PPL!!!

[NDW]

Evening all

First time posting in this topic, i am hopefully going to start my PPL after february due to my birthday being in that month, and was just wodnering anyone else is or has started thier PPL and could give me any advice for what to study or Buy. I am Buying myself a Kneeboard and i already have the Flight computer, The studying books and other accesories!!

thanks

Nathan

[Contacttower]

As well as a flight computer and a kneeboard you will need:

1/2 million scale CAA aeronautical map
VFR flight guide
Checklist for the relevant aircraft
Ruler calibrated in nautical miles
Protractor
Logbook
Selection of OHP pens and china-graph pencils
Books covering the PPL exam subjects (I used The Private Pilot's Licence Course books 1-5 by Jeremy Pratt as published by AFE)

Your flying club would be the best source of advice for items required though and they might sell you a 'complete set' of everything you need to pass your PPL.

I mostly use the pilot's shop Transair for my flying equipment.

[Xoxon]

Take it easy - don't buy more than you have to before you understand your instructor's preference. I'm up to the nav section of ppl training and to a large extent, your job as a student is to listen carefully and do what you are told. There are many ways to instruct and to fly so you have to be guided by your instructor.
If you want to get a head start, download CAP 413 from CAA (Radiotelephony) and read the text on the subject. Understanding what is being said (and why!) will reduce your workload and speed your progress in the air.
Good luck. Fun time ahead eh?

[NDW]

thanks for your reply

[Whirlygig]

When I started my PPL course, I had nothing. Then, after a few hours, I sat down with my instructor and a number of well know aviation suppliers' catalogues and went shopping with him. Best behaved male companion I've ever had on a shopping trip!!!!

Take advice from your instructor but there's no need to rush into shopping - you'll find the best things that'll suit you!

Cheers

Whirls

[machel]

I would also say don't rush into buying stuff until you see what you need as you go along.

I bought a kneeboard while doing my PPL-A in Florida, and discovered that, because I have to sit on cushions (by dint of being slightly challenged in the height department) it fouled the yoke and so I can't strap it onto my leg!

I've now got a clear, A5 sized map case from a local climbing shop into which I put a bit of white card and onto which I sewed a velcro strap. It only cost me £5 against the £30'odd for the kneeboard, and it wipes clean after each use.

The kneeboard has to sit to one side, strapped in, and is pulled out when I need to look at my plog.

Talking to other folk at the Flying Club and seeing what they use and recommend is another way of finding out what may suit you.

[NDW]

thanks for your replys

I have been told by a friend that these two kneeboards are the ebst, and he has completed his PPL

http://www.transair.co.uk/product4.a...Product_ID=954

http://www.pooleys.com/prod_detail.cfm?product_id=150

which one would be the better one, i'm prefering one with a leg strap

thanks

[wiveny]

I would invest in a copy of the 'PPL Confusor'! I can't remember who the authors are but once I passed I gave my copy away to the students on another course.
Good Luck

[Contacttower]

I have been told by a friend that these two kneeboards are the ebst, and he has completed his PPL

http://www.transair.co.uk/product4.a...Product_ID=954

As it happens I was given that one for Christmas. I haven't had a chance to try it out yet but hopefully on Saturday if the weather is OK I will. I'll let you know if it's any good...

I can also highly recommend The PPL Confuser.

[znww5]

You can also save quite a bit by buying the PPL books 'elsewhere' - most of my Jeremy Pratt books came from Tesco online . . . yes really!

Good luck with your PPL, I'm sure you will thoroughly enjoy it

[SkyToddler]

All you'll need when you 1st start is the PPL 1 Flying Training book, a logbook and a checklist.

Good Luck!

[llanfairpg]

Jeremy Pratts AFE series of books are excellent

Plus do no forget to advise your life insurer you are about to fly in light aircraft, there may not be any increased premium but you will most likely need to advise them

[BackPacker]

Apparently there are over 130 diseases that can be transferred by using shared headsets. It might be worth investing in one from the start.

My first headset was the cheapest I could find at the local pilot shop in Kissimmee (USA). It served me well and is now my backup/passenger headset. I recently bought a SkyLite SL-900 over the internet. There's a guy on eBay who sells these quite cheaply: I paid something like 120 euros including a headset bag, shipping, handling, taxes and everything. Very happy with that one.

http://www.flyskylite.com/products/sl900.asp

I'm currently contemplating fitting one of these aftermarket ANR kits to one one of them. They got quite good reviews in the latest Pilot magazine, but the SL-900 is not on the list of supported headsets, and they don't respond to enquiries about them.

Edited to say that it wasn't Pilot, but Flyer Magazine, Jan 2008, which did the review.

[llanfairpg]

Apparently there are over 130 diseases that can be transferred by using shared headsets.

BP be careful in parts of Amsterdam too!

[DX Wombat]

Selection of OHP pens and china-graph pencils

I would check with your FI before buying any of these. I have never used them. I was taught to use very fine permanent marker pens which can be cleaned off with non-acetone nailvarnish remover.

[Whirlygig]

DX, I'd have had you down for a surgical spirit sort of gal!!! Me? I alus carry a bottle of the stuff!

You can also use whiteboard markers to remove the "permanent" pen lines left on your chart!

Cheers

Whirls

[llanfairpg]

DX, I'd have had you down for a surgical spirit sort of gal!!! Me? I alus carry a bottle of the stuff!

Have you checked the Carriage of Dangerous Goods Act?

Cheers!

[Whirlygig]

I don't take it Airside!!!

It remains in the crew room so that when I get back I can take a decent slug!!!!

Cheers

Whirls

[llanfairpg]

I don't take it Airside!!!

But dont you find its so bloody cramped in those little cockpits?

[Whirlygig]

Would you care to re-phrase that LlanfairPG ?

I have the world's smallest kneeboard which I bastardized from a proprietory one - everything else is in my head!!!!!

Cheers

Whirls