From Zero to Forty Five - my PPL Diary

[i.dingbat]

Welcome back to your thread!

Congratulations on your improved circumstances. Perhaps a new job is the key.

I still don't have my PPL - might be going for some kind of record time - but now I have my GFPT I'm able to take passengers around the training area.

Had a lovely flight this morning in a Warrior with enough cloud around to make it interesting - saw our shadow on the clouds with a 360° rainbow around it. Beautiful.

Now saving up for navs. Done one so far but probably best to complete them close together rather than one every month or two!

Lister - that Cub sounds nice. I love the Citabria for solo flights but it's not so pleasant for the passenger in the back.

[WALSue]

Good to see the thread running again!

i.dingbat - so far I've had 8 hours over one year, anywhere near your record?

[1d2d3d4d]

Hi Mazzy, good to hear from you again.

Congrats on the new job, house etc but most of all for getting airbourne again.

My renewal comes up this July. I should have the hours in, just, thanks to our wonderful weather, so seriousy considering an IMC rating. Scraping the bottom of the piggy bank and poking in the corners for the neccessary.

Blue skies, light winds and sufficient funds to all.
Chris

[BRL]

Hi Mazzy, well done with the job and all that, good to see you back here.

(you still owe me a pint by the way)

[mazzy1026]

(you still owe me a pint by the way)

Hehe - I politely ask you to review your post, all that time ago, where you offer me a pint

It's great to see you guys still here, and sending very positive replies as always - you're a good bunch

Well, today's been a bit of a mind blower - that's the one thing about aviation, when you need to know something, or start to look into your options, it's a minefield of information and options (trawling through LASORS is difficult enough, but everything is in there, so please do refer to it if you need an official answer) - some good possible outcomes to follow though - I will keep you posted I actually have a meeting with a group of people this week who fly a rather interesting aircraft - I will say more later in the week...

As is the nature of this thread, I shall be keeping you up to date with my experiences of 'getting my license' back; who knows, in 40 years time, one of my posts (in this very thread!) may begin "How to get your medical at the age of 65"....

Cheers
Lee

[BRL]

Hehe - I politely ask you to review your post, all that time ago, where you offer me a pint

I knew that would make you smile!

Carry on posting on this thread though. There are so many new users coming to this forum, some of them will be looking for something like this for advice on what to expect etc.....

[stickandrudderman]

Mazzy, how come you're still 25?

[mazzy1026]

Mazzy, how come you're still 25?

It's been less than 12 months since I was 24 Not long to go though

I've been reading LASORS - the only requirement for me to get my license back, is to have (and pass) a flight test with a certified examiner. That's it.

As long as I complete the test satisfactorily, and have the examiner sign me off (as well as send the correct form to the CAA (with no fee by the way!)) then I'm good.

There's two ways you can look at this:

a) Wow I only have to do an hour to get my ticket back!
b) I can take this as a valuable opportunity to get some training done to make sure I know what I'm doing, then breeze the test.

Obviously, option 'b' is the choice here (you were all thinking that weren't you?)

As long as the license hasn't expired by 5 years, you're ok (although you'd be surprised at the startling similarity in requirements to the above, if you have gone past 5 years). When I was training, I never really thought about renewal at all (I never thought I'd be in this situation) but it has cropped up for me now. It's often difficult to find a straight answer as to the requirements, however, as anybody will tell you, LASORS is a must - have a look at section F1 here:

http://www.caa.co.uk/docs/33/LASORS2...ookmarked).pdf

It's very simple to read - the hard part is actually finding the bit you want, but the first 2 pages has it all....

Now I have to put all this in practice

Cheers
Lee

[Lister Noble]

Hi Mazzy,
How is it going,did you do the flight test?
I have still not done my two year renewal flight with instructor,either weather ,dentist or work in the way.
I don't have much time left now,runs out 11th May but I have all next week free so hope for a good day.
Good luck.
Lister
PS
Just keeping this thread alive

PPS how come my laptop says time 13.37 yet posting says crack of dawn?

[nissangaz]

Great thread

Quick intro
Hi I am 42 and currently doing my training for my PPL 18 hours so far and thanks to all your advice on this thread I have just nailed my first consistent good landings. Had some great ones then a bump then ok well you know what im getting at

Been reading this from page 1 for just over a month and the best bit of advise came off the page and made me think "thats where i have been going wrong". Wish my instructor had said it 6 hours ago when I first started doing circuits.

Can't remember who mentioned this but it goes something like this. A pilot should not LAND an aeroplane, you just configure the approach and hold off and it will land itself.

My problem was not with the configuration on final, I was getting that pretty consistently in all configurations, dont ask me why but as soon as I was above the numbers then it was throttle back 50ft 100ft 200ft It didnt matter, I was trying to LAND the aeroplane. Most of the time it went ok but I now realise that it was more luck than judgement. Hope I may have just sussed feel of landing.

