Any pilots in here?

[6doublefive321]

I'm about 1/4 of the way through my private pilot's certification, and was wondering if there are any other flyers on this forum?

[derf]

I signed up for one lesson once and then found out how much the rest of the lisensing requirements would be and never bothered taking a second lesson.

[Trip]

My dad is, I could easily put in the time to do it in his Cessna, but I have no interest. Not my cup of tea. In other words I can't afford a P-51.

[goof2]

I've looked in to it and someday I definitely want to get my license but there is no way I could afford to right now. Good luck.

[Cutty72]

I've been told that I ride/drive fast enough that if I had wing's I'd be flying... does that count? :lol:

[pauldun170]

Hitched a ride on a bunch of flights back when a buddy was going for his. I'd love to do it but I have way to many other priorities going on right now.

[Razor]

flyer yes, pilot no... work with about 30 of them tho...

[Dave]

ive got a bunch of hours logged. made it past landing and had the school close up shop without telling anyone. that was ten years ago. havent had the motivation to try and complete since. old man is a cfii too, so it wouldnt be all that difficult :lol:

[caveman]

RC Aircraft pilot. Which I am told is actually harder due to perspective
:idk:

[Trip]

RC Aircraft pilot. Which I am told is actually harder due to perspective
:idk:

I use to fly r/c helis which are harder than planes. I had a small plane for awhile as well. It is infinitely easier than piloting a real aircraft.

[Dave]

I use to fly r/c helis which are harder than planes. I had a small plane for awhile as well. It is infinitely easier than piloting a real aircraft.

i dunno. ive never crashed a real airplane. ive binned a bunch of r/cs :lol:

[Porkchop]

Flown a ton, but a liscensed pilot? No. :lol:

My friend has had 3 planes in the time that I have known him. Spent most of my hours in a Cessna. His first plane was a twin prop turbo. Can't quite remember the maker.... Baron??? Now that was a fun plane, and plenty of room for 6 people and gear. My longest flight on the controls was from Columbus to Port Clinton to Valparaiso, IN. I want to do a trip to Florida soon.

[Gas Man]

Flown a ton, but a liscensed pilot? No. :lol:

My friend has had 3 planes in the time that I have known him. Spent most of my hours in a Cessna. His first plane was a twin prop turbo. Can't quite remember the maker.... Baron??? Now that was a fun plane, and plenty of room for 6 people and gear. My longest flight on the controls was from Columbus to Port Clinton to Valparaiso, IN. I want to do a trip to Florida soon.
I have several small airports near me... come pick me up. I love flying in small planes.

[HurricaneHeather]

My husband is CFI, CFII, and MEI. Whatever the fuck that all means. :lol:

[Porkchop]

I have several small airports near me... come pick me up. I love flying in small planes.

Yea for sure if we are bored while in PC sometime, and the weather is good. Shit, that should be a just a quick puddle jump across erie to you.

Unfortunately, I've been seeing less and less of PC as I get older, as school and work demands get bigger. I used to spend every weekend there in the summer, and I maybe was there 4-5 times last year. Sucks...

[Gas Man]

That would be sweet. I'm abt 15 from Grosse ile airport and about 30 from willow run. These I know.

I always thought it would be cool to fly. My FIL's association has a private grass runway and always thought. How cool would it be to get there in mins instead of 5 hours.

[anthonyk]

Got my private cert about 10 years ago, and almost got through with my instrument rating when I ran out of money and time. I'm hoping I can afford to pick it up again sometime before I'm dead.

[Krabill]

I got my private pilot's certificate ~ 13 years ago. The company I work for has a couple small planes we use for business trips, but I don't get to fly very often these days.

[Papa_Complex]

My husband is CFI, CFII, and MEI. Whatever the fuck that all means. :lol:

Apparently he teaches people to fly, teaches people who teach people to fly, and went to the Mennonite Educational Institute.

[Porkchop]

That would be sweet. I'm abt 15 from Grosse ile airport and about 30 from willow run. These I know.

I always thought it would be cool to fly. My FIL's association has a private grass runway and always thought. How cool would it be to get there in mins instead of 5 hours.

Thats like 40 miles straight across the water to Grosse. That may be 15-20 minutes tops.

Its only an hour and 35 minutes from the island. I may ride up sometime too...

[marko138]

I dont get on airplanes.

[Papa_Complex]

I dont get on airplanes.

Good plan. You really should get IN them. Way too windy otherwise.

