New Learners ?
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New Learners ?
I've recently started to learn to fly and I am working my way through the PPL(A) in Bedfordshire (I'm in St Albans). Is there anyone else on the forum who has just started ?
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Hi Microman.
Yes i am an new learner who has just started my PPL with 2hrs 20mins flying time so far after my lesson today and hope to have over 4hrs by the end of the week (lessons tomorrow and friday).
I am currently learning at Aeros in Filton, Bristol flying PA28's.
Yes i am an new learner who has just started my PPL with 2hrs 20mins flying time so far after my lesson today and hope to have over 4hrs by the end of the week (lessons tomorrow and friday).
I am currently learning at Aeros in Filton, Bristol flying PA28's.
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Hi Runway
Nice to meet you -
I just had a quick look at a Cherokee (on the web) - looks a bit less exposed to the elements than my trainer (Thruster T600N) but its been nice to go up with the doors off in the last few weeks when it has been so hot - I'm trying to go up weekly and the last lesson was ascending and descending turns - the Thruster doesn't have flaps so I don't have to worry about that. I'm up to 4 3/4 hours now and will hopefully be up to 6 hours (saturday) and getting worried about landings which seems to be the most complicated part
. I'm using Jeremy Pratt's book 'The Private Pilot's Licence Course' which seems to be the best one I have come across for teaching basic flying skills.
How do you feel you're getting on ?
I just had a quick look at a Cherokee (on the web) - looks a bit less exposed to the elements than my trainer (Thruster T600N) but its been nice to go up with the doors off in the last few weeks when it has been so hot - I'm trying to go up weekly and the last lesson was ascending and descending turns - the Thruster doesn't have flaps so I don't have to worry about that. I'm up to 4 3/4 hours now and will hopefully be up to 6 hours (saturday) and getting worried about landings which seems to be the most complicated part
. I'm using Jeremy Pratt's book 'The Private Pilot's Licence Course' which seems to be the best one I have come across for teaching basic flying skills. How do you feel you're getting on ?
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Thanks for the kind words Lister and Stik its good to know there are people out there on hand to lend advice to us newbies 
I too am learning from the Pratts books and brought them as a set with all the other things i will need for my PPL (flight comp, maps, knee board etc).
As for the flying i feel i am getting on ok just seem to be fighting the weather to get airbourne as it seems as if everytime i have a lesson scheduled the weather is not good enough to go up. I guess its one of those things!
The FI's at my FTO (Aeros @ Filton, Bristol) are a great bunch of guys and really friendly and are happy to answer any questions i ever have.
I just want to get on with it now and fly!
I too am learning from the Pratts books and brought them as a set with all the other things i will need for my PPL (flight comp, maps, knee board etc).
As for the flying i feel i am getting on ok just seem to be fighting the weather to get airbourne as it seems as if everytime i have a lesson scheduled the weather is not good enough to go up. I guess its one of those things!
The FI's at my FTO (Aeros @ Filton, Bristol) are a great bunch of guys and really friendly and are happy to answer any questions i ever have.
I just want to get on with it now and fly!
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HELLO NEW LEARNERS!
Just to say hello all and good luck.
Ive been flying 33 years and sit in the left hand seat of a computer with wings but I had more fun in light aircraft and have to say i envy you!
Plenty of advice on here, some of it good!
Would i be correct in saying you are flying at Cranfield?
Regards and safe flying
Ive been flying 33 years and sit in the left hand seat of a computer with wings but I had more fun in light aircraft and have to say i envy you!
Plenty of advice on here, some of it good!
Would i be correct in saying you are flying at Cranfield?
Regards and safe flying
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Thankyou everyone
Thanks for all the replies and especially the encouragement from experienced aviators. Hi JHM = As I am learning in the fixed-wing microlight category I am taking lessons from Bedford Microlight Centre just outside of Sandy (PM me if you want to compare notes). The runway is a grass strip - and a friendly helpful FI.
