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Old 24th Aug 2009, 16:24
  #22 (permalink)  
JW411
 
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: UK
Age: 83
Posts: 3,788
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Now I am an old phart who went solo 52 years ago with the ATC in a glider at the age of 16 and then a Flying Scholarship (PPL) on Tiger Moths at 17 (which was the minimum age in those days). I went on to have a professional career in flying for 46 years and I am still using my PPL.

Not one of the preceeding posters on this thread has made any mention of the most important factor above anything in your future planning - your health.

There is absolutely no point in making huge plans for your flying future if you are not going to make the medical standards required.

I put my eldest son through a complete Class One medical when he was 14. I did that because I did not want him to get the professional flying bug when he was 18 or so and then discover that he could not meet the medical standards required. That would have pricked his bubble really badly. It turned out that he had a weak left eye and the highest expert in the land told us that he could realistically aim for a PPL only.

My next son was absolutely fine and went solo at 16, PPL at 17 and almost had his 737 rating before his 20th birthday.

So, get your ar*e down to a proper AME and have a very thorough Class One medical before you get your hopes up too high. It will be money well spent.

Once you have a Class One, the rest of the world is your oyster.

I have had a long and wonderful flying career and I wish you the same.

Good Luck,

JW411
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