The most protracted PPL ever?........
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The most protracted PPL ever?........
(Warning - possible long & rambling post ahead! 
)
It was May, 1981. It was in the pub, and my brother, Terry, announced he was popping down in a couple of days to Sunderland Flying Club for a trial flight. Having always had an interest in that direction I said I'd pop down too. We were taken up in a 172 by a chap called Les, I think, who introduced himself as an ex-Lancaster pilot. Terry and I loved it, signed up (the £36/hour was very affordable to me at that time) and off we went. Terry dropped out after about 4 hours, citing new furniture suites and domestic pressure in general; I, being unattached, was immune from such interference.
And so I went on my merry way through '81, upto & including first solo. Sunderland was a great place to be then: at the airshow I met & drank with Ted White of Sally B fame, I also watched one of the Tiger Club's Turbs tip on its nose three times as it tried to taxi off the apron. Later I flew with John Maclean and Marcus Edwards in their ex-Rothmans Pitts S2as and was subjected to the rather disorientating experience of a full aero routine, & got to try slow rolls and stall turns myself. Heady days!
On January 3rd, 1982, the bailiffs called at our home - Dad's business was an early caualty of the 80's recession. And so began a long period of dire personal trauma which I shan't detail here but it shoved the flying right out of the window, and my heart with it. I was in LOVE! Flying was now hooked into my soul and nothing could change it. I was also bereft
GLIDING
By '84 I had moved to Kent to pursue musical work. While drinking (what a coincidence!) with Bunty I happened to mention to him this unrequited love of mine. He said, "If you come with me Saturday morning, I'll show you where you can be taught to fly for free, get free board and lodging and travelling expenses!"
Come again?
And so I wound up at 617 ATC Volunteer Gliding School, Manston. Bunty was a 'B' cat instructor and made the necessary intros to the Boss & I was in.
And he was right. I was taught to fly for free, provided I could keep up the commitment (I mean, is the Pope Catholic?). I was with them for four years and moved on to Kent Gliding Club. However, the birth of my son meant I just couldn't afford the time now! Nevertheless, I was now a glider pilot
but still with a hankering for that PPL.......
A RESTART
1991 - A wife and family now. Work was going pretty well and my persistent sighs, nostalgic chatter and general skyward gazes following the Lycoming drone were paying off - I could resart the PPL! I'd always been interested in historic aviation and tailwheel seemed to be the way to go so I started with Medway Flight Training and their Cubs. Through the summer I got back up to solo standard (a great hour in the warm sun, solo circuit bashing at Rochester) but as time wore on things were becoming more strained - domestically and financially.
So the flying stopped for the second time. To try and live a normal life with such anguish bombarding the front of your brain is a most trying test to face; and only people such as ourselves can know it, I think. It must really seem so trivial to the ground-dwellers.
On we trundled through the years with all the helter-skelter rides of bringing up a family. (And speaking of helter-skelters - don't you find the best theme parks really tame when you've done aeros in a Pitts? - and isn't it great we've got a forum like this to say things like that!
)
WHERE THERE'S HOPE.....
2002, and a financial re-alignment(!) meant that I could give it another go. Joy and Hallelujah! Off to Headcorn now, continuing the tailwheel training and an introduction to the low wing set up of the Jodel 150.
I had a great time. Great instructor and a friendly airfield. I was moving onto cross countrys by March 2003 before deteriorating finances again pulled the plug. By now I was getting more philisophical. I recognised that poor planning had resulted in the premature curtailment of at least two of my attempts. But I hadn't finished here. I knew that this was the way I wanted to finally finish the PPL - with this outfit, airfield and instructor.
Now, finally, the blasted finances look like being sorted (look at TheMotleyFool.co.uk as a great resource for help in sorting out a few little fiscal problems!
) and I'm setting aside means for completing the PPL in Summer next year. Should be able to do it over the long summer hol, weather permitting. And if I get the damn exams out of the way...
Thanks for reading, if you've got this far. I'll update with intermittent and infrequent progress reports.
Kev.
)It was May, 1981. It was in the pub, and my brother, Terry, announced he was popping down in a couple of days to Sunderland Flying Club for a trial flight. Having always had an interest in that direction I said I'd pop down too. We were taken up in a 172 by a chap called Les, I think, who introduced himself as an ex-Lancaster pilot. Terry and I loved it, signed up (the £36/hour was very affordable to me at that time) and off we went. Terry dropped out after about 4 hours, citing new furniture suites and domestic pressure in general; I, being unattached, was immune from such interference.
And so I went on my merry way through '81, upto & including first solo. Sunderland was a great place to be then: at the airshow I met & drank with Ted White of Sally B fame, I also watched one of the Tiger Club's Turbs tip on its nose three times as it tried to taxi off the apron. Later I flew with John Maclean and Marcus Edwards in their ex-Rothmans Pitts S2as and was subjected to the rather disorientating experience of a full aero routine, & got to try slow rolls and stall turns myself. Heady days!