[Trip]

Good plan. You really should get IN them. Way too windy otherwise.

lolz

[marko138]

Good plan. You really should get IN them. Way too windy otherwise.
Don't get in them either.

[Papa_Complex]

Don't get in them either.

Hanging from the undercarriage is just crazy.

[marko138]

Hanging from the undercarriage is just crazy.
I'm a wild dude.

[Porkchop]

I dont get on airplanes.

Sissy.... :lol:

[marko138]

Sissy.... :lol:
We'll see.

[Dave]

We'll see.

Its like raaaaIIIIIIAAAAAiiiiiiiiinnnnnnnnn...

[Trip]

Marko won't be feeling so fly like a G6.

[HurricaneHeather]

Apparently he teaches people to fly, teaches people who teach people to fly, and went to the Mennonite Educational Institute.

:lol

Close!

Okay:
Certified Flight Instructor
Certified Flight Instrument Instructor
Multi Engine Instructor

[azoomm]

:lol

Close!

Okay:
Certified Flight Instructor
Certified Flight Instrument Instructor
Multi Engine Instructor

I don't know, the Mennonite was awesome :lol:

Marko, you're a scardy-pants?

[marko138]

I don't know, the Mennonite was awesome :lol:

Marko, you're a scardy-pants?
More like smart.

[Bryan]

I got my private certificate in 2002, added an instrument rating in 2006 and a commercial rating in 2007.
So far I've flown 1300 hours, 800 hours in my current plane, a Piper Warrior.
I started out in a Cessna 150 and everything snowballed from there, leading to the Warrior and then a Cessna 172. The 172 was an investment plane and I only kept it for a few months. The profits from that plane paid for the avionics up grade in the Warrior.

Pretty much all my flying anymore is just back and forth on the weekends to our lake house on an island in Lake Erie. Only way on or off is by boat or plane, it's 1 1/4 hours to fly right to the island vs a 3 hour drive to Port Clinton OH and 45 min ferry boat ride.

Flying is very rewarding and I hope you stick with it...dont give up! If you start to get burnt out over a certain manuver or whatever, ask your CFI to just go up and "bore holes" in the sky for 30 minutes or so. A lot of times people just need to get out of the "training" mode for a little bit to remember thats it's fun to fly and that is the reason they're taking lessons!

[HurricaneHeather]

More like smart.

Plane:

http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_are_the_chances_of_dying_in_a_plane_crash

Car:

http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_are_the_chances_of_dying_in_a_car_accident

Super Smart. :wink:

[Porkchop]

I got my private certificate in 2002, added an instrument rating in 2006 and a commercial rating in 2007.
So far I've flown 1300 hours, 800 hours in my current plane, a Piper Warrior.
I started out in a Cessna 150 and everything snowballed from there, leading to the Warrior and then a Cessna 172. The 172 was an investment plane and I only kept it for a few months. The profits from that plane paid for the avionics up grade in the Warrior.

Pretty much all my flying anymore is just back and forth on the weekends to our lake house on an island in Lake Erie. Only way on or off is by boat or plane, it's 1 1/4 hours to fly right to the island vs a 3 hour drive to Port Clinton OH and 45 min ferry boat ride.


So do you fly into Erie-Ottawa Regional if you ferry out??? What island? We have a house on Catawba.

Doc flies a white and orange Hawk XP II, with the engine mod that bumps it up to the 210 hp. Looks kinda like this one (with all orange stripes instead of brown), but in MUCH better condition. If I'm not mistaking the Hawk XP is basically a faster 172???

http://www.proulx.com/~bob/flying/172XP/23.jpg

Another good complete pic of the XP II...

http://images3.jetphotos.net/img/1/2/9/4/83005_1256511492.jpg

[Gas Man]

Thats like 40 miles straight across the water to Grosse. That may be 15-20 minutes tops.

Its only an hour and 35 minutes from the island. I may ride up sometime too...

That's super cool. Well your always welcome to fly out. I'll pick ya up from the airport. Just let me know what you want to do when u get here.

[Bryan]

So do you fly into Erie-Ottawa Regional if you ferry out??? What island? We have a house on Catawba.

Doc flies a white and orange Hawk XP II, with the engine mod that bumps it up to the 210 hp. Looks kinda like this one (with all orange stripes instead of brown), but in MUCH better condition. If I'm not mistaking the Hawk XP is basically a faster 172???

http://www.proulx.com/~bob/flying/172XP/23.jpg

Another good complete pic of the XP II...

http://images3.jetphotos.net/img/1/2/9/4/83005_1256511492.jpg

We're on Middle Bass Island, when I fly up we go straight to the island. I can get in with four adults, but not out due to the runway being only 1800 feet. So I take two to PC and drop them off, back to MBI to pick up the fourth, fly to PC to pick up the other two and back to Indiana.

