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Old 1st September 2010 | 20:26
  #19 (permalink)  
JEM60
15 Anniversary
 
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 1,280
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From: Chedburgh, Bury St.Edmunds
I have posted earlier. As I said, I was minimum time. but it was over 18 months. I went solo after 4hrs.30, which I took me completely by surprise, and I have to say I didn't enjoy it hugely, as I felt it was too early.. K.D. and I had knocked off the syllabus by about 32 hours, and spent the rest doing aeros in an Aerobat, PRAs into Benson, and advanced stuff like that!!. He was an exceptional instructor [ex Vulcan Captain, and was still serving RAF]. I never ever gloated over the quick time, because, in my opinion, doing it in minimum time stands for absolutely nothing. I am sure I would have been a much better pilot if I had taken twice the hours. It is experience that counts in the end, not the fact that you managed to pull it off in the minimum time. Who would you trust your daughter to fly with? A new PPL with 70 hours, or someone with the minimum of, I believe 40 in my day.
However, my main advice should still stand. Eat, sleep, and breathe it. Ask questions if you don't understand what's happening, and enjoy the journey.
Although I didn't stay in flying very long, I regard it, family considerations aside, as the biggest, most enjoyable thing that I have ever done, and wouldn't have missed it, or the flying people I met, for the world.
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