On January 3rd, 1982, the bailiffs called at our home - Dad's business was an early caualty of the 80's recession. And so began a long period of dire personal trauma which I shan't detail here but it shoved the flying right out of the window, and my heart with it. I was in LOVE! Flying was now hooked into my soul and nothing could change it. I was also bereft
GLIDING
By '84 I had moved to Kent to pursue musical work. While drinking (what a coincidence!) with Bunty I happened to mention to him this unrequited love of mine. He said, "If you come with me Saturday morning, I'll show you where you can be taught to fly for free, get free board and lodging and travelling expenses!"
Come again?
And so I wound up at 617 ATC Volunteer Gliding School, Manston. Bunty was a 'B' cat instructor and made the necessary intros to the Boss & I was in.
And he was right. I was taught to fly for free, provided I could keep up the commitment (I mean, is the Pope Catholic?). I was with them for four years and moved on to Kent Gliding Club. However, the birth of my son meant I just couldn't afford the time now! Nevertheless, I was now a glider pilot
but still with a hankering for that PPL.......A RESTART
1991 - A wife and family now. Work was going pretty well and my persistent sighs, nostalgic chatter and general skyward gazes following the Lycoming drone were paying off - I could resart the PPL! I'd always been interested in historic aviation and tailwheel seemed to be the way to go so I started with Medway Flight Training and their Cubs. Through the summer I got back up to solo standard (a great hour in the warm sun, solo circuit bashing at Rochester) but as time wore on things were becoming more strained - domestically and financially.
So the flying stopped for the second time. To try and live a normal life with such anguish bombarding the front of your brain is a most trying test to face; and only people such as ourselves can know it, I think. It must really seem so trivial to the ground-dwellers.
On we trundled through the years with all the helter-skelter rides of bringing up a family. (And speaking of helter-skelters - don't you find the best theme parks really tame when you've done aeros in a Pitts? - and isn't it great we've got a forum like this to say things like that!
)WHERE THERE'S HOPE.....
2002, and a financial re-alignment(!) meant that I could give it another go. Joy and Hallelujah! Off to Headcorn now, continuing the tailwheel training and an introduction to the low wing set up of the Jodel 150.
I had a great time. Great instructor and a friendly airfield. I was moving onto cross countrys by March 2003 before deteriorating finances again pulled the plug. By now I was getting more philisophical. I recognised that poor planning had resulted in the premature curtailment of at least two of my attempts. But I hadn't finished here. I knew that this was the way I wanted to finally finish the PPL - with this outfit, airfield and instructor.
Now, finally, the blasted finances look like being sorted (look at TheMotleyFool.co.uk as a great resource for help in sorting out a few little fiscal problems!
) and I'm setting aside means for completing the PPL in Summer next year. Should be able to do it over the long summer hol, weather permitting. And if I get the damn exams out of the way...Thanks for reading, if you've got this far. I'll update with intermittent and infrequent progress reports.
Kev.
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Kev
Sounds like 'fun' (not). I guess there are many of us whose PPL has been just as protracted. I first wanted to learn to fly after visiting airshows in the 1970s. But there was always something to put me off - schooling, cash, job, house etc. etc. and so it was two years ago that I finally thought - if not now, then when? It will be another year, another decade and I'll never get around to it.
But now it is done, and at a not insignficant expense, it is still one of my greatest achievements. Here's to you getting your ticket in the next year or two!
Good luck.
Sounds like 'fun' (not). I guess there are many of us whose PPL has been just as protracted. I first wanted to learn to fly after visiting airshows in the 1970s. But there was always something to put me off - schooling, cash, job, house etc. etc. and so it was two years ago that I finally thought - if not now, then when? It will be another year, another decade and I'll never get around to it.
But now it is done, and at a not insignficant expense, it is still one of my greatest achievements. Here's to you getting your ticket in the next year or two!
Good luck.
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Well done Kev! Keep at it
I followed the gliding - PPL route as well. After three years of gliding I then did my PPL over two years. It took only 35 hours as I continued to fly gliders whilst I was doing it, so didn't go backwards between sporadic lessons. I then struggled for years to keep current as family, job changes ect all took financial preferance. I managed somehow though I still don't fly as much as I'd like ... however, this will soon change as the T31 is nearing completion (see http://www.ivan.pfanet.co.uk)
So you're not alone and I'm sure there are many many others out there with their heads in the clouds but never enough money in their pockets. You sound like you will succeed so good luck to you
SS
PS .... Love aeros, but fair ground rides frighten the CR@P out of me
I followed the gliding - PPL route as well. After three years of gliding I then did my PPL over two years. It took only 35 hours as I continued to fly gliders whilst I was doing it, so didn't go backwards between sporadic lessons. I then struggled for years to keep current as family, job changes ect all took financial preferance. I managed somehow though I still don't fly as much as I'd like ... however, this will soon change as the T31 is nearing completion (see http://www.ivan.pfanet.co.uk)
So you're not alone and I'm sure there are many many others out there with their heads in the clouds but never enough money in their pockets. You sound like you will succeed so good luck to you
SS
PS .... Love aeros, but fair ground rides frighten the CR@P out of me
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Kev
So much of what you have said is familiar to many of us. You are not alone. Stick with it. It is worth it in the end.