One of my friends has a Hawk XP, amazing performers!

Are you getting ready for the Walleye fishing? I plan to get my boat wet Apr 9th!

[Porkchop]

We're on Middle Bass Island, when I fly up we go straight to the island. I can get in with four adults, but not out due to the runway being only 1800 feet. So I take two to PC and drop them off, back to MBI to pick up the fourth, fly to PC to pick up the other two and back to Indiana.

One of my friends has a Hawk XP, amazing performers!

Are you getting ready for the Walleye fishing? I plan to get my boat wet Apr 9th!

Oh ok, we dont always get up as north as middle bass. Our favorite is Kellys. We'll do PIB occasionally, but it gets too touristy and crazy in the summer.

I'm not a giant fisher, mostly due to bad motion sickness. Even on a big boat. I sometimes fish off of rock walls. I'm more ready to start eating some fresh caught Perch!!!! :lol: Not sure when we plan to ge the boat wet yet.

Sucks that you have to do the drop and go in PC. Such a waste of gas....

[Bryan]

Oh ok, we dont always get up as north as middle bass. Our favorite is Kellys. We'll do PIB occasionally, but it gets too touristy and crazy in the summer.

I'm not a giant fisher, mostly due to bad motion sickness. Even on a big boat. I sometimes fish off of rock walls. I'm more ready to start eating some fresh caught Perch!!!! :lol: Not sure when we plan to ge the boat wet yet.

Sucks that you have to do the drop and go in PC. Such a waste of gas....

Yeah, the "PC shuttle" as my wife calls it is a pain in the ass, but still way faster than driving! The round trip normally takes 20 gallons of avgas, if I have to do the shuttle it takes about 5 gallons more.

I have five perch and one walleye in the freezer I caught ice fishing in February, can't get enough!

[Porkchop]

Yeah, the "PC shuttle" as my wife calls it is a pain in the ass, but still way faster than driving! The round trip normally takes 20 gallons of avgas, if I have to do the shuttle it takes about 5 gallons more.

I have five perch and one walleye in the freezer I caught ice fishing in February, can't get enough!

Oh, yea. Its about 3 hours from Columbus too. Or 2 1/2 with my foot. :wink: The hawk does it in about 45-50 minutes depending on wind. His twin prop Baron would do it in 32 minutes. Now that was cooking....

You got me hungry now. Or neighbor has this secret recipe batter for each perch and walleye, and they are both better than I've ever had at a restaurant. Especially the perch... :drool::drool::drool:

[6doublefive321]

I'm enjoying the hell out of it, but I can't fly as often as I would like due to the shitty weather and work. I really need to fly at least twice per week to retain any muscle memory. And the cost is no joke either. Approximately $175 per hour for the plane and instructor. Its nice to see so many other flyers (plane or otherwise).

[Homeslice]

Plane:

http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_are_the_chances_of_dying_in_a_plane_crash

Car:

http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_are_the_chances_of_dying_in_a_car_accident

Super Smart. :wink:

:zowned:

[Porkchop]

I'm enjoying the hell out of it, but I can't fly as often as I would like due to the shitty weather and work. I really need to fly at least twice per week to retain any muscle memory. And the cost is no joke either. Approximately $175 per hour for the plane and instructor. Its nice to see so many other flyers (plane or otherwise).

I know what you mean about the muscle memory. If I don't fly for awhile I ribbon with my altitude.

I was very close to entering osu's flight school about three years back. My buddy did it. He got his personal and commercial flight licenses, as well as an airport management degree. He was also on their competition flight team that went to nationals this year. He was looking for a freight pilot spot in a major company, but the number of jobs just isn't there. He is joining the military to fly some big ass planes there.

[Bryan]

I'm enjoying the hell out of it, but I can't fly as often as I would like due to the shitty weather and work. I really need to fly at least twice per week to retain any muscle memory. And the cost is no joke either. Approximately $175 per hour for the plane and instructor. Its nice to see so many other flyers (plane or otherwise).Good God dude...I think you are getting ripped off. I know location is a lot, but even by me in Ft Wayne, the 2nd largest city in Indiana, you can rent a 172 or Cherokee for around $100 /hr, plus the $35/hr for the instructor. Might be worth it to drive 30-45 mins out of town to get a cheaper rate. You are definatly spot on trying to fly at least twice a week...good job!

