More like $14,000 from Hamilton or Toronto Island. Don't know what it is anywhere else... just know it's too much.Quote:
Originally Posted by cyberfish
Yeah it depends a lot on the airplane used, too. I wanted to do it in a Diamond DA-20. It's a beautiful plane. But I can't afford it.
I think so -- altho not guaranteed to help you fly, it will help you spot witches, who clearly can ;).Quote:
Originally Posted by SlyMaelstrom
I had a girlfriend who's dad had a little 2-seater and his big gag was setting the min revs on the engine a little too low, so it was easy to stall (at least, I think that's how he did it). Then he'd make a big production of telling you not to worry, pulling the choke out, and diving into a restart. The first time that happened I was on shrooms and from stall to restart seemed to be about 35 minutes, but wow did the clouds look cool.
IMO sailboats are a lot more exciting, and somewhat less expensive, but YMMV...
I've flown a Piper Cub, Piper Arrow, Cessna 152, and a few other small planes. I was working towards my license while in college but had the brilliant idea of getting married which forced me to quit due to the cost. I plan to start up again and get my license and possibly do a joint or triple ownership on a plane so the costs stay low. Nothing beats flying in my opinion.
Wow! Stalling into cloud. Wouldn't that be illegal by any chance?Quote:
Originally Posted by MK27
I thought a lot of things are interesting, too... until I started flying :D.
That's awesome! I'm probably going to do it in a Cessna 172. That's the cheapest plane the school I'm going to has. Actually, they have a taildragger, too, but I heard that's a lot more difficult.Quote:
I've flown a Piper Cub, Piper Arrow, Cessna 152, and a few other small planes. I was working towards my license while in college but had the brilliant idea of getting married which forced me to quit due to the cost. I plan to start up again and get my license and possibly do a joint or triple ownership on a plane so the costs stay low. Nothing beats flying in my opinion.
Planned to start lessons several years ago and got an intro flight (in a 172M with STOL kit) but was stopped by
1) the cost. After some talks with several schools I came to a minimum outlay of 15000 Euro for PPL and an additional 5000 a year to stay current
2) my eyes, which at the time were marginal and slowly degrading. I concluded I'd quite possibly be illegal by the time I was ready for my exams
3) I'm partially night blind, meaning my night vision is severely degraded (I see maybe 1/3 the normal distance and contrast in the dark as compared to other people). While no hindrance for PPL (which at least here is daylight only) it would prevent me from getting my instrument rating, which was always part of the plan (though not calculated into the 15k initial estimate, it'd have added another 7-10k).
4) the company I worked for went bankrupt, taking my life savings with me (which I had to spend to pay the rent while without any source of income for half a year), part of which funds I'd planned to use for flight training.
But cost and medical factors were the most important. The cost made me wary (though I could have afforded it, if going slow), the medical estimates made it a no-go from the start.
But if you're in good health (and I'd get a flight medical done before you spend a dime on training just to make sure) and expect to remain so for a good while, and can afford it, by all means go for it.
To have my dream to fly shattered like that after wanting to fly for 30 years almost but never being able to afford it was very bad.
Wow, 15000 Euro for PPL sounds pretty crazy. I thought Canadian prices were bad enough. AFAIK, to stay current here is just a flight review every 2 years, which costs around $200.
Medical issues are unfortunate :(. I've read a lot of stories about pilots grounded for medical reasons. Some people with marginal health in North America take advantage of the new light sport pilot regulation. No medical beyond driver's license medical (which is just a simple cover-one-eye, cover-the-other 3 minutes test) required. It's a lot more limited, but also a lot cheaper to get.
Health is not really a problem for me, though. I'm a 20 years old guy. Had my medical done already.
The 152 I flew was decked out and fully IFR compliant and yet did not cost that much since it was an older plane. I have flown a 172 as well but the one I really want to fly is in FSX and that is a Cessna 182. There is a significant leap forward when you move from a 172 to a 182. Unfortunately there is also a significant leap in price. Most of the small planes I flew only had about 125 to 150 hp and some like the 152 had an airspeed indicator that read in mph instead of knots. It would be nice to get my hands on a Mooney Bravo but they are not cheap since there are in the 200+ hp range. My most memorable moment in the 152 was practicing low speed manuevering with full throttle and flaps down a notch or two and watching cars on the interstate below me going faster than my plane.Quote:
That's the cheapest plane the school I'm going to has....
The saying with a taildragger is that you are not done flying it until it is stopped. Even taxiing the Cub tail dragger was a tough ordeal on rough bumpy ground. If you didn't hold the stick fully back the tail wanted to bounce all over which needless to say is not good on the tail. Landing is a bit different in a tail dragger but you still touch down on the mains and then let the tail slowly glide down. I prefer landing in planes with the tricycle gear configuration b/c when you touch down on the mains you can be hard on the brakes and won't nose it over. Not so with a tail dragger. If you are hard on the brakes when you touch down in a tail dragger you will probably be buying a new prop and possibly a new engine.Quote:
Actually, they have a taildragger, too, but I heard that's a lot more difficult.
That's good to know! Maybe I'll try them both and see what happens.
It's really fun watching cars driving faster than plane (did a few stalls on my introductory flight).