How many pilots here?

[SRath]

I know TDR has a fair share of pilots, but not exactly who they all are. . ? Helicopter Dan, for one, I believe.

My 16 year old son applied for a Memorial Pilot Scholarship offered by an area Aero Club. He had the good grades and background, wrote a good essay, and participated along with my wife and I in an interview and we were thrilled to learn two days ago that he had been selected as this year's recipient!

He has planned on an Air Force flying career since he was very, very young and has not wavered a bit from that goal. This next year, as a junior in high school, he will begin the application process for a Senatorial Nomination to the Air Force Academy. Having logged hours as a licensed private pilot sure won't hurt those goals a bit.

He has always been interested in planes and jets and helicopters, but has never flown except on a commercial airliner; (and his dirtbike! ). He is absolutely ready to get after it. This scholarship will save about $4000 in costs to get a private license, so it really helps our entire family.

What do you guys have for advice and anecdotes about flying small private aircraft and learning to fly?

 

[jhenderson]

You should spend a lot of time talking to instructors. Price doesn't always mean quality. Try to find an instructor with a bit of gray in his hair. Possibly retired airline or military. A lot of kids instruct to build hours in their log books. Low pay, oddball hours mean an older man (or woman) is flying because they truly love to teach, not to work their way up the ladder. Also, don't be afraid to change instructors and or schools if things aren't going well. My 2 cents. Jeff: Maule M5-235C

 

[tempforce]

i soloed but didn't get my license. due to having a shipboard accident.

u. s. navy...

choose a instructor who is very familiar with the local conditions. ie: runway icing, mountain updrafts and down-drafts.

we had a very famous pilot die over the sierras a couple years ago, who didn't learn about the local air currents. (lake tahoe, sierra nevada's)...

where i grew up, during the summer the planes have to come in high.

i saw a couple planes come in normally, in the summer there is a huge down draft at the beginning of the runway. the flight path goes against the wind and passes over a river, the cold air drops down fast at the end of the runway, flowing down over a solid rock embankment 50+ feet high... . the two planes, ended up in just pieces and parts.

just a caution to get someone who has been around the block a few times... worth the time and money...

 

[GAmes]

I flew helicopters in the Army and was a member of the 2nd unit to transition into AH-64 Apaches in 1985. Choosing your instructor is critical. Prior to flight school I was a UH-1 crewchief in Viet Nam and was given some "bootleg" time with the purpose of being able to make an emergency landing if the pilots were wounded. I knew just enough to be dangerous. When I got to flight school my bad habits made my instructors job more difficult and I was one of the last guys in my class to solo. My instructor once told me he could teach a monkey to fly but couldn't teach him how to talk on the radio. :-laf



The definition of a fixed wing pilot; A person with an intense interest in aviation but without the balls to try it. :-laf Just kidding, I hope he does well.

 

[scootergmc]

From a helo student's perspective: I've got about 15-20 hours in a Bell 47, finished ground and passed my written. My instructor is pretty cool, he's only 30 years old, but has tons of hours in that 47... And I wish I had the $$ to continue flying right now. :{



The good thing about going fixed wing is license/school cost and the actual possibility of plane ownership. I think every single part on a helo is life-limited and costs 500% more than its fixed wing counterpart. :-laf The only good thing about going helo first is the fixed wing add-on is so easy and cheap after the license. Everyone looks at me like I'm high after telling them I wanted to go helo first. I dunno, it was something I've always wanted to do, and I didn't want to go through life without trying it.

 

[AH64ID]

The definition of a fixed wing pilot; A person with an intense interest in aviation but without the balls to try it. :-laf Just kidding, I hope he does well.

Yes!!!! I have 15 hours in fixed wing, not quite as intense as helo flying.





As a more recent AH-64 pilot not a lot has changed... Listen to the instructors and study, study, and study... Military flying is nothing like civilian flying...

 

[GAmes]

There are benefits for rotary wing pilots

The advantage of rotary wing

 

[GAmes]

Yes!!!! I have 15 hours in fixed wing, not quite as intense as helo flying.

My stick buddy from flight school is now a captain for United. He bought a Mooney that I have some time in... ... . BORING! I did snag 1. 2 hours in a duel seat F16 when I was still on active duty though. THAT was intense!

 

[AH64ID]

The advantage of rotary wing

Haha. . I have a similar photo of my wife I took on the ramp climbing into a 64

My stick buddy from flight school is now a captain for United. He bought a Mooney that I have some time in... ... . BORING! I did snag 1. 2 hours in a duel seat F16 when I was still on active duty though. THAT was intense!

Yeah, needless to say I haven't finished my fixed wing license. . maybe someday... maybe I'll get a C-12 transition and let the army pay for it... for now I am quite happy in a whirlie bird... (Thou its not your average bird)

I wouldn't mind a ride in a fast mover... We almost got F-15 rides last fall, but the unit that was visiting ran out of time.