I had the last lesson of the day on Tuesday gone and my instructor said if I can do that 3 times in a row then I will be going solo next lesson. Unfortunately due to weather, money, work, it looks like it could be next month.

Thanks for the great read, and the invaluable hints and tips, and it does make a difference to us fledglings to be able to find people thaat have been or are going through the same learning curve.

Once again thanks for the great thread. Kindest regards

[madgav]

Hi nissan/all,
I'm in the same age group, about to turn 40 in July
Just started last summer (wife bought me a trial lesson!), solo'd 25/10/07 after about 18½ hours. Sadly I have been suffering the frustrations of the British weather with only 4 out of 11 lessons flown this year so far . I've had *no* second solo yet, after nearly 6 months! Just had a frustrating lesson today in gusty x-wind.
Have to admit I also read mazzy's thread right through - gave me a great understanding of what was ahead. I'm very thankful to mazzy and all of the other contributors to this thread!
Regards,
Gavin.
www.madgav.org
PS Don't forget to post about your first solo.......

[Mike744]

Hi Madgav/all
I'm not in the same age group at all!! turning 65 in October
I was inspired by the sheer thrill and reading Mazzy's posts - thanks Mazzy.
My first flight also in a Piper Tomahawk as a birthday gift last year. I took some time after that to put some cash by but now I've had my first lesson (last tuesday) which was fine, next one on tuesday. Going for the NPPL so today I've got my head buried in Air Law

Mike

[Lister Noble]

Mike,
I'm turning 65 in May,got my PPL two days after my 63rd birthday.
Good luck,enjoy it ,it's not a race to solo in x hrs,I think it took me around 19 hrs then it all went quite quickly after that.
Lister

[Mike744]

Lister,
Many thanks for your sound advice. I've no expectations on time - just to do my best and enjoy it. My first lesson was fun, mainly checks, taxying and getting used to the controls in flight plus trimming out. The hour went far too fast but now I'm truly hooked and can't wait for the next lesson. In hindsight I'm really glad I read up about the PA38 beforehand otherwise I wouldn't of known what (for example) an 'alt static' was
Ground school is good for waking up those grey cells & getting into a learning routine again.. I'll just take my time and enjoy the ride.
Mike

[WALSue]

Mike744, I'm on my 13th lesson and find it just as much fun as there first!
I've found it worth while picking up a book specifically about the PA38, AFE do a good one, albeit rather old now so you may have to get it second hand.

[Mike744]

Hi WALSue,

Thanks. I got one off Ebay about a month ago, it's an ASA publication by Jeremy Pratt with N-EDNA on the front cover. It's turned into my bedtime reading now
Expect it's not too long until you solo? Are you looking forward to it? It seems a long way off to me now but already my expectations are mixed excitement and apprehension, hopefully the apprehension should mostly evaporate later with further training.. its early days yet.
Mike

[WALSue]

Thats the one I have. Find it very useful to have information about the particular aircraft you're flying.
Hopefully not too long until I go solo, just need a few more circuits but the weather hasn't been too great here, very windy.
The apprehension does go with experience although we see how it is when I'm lined up at the end of the runway on my own for the first time!
Good luck with your flying. I'm sure your first solo will suddenly sneak up on you

[nissangaz]

Hi Mazzy/Madgav/Walsue and everybody else in this forum, looks like the weather is going to be ok tomorrow (Tuesday) and it would normaly be my flying day. Got a call from the guy who covers my day off from work, "Hi Gaz just to let you know I am in spain, will do the weekend for you instead". Needless to say I am gutted. Phoned for a lesson at the weekend and the school is fully booked.

Im not suprised that very few of us have flown this year due to weather, can't seem to hit a decent day yet. However I notice that a few of the people on here got there PPL in their sixty's so I still have another 20 years or so to pass the licence.

Wonder how many times I will have to take that damn air law test!!

[WALSue]

Nissangaz - thats a pain! I know the feeling, lovely sunny day then the school ring to say the instructor is ill.
We should run a book see how many different excuses we get for not flying!
Don't loose heart, I've managed around 8 hours in the last 2 months and have half my R/T course out the way. In the previous year I'd only got 4 hours done.

Good luck with the air law exam, I have that...erm excitment..to look forward to!

[Lister Noble]

I had an hour in the Cub this morning,first time I've flown since 9th February and I was slightly worried how rusty I might be.

When I arrived I checked the airplane did my run up etc.and I felt quite at home.
There was slight crosswind but the take off was quite good,I flew for an hour and it was brilliant to be up in the air again,I even managed a decent landing apart from one small bounce. Which I shall blame on the molehills!

It made me realise why I learned to fly,blue sky,warm sun,not too windy.

I was nearly hit by a hawk of some sort just after take off around 400 feet,I think it was as suprised as I was.
Lister