Start flight training in August

[Tigger29]

Helicopters cost about 3x as much as airplanes.........

Not if you figure in commercial jet training and all that.  It can become very expensive (and time consuming) to work you war up to the larger jets.  Either that or you get lucky enough to get hired by one of the airlines...

[cpxxx]

Don't become skydive pilot. Now I hate flying even now  thought I get paid for it. I flew seventy hours in April. That sucks. Stick with private flying. I met with an airline Captain the other day. She doesn't like it any more than I do but she gets the big bucks. I get no bucks.

Don't go pro, it's not worth it anymore. Particularly in the US.

Flying as a career is finished unless you get into the military or one of the last airlines who treat their pilots as valued employees instead of economic assets.

[CAP1]

not sure, im a bigger guy 6 1' and about 230 so I'm not sure if the lil 152 could drag my fat body around.  also depends on the school, I'd prefer a 172 so I could go fly the CAP acft when I meet the hours requirement.

how old are you? are you in CAP? if so, have you taken any O-flights yet?

 the 152 will probably get you up, depending on the size/weight of your CFI. i flew ours in the club, with a 220# CFI(i'm about 165#). it climbed like a wounded duck with weights around its ankles.
 
 you'll love the 172's though.

[CAP1]

I recommend you go for a DA20, DA40, or SR20. A much more modern airframe, faster, safer, better visibility, and more enjoyable than the 172. CAP flies 182 so you'll have to take a few lessons to transition either way.

I'll come back later tonight to explain my reasoning more specifically (don't have much time right now).

CAP flies 172's, 182's, 182RG's, gippsalands, and there's one other......the maule.......

 we have a few 182's with the garmin 1000 glass cockpit too.

[MachFly]

CAP flies 172's, 182's, 182RG's, gippsalands, and there's one other......the maule.......

 we have a few 182's with the garmin 1000 glass cockpit too.

Was not aware that CAP flies 172s. Most of the fleet are 182s though, right?

[CAP1]

Was not aware that CAP flies 172s. Most of the fleet are 182s though, right?

to the best of my knowledge, it's mostly 172's and 182's. the airvans, and maules are less common.

 the 172's are excellent SAR aircraft, as they can very safely fly low speed. the 182's i don't think can fly quite as slow.

 i forgot...i think we have a some 206's too.

 do you know how friggin EXPENSIVE new 182's are?

[MachFly]

to the best of my knowledge, it's mostly 172's and 182's. the airvans, and maules are less common.

 the 172's are excellent SAR aircraft, as they can very safely fly low speed. the 182's i don't think can fly quite as slow.

 i forgot...i think we have a some 206's too.

 do you know how friggin EXPENSIVE new 182's are?

Yes as a matter effect I do, but don't you guys get them for free?

[CAP1]

Yes as a matter effect I do, but don't you guys get them for free?

nothing is free. 

we are a civilian auxillary of the Air Force. they provide us with much of our equipment. but....that which they giveth, they also sometimes taketh away.

 they constantly monitor our usage of our equipment. if they see a need for our g1000 equipped 182(we've got 2 of them in nj) somewhere else, and that ours is not being used properly, they will move it to where it's needed.
 if they see it's not needed, and not getting use, they will remove it from our service.

 we as CAP members, can rent any of the CAP aircraft that we're checked out in, as long is we stay within the state, and there are no active missions for it.

 whereas a 172 goes for around $100-$125/hour wet around here, CAP members can rent ours for $75/hour wet. i may be wrong on that price, but i think it's accurate.
 the catch is, that it matters not if you've got 200 hours, or 20,000 hours. you need to take a full and complete check ride in the aircraft. any time operating it, the pilot must be in some form of CAP uniform, and you cannot take non-CAP people in the aircraft with you.

