Any pilots here?

[BigClemsonFan]

Just curious. I am going to start flying with an instructor, and take classes soon. I'm pumped. Now I just need to save up for my own plane.

So...who here knows how to fly? Got any tips or things I should look out for?

 

[mhughes165]

PM Blankstar85, hes not on here much, but its what he does, hes about to get his commercial passenger lisc

 

[crbnunit]

All I have left is my check ride.

 

[VaGent]

I flew privately for over 30 yrs as well as did a lot of air taxi work & private charters. I carry a Commercial with Instrument, Instructor & Multi-engine endorsements now but don't fly much anymore due to my age & health. What to look for? Mainly a good instructor who doesn't try to impress you with HIS flying ability & spends more time on SAFETY & teaching you how to fly responsibly. Watch out for one who teaches you everything but turns around & tells you you need more TIME to complete the course in order to get more money out of you. On average if you progress normally, you should have your license in around 40-50 hrs not counting ground school training. Get a set price UP FRONT on the fees & keep track of everything.

Othe then this? Pay close attention to everything you are being taught, study hard, listen to your instructors every word & you will be fine. The only thing in this world that is better then flying is sex. Just don't try having sex while flying. The landing could really get rough. And never forget one rule. "8 hrs between throttle & bottle". And I am not trying to be funny when I say it. Not only is it a RULE NOT TO BE BROKEN, but it's something that will get you killed much faster then being in a car or truck. Good luck & enjoy learning to fly. Yoou will have a good time learning everything.

 

[Blankstar85]

Haha, LOL, stumbled on this somehow, Thanks Mike!!

Find an instructor that matches your personality. Its about having fun, if its not workiing switch instructors. sorry for bringing back an old thread

 

[Will]

My father-in-law has a private pilot license. I went to the Oshkosh event with him a number of years ago and we got to see a guy in a Corsair burn up after a mishap on the runway.

I posted somewhere on here about the significance of the disaster increasing by the square of the speed. Airplanes, even slow ones, never have slow disasters. And the strongest airplane can be destroyed by the oldest grandma swinging a walker.

 

[Carlos Murphy]

Owning a plane

Planes are like boats, a big hole in the water in which you throw much money.

Big maintenance issues ie annuals, all work must be done by a licensed A&E mechanic, insurance, fuel, high dollar oil, hangar, AD compliance, ELT batteries, any and all mods must be certified.
Most after market components like the dual leading edge landing light kit I installed in my Cherokee 180 came with a Cert sticker and had to be entered in the flight log as ALL mods do AND be signed off by a A&E.
My partner and I were BMW techs and did all the work, when a annual was due we had a A&E inspect our plane and tell us what needed to be done, we would do it and have him reinspect and sign it off.
We sold the plane after 10 years, the new owner, a 50 year old student pilot totaled the plane doing T&G's, he survived.

 

[Roadkill]

I always thought the one rule was "landings MUST equal take offs", or was it "attitude equals altitude"? LOL

But yes, 8 hours bottle to throttle is a universal rule for ANY motor vehicle. One that should not be broken.

 

[Roadkill]

Oh yeah, if you have life insurance existing, you MUST report becoming a student pilot then a licensed pilot to them. If you don't and have an accident (God forbid) they can and most likely will refuse any benefit payments because you breached the policy contract. You would have to get specific pilot life insurance.

 

[AllanD]

PM Blankstar85, hes not on here much, but its what he does, hes about to get his commercial passenger lisc

Actually IIRC Blankstar85 is an instructor pilot, he teaches basic flight to students to finance his own instuction.

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[graff104]

My roomates both have their private license and are working on moving up. I go up with them from time to time and must say its amazing.

 

[Will]

Big maintenance issues ie annuals, all work must be done by a licensed A&E mechanic...

A&P? Or were you talking about the movie guys.

I saw guys that couldn't pour piss from a boot with the instructions on the bottom get an A&P. Definately keep up on your equipment yourself and don't neglect the checklist.