How long did it take for you to get your ppl
Join Date: May 2001
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18 months, 60 hours, booking two lessons a week, half of which were lost mainly due to weather.
But then I'm a slow methodical kind of chap who kept going back over several parts of the syllabus several times until I was happy with my performance and my understanding regardless of whether my instructor considered it necessary for me to do so.
Others did it in a few weeks or months and minimum time of around 40/45 hours, either because they flew more frequently, were more easily satisfied with their own ability and understanding than I was with mine, or they were just more able than me.
But then I'm a slow methodical kind of chap who kept going back over several parts of the syllabus several times until I was happy with my performance and my understanding regardless of whether my instructor considered it necessary for me to do so.
Others did it in a few weeks or months and minimum time of around 40/45 hours, either because they flew more frequently, were more easily satisfied with their own ability and understanding than I was with mine, or they were just more able than me.
6 weeks/35 hours which was the minimum in those days (1971). I actually finished the syllabus at about 30 hours then had to do 5 hours 'revision' before taking the GFT.
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Oxford
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Three and a half weeks, 48 hours, JAR PPL in 2001. In Wales - can't believe I got the weather to do it in that time!
Working 0830-1730 every day and studying in the evenings.
Working 0830-1730 every day and studying in the evenings.
6 Months two hours Flying, a weekend when weather was OK. 37 Hours to complete, credited 10 hours of gliding towards 45 hours needed for JAR FCL PPL.
Did this 5 years ago.
Did this 5 years ago.
The first time in 1968, 24 hours in 8 months of flying Sundays only. I did have 100 hours gliding and a Bronze C under my belt.
The second time, after a break of 23 years, 8 months and 27 hours.
The second time, after a break of 23 years, 8 months and 27 hours.
18 days and 30 hours from 12th to 30th September 1965, ATC Flying Scholarship. Finished the syllabus in 25 hours in an Aircoupe so I paid an extra £1/5s an hour for 5 hours in a Cherokee to spruce it up a bit
Eric Thurston did my final check at Stapleford Tawney, then Mum picked me up in her Minivan so I could drive home on L plates
Eric Thurston did my final check at Stapleford Tawney, then Mum picked me up in her Minivan so I could drive home on L plates
The Original Whirly
Join Date: Feb 1999
Location: Belper, Derbyshire, UK
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About 90 hours over about a year. I then went on to get a PPL(H), CPL(H) and helicopter instructor rating - and worked as a helicopter instructor for about 10 years. I'm posting this so other slow learners know that being a tortoise is OK.
If (like some others) you ignore gliding, 3 weeks of a few evenings and 9 hours including the required 3 hours solo, all in a J3 Cub apart from 30 mins spinning sortie in a Pup for that part of the GFT.
Next flight 2 weeks later after my PPL arrived, 1 hr in an RF4.
Next flight 2 weeks later after my PPL arrived, 1 hr in an RF4.
Join Date: Sep 2011
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Its traditional when this subject pops up (which it does from time to time) for someone to say don't compare your progress to others - it varies so much depending on all sorts of factors.
So if you are tempted to do that, dont. Just enjoy learning to fly.
So if you are tempted to do that, dont. Just enjoy learning to fly.
Join Date: Oct 1999
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About 7 months, 40 hours total time or thereabouts. Started summer '78 and got most of it done that year, and was lucky with some good days in Jan / Feb '79 to get the x-countries etc in, but suffered quite a few wx-related cancellations as well!
Join Date: Jan 2008
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18 months, and 52 hours for FW PPL. The weather was not the problem, being old enough for the student permit, then the PPL was my problem. So lots of solo XC's while I waited to be old enough for the PPL.
For my PPL(H), I took years, simply because in Canada it seems impossible for a PPL to rent a helicopter for solo flight, but a student pilot can. I knew this going in. So for years, I flew solo XC in the helicopter where I needed to go. If I have to take someone, I used my plane. But then one day, I was offed a type endorsement on the MD500 - much too good to pass up. So I had to finish my PPL(H) first, to have a license to endorse. I did it all, and have not flown a helicopter solo since!
But, as said by Heston, it's not the destination, it's the journey. Your PPL is a part of the journey to being a pilot - a milestone. It very certainly should not be your end objective, so just pace yourself, and get there well when the time is right. You can call yourself a Pilot when you have your PPL, but the greater wisdom will see a "pilot" as being just a little more than a wet ink PPL.
For my PPL(H), I took years, simply because in Canada it seems impossible for a PPL to rent a helicopter for solo flight, but a student pilot can. I knew this going in. So for years, I flew solo XC in the helicopter where I needed to go. If I have to take someone, I used my plane. But then one day, I was offed a type endorsement on the MD500 - much too good to pass up. So I had to finish my PPL(H) first, to have a license to endorse. I did it all, and have not flown a helicopter solo since!
But, as said by Heston, it's not the destination, it's the journey. Your PPL is a part of the journey to being a pilot - a milestone. It very certainly should not be your end objective, so just pace yourself, and get there well when the time is right. You can call yourself a Pilot when you have your PPL, but the greater wisdom will see a "pilot" as being just a little more than a wet ink PPL.