Please you supur douper pilots help me...

[cav58d]

Ice-  If I were you, I would get the written out of the way ASAP....If possible, I would also try and take the CFII written around the same time you take the Instrument written because they are nearly identical....

Dont worry about the instrument flying...When you first begin, it will be the most mentally and physically challenging test you have ever gone through...I'll be honest...Even after flying only 50-60 minutes in IFR conditions, i'm ready to go to bed once I land!  Your gonna be scared chitless at times...But once you get over the fear, your going to feel jubilance, and pride...I dont particulary like flying a full IMC flight...But when I get down, I think holy chit...Look what I just did!  and its an incredible feeling!

Personally, my two biggest set backs during my instrument training were DME Arc's, and holding on NDB's...All NDB stations are going to be phased out over the next 5-7 years, but you will occasionally have to hold a DME Arc...

Just remember...ALWAYS BE CURRENT!  And that doesn't mean just being current under the FAR's...Have a self currency mininum...Flying IFR is a heavy work load, especially when flying alone, and it's incredible just how much you will lose, even after taking a week or two off...

I dont think you are going to need an extra online study...Just buy an instrument kit, and all books included will be sufficient....

So good luck!  It's well worth it in the long run, and dont get discouraged!  
And Study the damn written, and get er done!  It will make things much easier

[Golfer]

The hotels wirelss internet keeps dropping in an out despite the "excellent" connection reported by my computer.  grr!!!!


Anyways I would say the Sporty's DVD course, Iceman.  I haven't seen the King dvd's but the sporty's really lays things out in an easy to understand manner with some practicality injected as well.  Richard Collins is boring, Rob Reiner is a sincere oddball but they do know what they're talking about.  Collins' knowledge about weather is mind boggling and I force myself to read his columns from time to time because it's amazing the things I didn't even know I don't know.

What Cav said is pretty much spot on.  I'd only say that once you have your IFR ticket...file everywhere you go.  Fly IFR all the time when you're actually going somewhere.

Also here's a money saver I picked up when I was a shiny new line guy.  Pick up your clearance before you get in the airplane.  It'll be available 30 minutes prior to your proposed departure time and 2 hours after.  Use a handheld radio or the aircraft radio without turning on the motor to do this and you won't have to burn that extra 1/10th sitting on the ground.

I don't know how you run your checklist but my instructor early on advocated "flows."  Basically do all the stuff you need to and use the checklist as a backup saying the challenge/response stuff out loud.

i.e.:

engine runup you know you need to do a mag check, carb heat check and ammeter check.  Don't sit there with the engine screaming referencing the checklist for every little thing.  Do the mag check, check the ammeter/alternator, pull the carb heat and then go to idle for the check.  It takes 10 seconds rather than the full minute some guys like to do.

And my personal favorite was this one when cleared for takeoff:

Time (check watch for takeoff time)
Instrument (DG to Runway/Compass)
Transponder (on/alt)
Switches (Landing Light/Strobe Lights/Pitot heat if required)

[Enduro]

Originally posted by Zippatuh
I’m not a real pilot.

I’m not a “god” in AH.

Without seeing your side of the correspondence it is quite hard to divine what exactly is going on.  I would say though, if this is an instructor of some sort, and he is calling you an idiot…  I would find another instructor.

Zippatuh

I second that whole-heartedly.  There is nothing worse than an instructor that needs to boost his/her own ego by belittling the student.