My first few lessons have been about mid-day during the recent hot spell so very thermally this side of the country but as the hot spell seems to have dissipated it'll be interesting to see what it will be like in the cooler weather. I was getting blown around a bit last saturday as the cold front was moving in - any experiences of first landings would be fascinating to hear !
My first few lessons have been about mid-day during the recent hot spell so very thermally this side of the country but as the hot spell seems to have dissipated it'll be interesting to see what it will be like in the cooler weather. I was getting blown around a bit last saturday as the cold front was moving in - any experiences of first landings would be fascinating to hear !
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Originally Posted by theresalwaysone
Ive been flying 33 years and sit in the left hand seat of a computer with wings but I had more fun in light aircraft and have to say i envy you!
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Newbie issues in general
Runway09,
The one piece of advice I would give to a beginner in the UK would be to expect more than half of your bookings to be cancelled because of bad Wx. A further few will be cancelled because of A/C 'going technical' or into servicing or the instructor going sick.
I would say book more lessons than you really want, because at most times of the year you will lose half of them for the reasons given above. You can always cancell any you can't afford the day before.
Here's another tip. You will need a bag to carry your nav instruments, kneeboard and eventually headset in. Argos sell a Pierre Cardin pilot bag for £20 that is every bit as good as ones Transair and others sell for very much more.
Here's another. All your nav instruments (rulers, protractors, etc) are made from trasparent plastic and invariably have both 1:500,000 and 1:250,000 scale markings. In practice, you will only use one scale, (usually the 1:500,000) and you invariably 'lose' these instruments because you can't see them when they are lying on the chart. Worse still, it is all too easy to use the wrong scale when you are planning your flight. Here's what you do. You paint the back surface of the scale you DO use with Tippex. This means the protractor/ruler will be very much easier to use and you won't 'lose' the protractor/ruler on the chart or use the wrong scale when planning your flight.
There are loads more. Watch the experienced pilots in your FTO or club and you'll learn a good deal more.
Moderators, why don't we have a 'sticky' Called 'Tips and Wheezes for Newbies' to hold the little things we all learn eventually, (but not before we have wasted money or time first,) that make life so much easier.
Good luck to all newbies: welcome to the world of flying.
Broomstick.
The one piece of advice I would give to a beginner in the UK would be to expect more than half of your bookings to be cancelled because of bad Wx. A further few will be cancelled because of A/C 'going technical' or into servicing or the instructor going sick.
I would say book more lessons than you really want, because at most times of the year you will lose half of them for the reasons given above. You can always cancell any you can't afford the day before.
Here's another tip. You will need a bag to carry your nav instruments, kneeboard and eventually headset in. Argos sell a Pierre Cardin pilot bag for £20 that is every bit as good as ones Transair and others sell for very much more.
Here's another. All your nav instruments (rulers, protractors, etc) are made from trasparent plastic and invariably have both 1:500,000 and 1:250,000 scale markings. In practice, you will only use one scale, (usually the 1:500,000) and you invariably 'lose' these instruments because you can't see them when they are lying on the chart. Worse still, it is all too easy to use the wrong scale when you are planning your flight. Here's what you do. You paint the back surface of the scale you DO use with Tippex. This means the protractor/ruler will be very much easier to use and you won't 'lose' the protractor/ruler on the chart or use the wrong scale when planning your flight.
There are loads more. Watch the experienced pilots in your FTO or club and you'll learn a good deal more.
Moderators, why don't we have a 'sticky' Called 'Tips and Wheezes for Newbies' to hold the little things we all learn eventually, (but not before we have wasted money or time first,) that make life so much easier.
Good luck to all newbies: welcome to the world of flying.
Broomstick.
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I have three bits of advice for newbies:-
1) invest in a decent set of headsets and get away as quickly as you can from using the tired old club sets that deform your head and leave you with sore ears.
2) try to negotiate a CRP5 if you purchase a starter pack cos if you go commercial then you will end up throwing away the trusty old CRP1
3) make your instructor teach you the wind down method for wind velocity calcuations. If you end up going commercial then you will find this is the only reliable method.
