I wish people would quit bragging about how few hours it took them to solo and to pass their checkride, and then go on to say that it's not the number of hours, etc. It tends to skew the perspective of student pilots perhaps making them think that they're not as capable. Please folks, leave the first part out...I've known some great pilots that took forever to solo and a LOT of hours before they got their licenses.
OK, shall I redress the balance somewhat? Around 48 hours to first solo.
Not helped by an instructor who made things worse rather than better, and a lifelong difficulty with depth perception - but once I recognised that problem, I could work on it and overcome it.
90 hours to PPL(A) issue. Convinced I must hold the world record for number of hours; soon discovered that wasn't anywhere near the case - three figures to PPL issue is not that uncommon.
Decided to get a PPL(H).....nearly 60 hours. And there was I thinking I'd do it in minimal hours as I had a PPL(A), liked the instructor, so what could go wrong? Well, nothing specific really, but I don't learn new things that fast.
CPL(H) - just a a few extra hours. Ditto for FI rating. I guess I'm just a slow learner where aviation is concerned, but I get there in the end.
Am I a good pilot? No idea. Some people seem to think so, maybe some don't. I think I'm safe and know my own capabilities and limitations, and I'm still learning and will be for years and years. Am I a good instructor? Probably not yet; I don't have the experience. But I think my own difficulties, plus a lifetime of working with people, mean that I'm better than most at understanding students' difficulties. And everything looks very different a few years on in aviation.
So if all that helps someone, well and good. But ultimately, when learning to fly, you have to learn about yourself and trust yourself, and while you must take advice, don't assume someone else knows it all. It's a complicated business. A bit like life really.
And if anyone wants to think any the worse of me for all my extra hours of learning, feel free.
