Just a point on the working after graduation on the F1 visa. You can only work for 12 months. That's more like 800 hours total when your ready to return home.
Our F-1 visa program, allowing up to 23 additional months to work and build flight hours.
That's from the flight schools web page
Eligible students can apply to receive up to 12 months of OPT employment authorization before completing their academic studies (pre-completion) and/or after completing their academic studies (post-completion). However, all periods of pre-completion OPT will be deducted from the available period of post-completion OPT.
that's from USCIS. Someone is bending the truth