Author Topic: Learning to fly (Read 510 times)

midnight Target · « **on:** February 28, 2004, 02:15:29 PM »

Always wanted to learn, was wondering how you get started. Are ultra-lights a less expensive alternative? How much does it cost?

Stringer · « **Reply #1 on:** February 28, 2004, 02:19:32 PM »

Easy to get started, just go to your local airport and check out the flight schools, and take an inductory ride. Getting a good instructor or one that your happy flying with might be a little more difficult, but shouldn't be to tough.

I'm guessing it's about $5k or so these days to get your ppl???

hawker238 · « **Reply #2 on:** February 28, 2004, 02:20:05 PM »

Funny you should mention it: I just got back from Quonset Airport, did this program where they get people interested in flying. I went up with a guy and he let me fly around for about a half hour (no liscense required). He gave me pointers on how to get my civilian's recreation liscense.

I believe it'll run you about $4000 to get your rec. liscense, and more to get higher liscenses.

He was a 1/10th owner of a light aircraft. He paid $4000 to get in on the share, and now pays $100 a month for 2 hours of time, which is acquirable. He can also buy by the hours at $40 each. It was very cool, and I'm giving serious thought to going for my rec. liscense.

Good luck!

Otto · « **Reply #3 on:** February 28, 2004, 02:43:46 PM »

Don't spend your time on Ultra-Lights. Once you gain the skill and knowledge required for an actual rating you can 'step down' to them if you want, but they're a VERY dangerous place to start and nothing you learn from them is going to help you move up.

jigsaw · « **Reply #4 on:** February 28, 2004, 02:47:55 PM »

MT - http://www.beapilot.com will answer a lot of questions for you. Cost wise, figure between 5k and 8k depending on what type of plane you're in and how often you fly.
More often is better as you will have a higher level of retention between flights.

Quote

Originally posted by hawker238

I'm giving serious thought to going for my rec. liscense.

Hawk, why rec instead of private?

Tarmac · « **Reply #5 on:** February 28, 2004, 02:48:58 PM »

http://www.learntofly.com/

Thrawn · « **Reply #6 on:** February 28, 2004, 03:17:59 PM »

If you can find it I recommend "Flying Airplanes: The first hundred hours" by Peter Garrison. I can't recommend it enough for someone just starting out.

The most important thing is to find an instructor you can click with. So don't stick with just one if they turn out to be an ultra melon.

Kieran · « **Reply #7 on:** February 28, 2004, 03:27:00 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by Otto
Don't spend your time on Ultra-Lights. Once you gain the skill and knowledge required for an actual rating you can 'step down' to them if you want, but they're a VERY dangerous place to start and nothing you learn from them is going to help you move up.

Disagree. I have flown both, Ultralights are way easier and faster to learn in, and if you respect their limitations (mainly wind) they are as safe as anything in the air.

Given the choice between the two, I would fly ultralights any day, but then, I wouldn't be trying to cross-country one either. Ultralights are like taking your motocross bike out for the day.

hawker238 · « **Reply #8 on:** February 28, 2004, 03:46:47 PM »

Jig: I meant private, not sure why I kept saying rec.

Ripsnort · « **Reply #9 on:** February 28, 2004, 03:51:04 PM »

$5000-$7000 here (Boeing Flight club) by the time you do your solo (on avg.)

Otto · « **Reply #10 on:** February 28, 2004, 04:24:40 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by Kieran
Disagree. I have flown both, Ultralights are way easier and faster to learn in, and if you respect their limitations (mainly wind) they are as safe as anything in the air.

Kieran,
You are so right. 'Wind' is the issue with UL's. I'm not trying to say that they are unsafe by design. But, too many people involved with UL's don't get the training they need to understand this and ignore the limitations it imposes. The consequents are usually tragic.

john9001 · « **Reply #11 on:** February 28, 2004, 05:10:10 PM »

this summer the FAA is coming out with a new "sport plane" license, you need your auto drivers lic and about 20 hrs, you will be restricted to flying a "sport" plane (not sure of all the specs but 2 pass, low weight, 130 max mph top speed, limited range, etc)

Habu · « **Reply #12 on:** February 28, 2004, 05:37:59 PM »

I am due to go solo for my ppl on Monday. I spent 5000 on account and still have some cash left. It cost about 200 an hour for the instructor and plane once you figure in the briefing time and rounding up times for the plane.

I have 20 hours. In Canada it will take me another 20 hours minimum to get my full licence. But I will be able to do many of them without the instructor so it is only 115 an hour then.

I train in a Cessna 172 which is more expensive than if you can train in a Cessna 150.

Don't forget ground school and supplies will cost you 3 or 4 hundred as well.

I fly an ultralight and it definetly helped me. But mine is a trike and they are about as different from a 3 axis plane as you can get. If I was flying a stick and rudder ultralight then I am sure you would have no problem moving up to a Cessna after.

So figure 8 - 10 thousand for the full license when all is said and done. If you can fly daily you could probably learn faster but you still need at least 15 hour before you solo so the cost does not drop as much as you would think.

Thorns · « **Reply #13 on:** February 28, 2004, 06:39:01 PM »

Go hang out at the airport you would like to fly from. Start spreading the word you want to learn to fly with everyone you come in contact with at the airport, except the flight school. Tell them you are looking for an instructor who would possibly have his own plane, and loves to instruct. Everyone will point you to someone they know who does this. I did this, and not only found a great instructor, but the guy had 2 planes, a 150 aerobat for teaching, and a 177 for his advanced students, and he rented them at a fair price WET. Great time, and it was not as expensive as the flight school. In fact it was about half the cost. Plus, when the instructor is going somewhere, and you are his student, he might ask you to go along for company. You learn a lot really fast if you're always in an airplane. Good luck.

Thorns

Wolf14 · « **Reply #14 on:** February 28, 2004, 07:20:46 PM »

A sailplane certificate is another possible option if not the better of the two. Its cheaper, takes about 10 hours of solo time off your powered plane certificate, you'll develop better approaches for landing, and you wont freak out to bad when your engine decides to fail and you have to dead stick in some field.