Originally Posted by
PelicanSquawk
So I've read that I'll need 40 hours of flight time after being issued my PPL, which I don't have yet... so I'll have to do some other flying first before I can do this. But otherwise I think I definitely will.
The 40 hours is for aerobatic rating issue, not for the training itself. If your aim is to get a little experience now, before doing a load of cross country just to bump up your confidence then the hours doesn't matter. If your aim is "to get a rating" then that's not going to work. All hours do count however, so if you did a little training now to bump up confidence, and then finished it off several months later, although you might need to review what you had previously done, there is nothing stopping these hours counting.
I think I would do a little "straight and level" navigation after the PPL, go to a few places, maybe even France for lunch, get a little experience under your belt and hone those skills you acquired during your PPL. Flying is all about building on previous experience, and ensuring that your skills are regularly kept up to date. Regular stalls, PFLs, steep turns (yes, max rate, not medium turns), spiral dive recoveries, turn reversals, EFATOs, circuits, cross wind landings etc... If all those are fully up to scratch, your learning aerobatics will be so much easier, especially if you're flying a tailwheel aeroplane for your aerobatics!
I don't think there is "bad" training straight after your PPL. All training is good (providing the instructor is any good of course!). Just take your time, don't rush it, enjoy the flying - if you're going the ATPL and airline route, remember that this is the last time you'll be able to make your own decisions of destinations/time/aims, before you become a flying bus driver. So make the most of it.
I'd recommend tailwheel conversion, as I think this is what single handedly made my flying so much better.
White Waltham (WLAC) is a fantastic airfield, but if you're on the other side of London, The Tiger Club at Damyns Hall are also fantastic - they also don't charge for tuition which is a major bonus!
Good luck with your training and let us know how you get on!!