[MachFly]

nothing is free. 

we are a civilian auxillary of the Air Force. they provide us with much of our equipment. but....that which they giveth, they also sometimes taketh away.

 they constantly monitor our usage of our equipment. if they see a need for our g1000 equipped 182(we've got 2 of them in nj) somewhere else, and that ours is not being used properly, they will move it to where it's needed.
 if they see it's not needed, and not getting use, they will remove it from our service.

 we as CAP members, can rent any of the CAP aircraft that we're checked out in, as long is we stay within the state, and there are no active missions for it.

 whereas a 172 goes for around $100-$125/hour wet around here, CAP members can rent ours for $75/hour wet. i may be wrong on that price, but i think it's accurate.
 the catch is, that it matters not if you've got 200 hours, or 20,000 hours. you need to take a full and complete check ride in the aircraft. any time operating it, the pilot must be in some form of CAP uniform, and you cannot take non-CAP people in the aircraft with you.

Flying in flightsuite is actually good, it's nice and comfortable so I don't think you should complain about that. The the price you mentioned is actually pretty good. I though all you had to do was pay for the fuel but $75/hour wet is cheap.  However not being able to take passengers with you is a disadvantage.

You mentioned you guys are in NJ, are you based in or around McGuire? I think I might know your CO (don't want to say the name on the open forums).

[CAP1]

Flying in flightsuite is actually good, it's nice and comfortable so I don't think you should complain about that. The the price you mentioned is actually pretty good. I though all you had to do was pay for the fuel but $75/hour wet is cheap.  However not being able to take passengers with you is a disadvantage.

You mentioned you guys are in NJ, are you based in or around McGuire? I think I might know your CO (don't want to say the name on the open forums).

CAP is nationwide. it did, however start at Bader Field in atlantic city, nj. bader field was the first field(i think) to be designated as an airport. when CAP was first started, it was called the Coastal Patrol(i think), and was comprised of people that wanted to contribute to the war effort, but couldn't(for whatever reason) join the military. these guys used their own planes.
 at first, they only called back to base when they spotted anything, and the military was dispatched. this let a couple of u-boats get away. they tried letting Coastal Patrol pilots carry bombs. we sunk at least 2 u-boats on the east coast, one of which i think was just off of atlantic city.

 our Wing HQ is on mcguire AFB. i'm on Wing staff, as the Wing LGT.  we have about 26 squadrons in nj, one of which is based right on mcguire.
 before moving up to wing, i was in the Air Victory Museum Squadron, on KVAY.

to be honest, i'm pretty damned proud that they allow me to be a part of this organization. when i look back at my life(a sign i think of getting old), i don't feel as if i've done anything at all useful.
 being a part of CAP, i can indeed be useful, and also give back to the community.

 you mean CAP NJWING co, or McGuire's CO?

[MachFly]

CAP is nationwide. it did, however start at Bader Field in atlantic city, nj. bader field was the first field(i think) to be designated as an airport. when CAP was first started, it was called the Coastal Patrol(i think), and was comprised of people that wanted to contribute to the war effort, but couldn't(for whatever reason) join the military. these guys used their own planes.
 at first, they only called back to base when they spotted anything, and the military was dispatched. this let a couple of u-boats get away. they tried letting Coastal Patrol pilots carry bombs. we sunk at least 2 u-boats on the east coast, one of which i think was just off of atlantic city.

 our Wing HQ is on mcguire AFB. i'm on Wing staff, as the Wing LGT.  we have about 26 squadrons in nj, one of which is based right on mcguire.
 before moving up to wing, i was in the Air Victory Museum Squadron, on KVAY.

to be honest, i'm pretty damned proud that they allow me to be a part of this organization. when i look back at my life(a sign i think of getting old), i don't feel as if i've done anything at all useful.
 being a part of CAP, i can indeed be useful, and also give back to the community.

 you mean CAP NJWING co, or McGuire's CO?

Both actually, but I meant CAP NJWING. Actually I think he's the CO of the CAP squadron at McGuire (so not your CO than), can't remember for a fact we don't really talk about CAP much.