Haven't been up yet again since the first time but will be going up again on Tuesday. Expect to do about 1 hr/week or maybe some more if i can afford it. Looking forward to taking my kids along.
Any pilots out there?
- Thread starter elf
- Start date
Haven't been up yet again since the first time but will be going up again on Tuesday. Expect to do about 1 hr/week or maybe some more if i can afford it. Looking forward to taking my kids along.
bluetoysguy
New member
Private pilot here with a seaplane rating. Lots of fun to fly floats here in Northern Wisconsin. Not sure you will find flying up to Land O' Lakes for a weekend snowmobile trip very practical. Anything that you can rent will be limited to at most 2 passengers (and probably only 1 plus yourself) with snowmobile gear and fuel. What will happen is you get here Friday afternoon, great weather all the way up. By Saturday morning the forecast changes (not John Dee's lol) for a snowstorm for your return trip Sunday afternoon. You spend the next 36 hours worrying about the weather and if it will be good enough to get home because you have an important meeting Monday. By Sunday night its solid IFR all the way home with lots of icing. So, you rent a car and drive home, then drive back the next weekend so you can fly the plane home.
My best advice is to get your license and fly purely for the fun of it. Don't try to justify it with business trips. Don't expect to take it on vacations. Don't expect to buy any plane (even brand new) and not have any unplanned maintenance expenses. Don't keep track of what it costs because that will take most of the fun away. Rent if you have a decent rental available at your home field. Better yet, hang out at the airport a lot and become good friends with an aircraft owner that will eventually ask you to fly his/her plane once in awhile because they are not able to fly it enough to keep it exercised.
Anyway enjoy and welcome to the world of aviation-it is a really fun hobby! I truly love aviation, but I have learned a few things since I was where the OP is at now 10 years ago.
My best advice is to get your license and fly purely for the fun of it. Don't try to justify it with business trips. Don't expect to take it on vacations. Don't expect to buy any plane (even brand new) and not have any unplanned maintenance expenses. Don't keep track of what it costs because that will take most of the fun away. Rent if you have a decent rental available at your home field. Better yet, hang out at the airport a lot and become good friends with an aircraft owner that will eventually ask you to fly his/her plane once in awhile because they are not able to fly it enough to keep it exercised.
Anyway enjoy and welcome to the world of aviation-it is a really fun hobby! I truly love aviation, but I have learned a few things since I was where the OP is at now 10 years ago.
The rental rate for aircraft is typically based on "engine hours", measured by a "Hobbs Meter", but if you are renting the plane, plan on paying for at least four hours per calendar day at the hourly rental rate for every day that the aircraft is on rental — including the week spent sitting at the destination — until you are able to return it to its home base!
Oh, and since the typical aircraft weight allowances as shown in the aircraft flight manual are computed at 180 lb. for each adult passenger, you could easily be overweight with two average snowmobilers plus their gear in most two-place aircraft; you'd do better flying at least a four place aircraft. (When's the last time you saw a 180 lb. snowmobiler?
)Been up only 1 more time so far due to crappy weather. So I have a total of 3 take offs and landings so far. But I may have ran into roadblock with the whole plan. Went in this week for my physical and one of the questions they asked was if I'd ever had a kidney stone. And I said yes, about 7 yrs ago. Well that's apparently a big red flag. So now I have to get all the information regarding that episode, have to go to my regular DR for a CT scan on my kidneys to see if there's any more stones that may be there. The DR who did the physical said its 50/50 that I'll get my medical card due to this. And it'll probably take 2-3 months before they decide. So I don't want to do a lot of flying and pay for a lot of hrs to not be able to finish. But, I am going flying Tuesday night still.
bluetoysguy
New member
Getting and keeping a medical can require a lot of tenacity. You are now in the world of "Special Issuance". Don't give up, you should be able to get your medical but as you have found out it will take some work. You should look into joining AOPA as they offer many services that will be helpful including more info on getting and keeping your medical.
Sport pilot licence may also be an option to for you. Lots of information on the web about this area of aviation, but in a nutshell a sport pilot licence allows you to fly very small aircraft with specified conditions without a medical certificate.
Don't give up this easily!!