When I started in 2002, I was renting a Cessna 150 for $35/hr and the instructor was $20/hr, at a little po-dunk county airport in the middle of nowhere! Man how times have changed!

[goof2]

Good God dude...I think you are getting ripped off. I know location is a lot, but even by me in Ft Wayne, the 2nd largest city in Indiana, you can rent a 172 or Cherokee for around $100 /hr, plus the $35/hr for the instructor. Might be worth it to drive 30-45 mins out of town to get a cheaper rate. You are definatly spot on trying to fly at least twice a week...good job!

When I started in 2002, I was renting a Cessna 150 for $35/hr and the instructor was $20/hr, at a little po-dunk county airport in the middle of nowhere! Man how times have changed!

From looking in to it a little bit around here it seems to vary quite a lot, but $175 for a wet rental and instructor isn't that unreasonable. If a person is fine with steam gauges the hourly cost can get under that price but not everywhere and I've seen a few schools in the area that don't even have that option. All their planes have G-1000 panels. I can only guess that fuel and insurance costs are playing a part as well. Fuel costs for an hour in that 150 would probably be around $35 on its own right now. The other issue is location. The closest airport to me wants damn near $200/hour for plane and instructor while an hour or hour and a half away its in the $140-$150 range for a similar aircraft.

[anthonyk]

Man, I'd have loved to have had the option to rent something with glass panels. I think the most advanced instrument in any of the planes I rented was a GPS with a text-only display (no map). :lol: I think I paid about $125/hr wet about 10 years ago in Sacramento for a 172.

[6doublefive321]

Good God dude...I think you are getting ripped off. I know location is a lot, but even by me in Ft Wayne, the 2nd largest city in Indiana, you can rent a 172 or Cherokee for around $100 /hr, plus the $35/hr for the instructor. Might be worth it to drive 30-45 mins out of town to get a cheaper rate. You are definatly spot on trying to fly at least twice a week...good job!

When I started in 2002, I was renting a Cessna 150 for $35/hr and the instructor was $20/hr, at a little po-dunk county airport in the middle of nowhere! Man how times have changed!

Welcome to Metro Atlanta, my friend. Wet 172 = $125 / hour, senior instructor = $49 / hour. These were the lowest rates on the NW side of Atlanta. I looked for a few months for a private CFI looking to build hours, but they aren't out there.

At first I thought $49 / hour for the CFI was ridiculous, but then I asked myself how much I would charge for someone trying to kill me several times per day. CFI is NOT a job that I envy.

[Bryan]

You got me hungry now. Or neighbor has this secret recipe batter for each perch and walleye, and they are both better than I've ever had at a restaurant. Especially the perch... :drool::drool::drool:Any chance you can pry that recipe out of your neighbors head?:yum:

[Bryan]

Welcome to Metro Atlanta, my friend. Wet 172 = $125 / hour, senior instructor = $49 / hour. These were the lowest rates on the NW side of Atlanta. I looked for a few months for a private CFI looking to build hours, but they aren't out there.

At first I thought $49 / hour for the CFI was ridiculous, but then I asked myself how much I would charge for someone trying to kill me several times per day. CFI is NOT a job that I envy.Wow...thats all I have to say!

I used to land at Winder GA for gas on my to Florida, nice little place. Ever been by there?

[Homeslice]

Went up with a chopper instructor once a long long time ago......Seemed fun, but you have to spend about $50K to get trained, and then the only job you could get afterwards is a CFI, making beans........And after a couple years doing that, you would have to find odd jobs with oil rigs, tourism firms, crop sprayers, photographers, etc. And pick up and move every 6 mos. or so. The only chopper pilots who have steady "permanent" jobs with benefits are ambulance, police, and corporate pilots.......And those jobs go to 50-60 year olds with tens of thousands of flight hours.

Or at least that was the story given to me by the CFI's, who probably wanted less competition :lol:

[Porkchop]

Any chance you can pry that recipe out of your neighbors head?:yum:

I can try. They aren't back from Florida yet though....