PS: I just checked out the Argos website and that NAV bag looks quite nifty for £20. Cheers Broomstick.
1) invest in a decent set of headsets and get away as quickly as you can from using the tired old club sets that deform your head and leave you with sore ears.
2) try to negotiate a CRP5 if you purchase a starter pack cos if you go commercial then you will end up throwing away the trusty old CRP1
3) make your instructor teach you the wind down method for wind velocity calcuations. If you end up going commercial then you will find this is the only reliable method.
PS: I just checked out the Argos website and that NAV bag looks quite nifty for £20. Cheers Broomstick.
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Originally Posted by raviolis
I'll swap your Airbus for a 152 anytime ! And your salary as well
Microman- and JHM -get your instructors to show you TWINWOODS FARM airfield its where Glen Miller took off from during WW2 never to be seen again and its where the Great Train Robbers hid after the robbery.
If you need anymore useless information just ask!
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I guess I am lucky, the school im learning with, supply all the books, nav equipment, hi-viz vest, fuel tester, map, etc all in a very large bag, and along with all exams, for a great price, Its for the nppl m licence, but as I have no aspirations to fly commercially or at night / instruments only, it suits me prefectly, all for £2999, what a Bargain.
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Hi TangoVic / All
One tip for anyone thinking about or just starting to learn, it is going to take more than the minimum number of hours to pass your test, and hence more than the minimum cost.
For example, 3k all in for an NPPL M sounds like a bargain, but plan to spend 6k, and then hopefully be pleasantly supprised when you have 500 or 1000 quid left over.
Everyone is different and it will vary depending on Aptitude, Age, Consistancy of lessons, previous experiance etc. If you want to pass cheaply then get several hours a week of lessons every week and you will pass in less hours than someone only flying an hour a week.
Just my 2p.
FYI I am currently 20+ hours in to an NPPL M Fixed wing with Flylight @ Sywell, Northamptonshire. Any other Flylight people around?
Cheers
Kev
One tip for anyone thinking about or just starting to learn, it is going to take more than the minimum number of hours to pass your test, and hence more than the minimum cost.
For example, 3k all in for an NPPL M sounds like a bargain, but plan to spend 6k, and then hopefully be pleasantly supprised when you have 500 or 1000 quid left over.
Everyone is different and it will vary depending on Aptitude, Age, Consistancy of lessons, previous experiance etc. If you want to pass cheaply then get several hours a week of lessons every week and you will pass in less hours than someone only flying an hour a week.
Just my 2p.
FYI I am currently 20+ hours in to an NPPL M Fixed wing with Flylight @ Sywell, Northamptonshire. Any other Flylight people around?
Cheers
Kev
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Microman
Are you learning with Chris 'Slippery' Childs? If so you won't find a better instructor.
I suspect you are working towards your NPPL (M), in the Thruster, rather than a PPL (A).
Good luck with the training.
Are you learning with Chris 'Slippery' Childs? If so you won't find a better instructor.
I suspect you are working towards your NPPL (M), in the Thruster, rather than a PPL (A).
Good luck with the training.
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Kev
I took my NPPL (M) GFT at 17 hours and passed so its perfectly feasible to finish the course on budget.
It seemed strange wracking up the rest of the solo hours, after my GFT, so that I could then send off for my licence.
I took my NPPL (M) GFT at 17 hours and passed so its perfectly feasible to finish the course on budget.
It seemed strange wracking up the rest of the solo hours, after my GFT, so that I could then send off for my licence.
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Originally Posted by bar shaker
Kev
I took my NPPL (M) GFT at 17 hours and passed so its perfectly feasible to finish the course on budget.
It seemed strange wracking up the rest of the solo hours, after my GFT, so that I could then send off for my licence.
I took my NPPL (M) GFT at 17 hours and passed so its perfectly feasible to finish the course on budget.
It seemed strange wracking up the rest of the solo hours, after my GFT, so that I could then send off for my licence.
Did you have lots of experiance before you started, be it in group A PIC or RHS etc?
Cheers
Kev