Sport pilot licence may also be an option to for you. Lots of information on the web about this area of aviation, but in a nutshell a sport pilot licence allows you to fly very small aircraft with specified conditions without a medical certificate.
Don't give up this easily!!
I second bluetoysguy, join AOPA. They are great to lean on for all sorts of aviation things. Special Issuance is a slippery slope. If special issuance is denied sport pilot is no longer an option.
Elf,
Since you are not giving up and I agree you should not, take this time to keep the training going. One of the common mistakes in flight training is the thought that you need to do all the training in the airplane. Of course there is required time in the air but some of the best education you can get toward flying should and can be done on the ground. Flying is the fun part but the most fun part is becoming a pilot. Use the airplane to practice and apply what has already been learned on the ground through practical ground instruction. The airplane is a terrible classroom, there's far too much going on. Not to mention the airplane is the most expensive part of your education.
This time off would be a great opportunity to focus on the written test and get this completed. I understand you already completed some ground schooling. There are many options available to assist with this. Textbooks, online, ground with your instructor etc. The test results are good for 24 calendar months. I would also recommend that since you will not be flying weekly, start an account and put that money you would be using for flying in it. This way when the medical does come through you will have built up a training fund which will allow you to train more than 1 hour per week. With all the varibles involved in flight training including your availability, aircraft availability, instructor availability, weather, money etc. one hour a week makes progress very difficult. You will find each lesson being a repeat of the last.
Be patient with the medical, nothing happens fast with the FAA. Feel free to shoot me a PM with your mailing and email address. I'll get you set up with an online program, textbook and AOPA Flight Training Magazine.
highhertel
Member
My old boss was 81 years old, had cataracts and heart condition, but he kept passing his medical exam to retain his pilots license. I guess the secret is to find the right doctor and a few c notes under the table. lol He died in his airplane last year of a heart attack, could have been terrible if his wife did not land the plane.
HH
polarisrider1
New member
About 20 years ago I tried the co-pilot thing (bucket list item). It was a Turbo Otter in the Bush of Ontario. Hawk Air. wasn't for me. one take off and just cleared the trees and no landings. Everything on that plane is mechanical. It also had a rubber prop.
polarisrider1
New member
This was not me flying but I have flown with these guys also. p.s. it is a chore to get a long track in this plane. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RS6jJWWV_MM
Congratulations elf on your ground school and landings. But you've got to get to the next step to experience a once in a lifetime. When soloing, there is not another soul on board and your knees are shaking like a Cicada looking for it's mate. When your FI steps out of the plane and smiles with a thumb up, you are wondering why did I let him exit the aircraft. You will roll out as you have for 12 hrs. dual and the time has come for you to show everyone that you can do this. Upon your final mag. and instrument checks the plane rolls out on the active and you are moving. You will pull off much faster now that there is less weight to contend to. (remember that 170 # FI that sat next to you?) Now once you lift off everything is easier to handle. Controls are much lighter. You are wondering why did I need that flight Instructor anyway? The way the plane fly's is unbelievable. Upon your return to Earth you find yourself wanting to do touch and goes forever, weather permitting. And money.
I don't think I've ever had a more enjoyable moment when a new student finishes his solo flight. Your Tee shirt is literally torn off your back by other pilots and signed by all. It's hung on the wall for all to see. Not everyone can take off and handle a landing but now you have. You are now part of our flying community and will look at the life a little different. Congratulations, fly smart and safe. cb.
I don't think I've ever had a more enjoyable moment when a new student finishes his solo flight. Your Tee shirt is literally torn off your back by other pilots and signed by all. It's hung on the wall for all to see. Not everyone can take off and handle a landing but now you have. You are now part of our flying community and will look at the life a little different. Congratulations, fly smart and safe. cb.
Looks like the dream has died. Had a x-ray and a CT scan but they both show evidence of more calsifications so they radiologist won't sign off on a report saying I am not at risk of another kidney stone. While it sucks I'm good with it. I did keep flying waiting for the reports so I got a bunch more take offs and landings in. The highlight was we flew into Duluth one day and did two landings and take offs and 1 touch and go at Duluth International. Then I also did a dead stick landing, that was fun and nerve racking. I would have liked to solo but I got to fly so that was good!
Oh well, gotta save that money for the new RMK this yr!
Oh well, gotta save that money for the new RMK this yr!