[goof2]

Went up with a chopper instructor once a long long time ago......Seemed fun, but you have to spend about $50K to get trained, and then the only job you could get afterwards is a CFI, making beans........And after a couple years doing that, you would have to find odd jobs with oil rigs, tourism firms, crop sprayers, photographers, etc. And pick up and move every 6 mos. or so. The only chopper pilots who have steady "permanent" jobs with benefits are ambulance, police, and corporate pilots.......And those jobs go to 50-60 year olds with tens of thousands of flight hours.

Or at least that was the story given to me by the CFI's, who probably wanted less competition :lol:

Sounds pretty close. There is a national school (ATP) with a location in this area that offers an "Airline Career Pilot Program" that takes a person with zero flight hours and spits them out the back licensed and certified for single engine, multi engine, and instrument flight at the private, commercial, and instructor level in around 5 months. They quote $55,000 for the course. That is actually a pretty good deal considering the student ends up with 270 hours, 165 of which are in twin engine planes.

I can't imagine getting the rotary licenses and ratings that would actually be useful in pursuing a career in helicopters would be any less, and it probably costs significantly more. No matter what, at the end you come out with a lot of licenses and ratings but little flight time. Until a lot more hours are added to a logbook it is going to be difficult to get a job doing anything other than teaching private pilot students for low pay.

[6doublefive321]

Wow...thats all I have to say!

I used to land at Winder GA for gas on my to Florida, nice little place. Ever been by there?

I've been through Winder, but never spent any time there.

Went up with a chopper instructor once a long long time ago......Seemed fun, but you have to spend about $50K to get trained, and then the only job you could get afterwards is a CFI, making beans........And after a couple years doing that, you would have to find odd jobs with oil rigs, tourism firms, crop sprayers, photographers, etc. And pick up and move every 6 mos. or so. The only chopper pilots who have steady "permanent" jobs with benefits are ambulance, police, and corporate pilots.......And those jobs go to 50-60 year olds with tens of thousands of flight hours.

Or at least that was the story given to me by the CFI's, who probably wanted less competition :lol:

That's about right for chopper pilots. Every single person I have spoken to that went for a chopper certification tells the exact same story. The only viable way to get a chopper cert and stay afloat is to do it through the military. That goes for a multi-engine pilot also. Most airlines won't touch anyone with less than 1500 hours. My CFI is about to turn over 1500 hours, and he can't get a sniff of a right or left seat commercial job.

[Homeslice]

So then what is the point of all those schools, if the airlines don't actually hire anyone from them? Other than to make money, which is obvious. But you would think that colleges/universities that don't attain a decent placement rate would eventually go under due to poor word of mouth.

[goof2]

So then what is the point of all those schools, if the airlines don't actually hire anyone from them? Other than to make money, which is obvious. But you would think that colleges/universities that don't attain a decent placement rate would eventually go under due to poor word of mouth.

It seems most flight schools don't mess around with the professional side of it, only recreational. Some people want to follow their dreams though and these professional programs give them some sort of opportunity. The school I mentioned has some sort of guarantee they will hire you as an instructor after you finish (and I'm sure pay poorly for the privilege).

The reality is there are probably many times more people coming out of private colleges with degrees that cost significantly more in majors that make them no more employable. Those colleges don't seem to be going away.

[Homeslice]

Well, I'm talking about the schools like Embry Riddle, and there are a few others, that are focused on getting you a job in aviation.

I also seem to recall that a few of the larger airlines had their own school/program. Or at least used to.

[goof2]

Well, I'm talking about the schools like Embry Riddle, and there are a few others, that are focused on getting you a job in aviation.

I also seem to recall that a few of the larger airlines had their own school/program. Or at least used to.

There are jobs in aviation, some of which pay very well. If someone is smart with their major they should be fine. The problem is most of those jobs aren't in a cockpit. Those who love to fly, though will get a job flying. The pay will probably suck for a number of years, there will be little job stability, the person may have to live in the middle of nowhere, and for all that the person will have to bust their ass to get hired in the first place. For those who love flying though it is worth it to have someone pay for them to sit in a cockpit.

Of course there is always the other option, join the military and get flight trained and a bunch of hours while getting paid. That seems by far the most sensible path to me but there are downsides. Embry Riddle probably seems like a "better" alternative to some.

There are lots of jobs people still do even though the pay and conditions aren't great. Teachers are always bitching and moaning about their pay (though most pilots would love the pay, benefits, and job security) yet when you ask one of them why they don't do something else the response is usually something like "because I love it". I can't imagine a job with worse conditions for little money than being a lower ranked enlisted "boot on the ground" yet people with "better" options choose to do so all the time. For some the intangible benefits of a job mean far more than the money.