My own situation was also protracted, although not nearly as much as yours. And my true interest in flying started thanks due to the RAF GSA. Thanks guys for that.
A quick look at my logbook for my 'official' PPL training shows the following facts:-
total time taken - 6 1/2 years
total hours taken 84 hours
total number of instructors 12
total number of flying schools 3
total numbers of aircraft types 11
Made it in the end. And yes it was worth the trials and tribulations.
So much of what you have said is familiar to many of us. You are not alone. Stick with it. It is worth it in the end.
My own situation was also protracted, although not nearly as much as yours. And my true interest in flying started thanks due to the RAF GSA. Thanks guys for that.
A quick look at my logbook for my 'official' PPL training shows the following facts:-
total time taken - 6 1/2 years
total hours taken 84 hours
total number of instructors 12
total number of flying schools 3
total numbers of aircraft types 11
Made it in the end. And yes it was worth the trials and tribulations.
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Many thanks for your kind & supportive comments, chaps! (& chapesses?). It does seem lonely burning the candle for 25 years, for sure and it's really good to know there are others out there. 
(Kiltie
"I think your ex-Lancaster pilot may have been Les Meadows."
Thanks for that, Kiltie. I wonder if he's still around?
Kev.
(Kiltie
"I think your ex-Lancaster pilot may have been Les Meadows."
Thanks for that, Kiltie. I wonder if he's still around?
Kev.
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Thanks, I will .... the engine's back on and now fitting fuel lines up. Hopefully with a motor up front I'll manage more than 4 minutes per flight 
SS
SS
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The saga continues..........
Yippee!!!!!!!! And I haven't passed anything, yet!
Nope folks, this is the year. I've got air law booked for Tuesday. Funds in place to re-start the PPL at Headcorn in August. I'll shoehorn the rest of the exams in as we go through the year (hopefully!)
Bloody air law. Revising it is like painting the Forth Bridge. Such an enormous sodding subject - especially for my poor, tiny, aged & beer-befuddled brain!
Now, with any luck, a pic from earlier in my career with the afore-mentioned John Maclean, about to be tumble-dried in his Pitts.
Kev.
(Now why didn't that come out as a picture......?)
Nope folks, this is the year. I've got air law booked for Tuesday. Funds in place to re-start the PPL at Headcorn in August. I'll shoehorn the rest of the exams in as we go through the year (hopefully!)
Bloody air law. Revising it is like painting the Forth Bridge. Such an enormous sodding subject - especially for my poor, tiny, aged & beer-befuddled brain!
Now, with any luck, a pic from earlier in my career with the afore-mentioned John Maclean, about to be tumble-dried in his Pitts.
Kev.
(Now why didn't that come out as a picture......?)
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Kev
If you are not too much larger than you were when JM flew you......
if you gain your PPL in 2007, I'll happily fly with you in my Pitts at no cost to yourself and you can determine the wash/tumble setting!
If you have a C/S prop difference trg "stamp", then you can log the time.
Stik
If you are not too much larger than you were when JM flew you......
if you gain your PPL in 2007, I'll happily fly with you in my Pitts at no cost to yourself and you can determine the wash/tumble setting!
If you have a C/S prop difference trg "stamp", then you can log the time.
Stik
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Stik, that's a great offer! I'll see what I can do about prop ticket. Our family loves holidays in Norfolk!
I'm a lucky boy really. The hair's all gone and the beard's grey but I'm barely a stone heavier than I was then - 12 and-a-half now.
I'm a lucky boy really. The hair's all gone and the beard's grey but I'm barely a stone heavier than I was then - 12 and-a-half now.
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Good luck Kev I hope you make it.
I could tell a similar tale from an ATC gliding course in 1956 to determined to finish the PPL now on a pension.
Point of interest, don't know your club policy but do you have the "PPL Confuser" for the exams? Well worth £20. My brain is also wore out at 67 but I got 96% on Air law, I'm not bragging, because I couldn't do it again without re-reading it all.
I could tell a similar tale from an ATC gliding course in 1956 to determined to finish the PPL now on a pension.
Point of interest, don't know your club policy but do you have the "PPL Confuser" for the exams? Well worth £20. My brain is also wore out at 67 but I got 96% on Air law, I'm not bragging, because I couldn't do it again without re-reading it all.
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I already have :
10 instructors - 2 flying schools - 5 aircraft types - 46 hours
and I started flying in March 2006 !
Blah Blah Blah
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I too am a longest ever student candidate. I also started at Sunderland back in 1976 on Victa Airtourer and then C150. Did 28hrs including 8 solo before ususal reasons meant I lost contact with flying. Also tried gliding but too much of a social event for me. 3 lessons in helicopter around 2002. Now returned to a real attempt to complete (funds in place) at Newcastle Flying School. Amazingly still with same instructor as back in '76. I am now 62 and not as super confident as back then but happy with progress so far. Today I think I would have solo'ed (again) but for never ending orbits for commercial traffic decided us to call it a day after just 2 landings in 40 mins. Weather looks poor for tomorrow so hope for good conditions at end of week