refining your approach . . .
One hopes you've made a list of OTHER fun things you could do with $25K. As you seem to know, you're putting yourself at risk of becoming addicted. And asking for advice from other addicts? Hmmm. What does your psychiatrist say?
Given that caveat, I WOULD NOT hand over $25K at the outset--too many companies suddenly go out of business when the principals take off for Rio with the bank accounts. In the USA, Enron comes to mind--certified by major accounting firms, but Poof! all gone.
But as B Sousa comments, it's counterproductive to do a few lessons and then lay off for a while. VERY counterproductive. So do this instead: put the $25K in a separate, dedicated bank account, so there will always be reserve funds to take you all the way through training. But it's in YOUR name, so if they fold you still have it!
Counterproductivity: when I was a Chief Flight Instructor, my school attendance records & CFI evaluations showed clearly that a student who did NOT take two lessons a week kept having to review things already learned-and-forgotten. And in our coastal fog environment (Santa Barbara, CA) the student had to be scheduled for FOUR lessons a week so as to complete two a week, the others being cancelled for weather.
So give up everything else in your life for the few months it takes to get your ratings. Don't allow distractions or cancellations for parties or hangovers or girls--get through the license, THEN relax.
If you want to reduce total flight training hours, study not only the texts, but hang a broomstick cyclic in front of the TV, another broomstick for collective hangs from chairback, and something for pedals. Practice, practice, practice. Stack of flashcards on your knee at same time? Endless free possibilities. (Suspend TV from pulleys connected to the broomsticks? Work it all out and simulator sales will pay for your new R44!)
Last edited by Heliport; 13th August 2003 at 14:13.