Is it time to surrender?
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: High seas
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I was 20 and used to take two buses and walk the final 2 miles to the airport for a flying lesson on a Saturday, because I had sold my car to get a PPL. Flying after that was when I could save enough for a half hours rental.
I made lots of sacrifices just to fly.
Now I am 40, can afford to fly whenever, but cannot renew my medical.
Life's a bitch.
Make your choices, but stay away from the debt route - it hangs around your neck.
I made lots of sacrifices just to fly.
Now I am 40, can afford to fly whenever, but cannot renew my medical.
Life's a bitch.
Make your choices, but stay away from the debt route - it hangs around your neck.
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Pleasley, Derbyshire, UK
Age: 43
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Life story
Hi there
Apologies in advance for the life story!
I have been in exactly the situation that you are in currently. My ambition got the better of me when I was 18 and I took out a loan for £4500 for my PPL that took years to pay off. I rushed headlong into completing my PPL ASAP, with no thought whatsoever about how I was going to afford to keep current when I finished.
My successful flying test just so happened to coincide with meeting my now wife and moving into our first house. Not the ideal time to pay £100 per month in flying, plus associated costs! I had a strict budget of this amount for flying, meaning I would either squeeze a few circuits in once a month, or take family up for sightseeing trips, even managing a flyin at Hucknall on one occasion. This was all we could afford, just once a month, and if the weather was bad on that date then I had to pay extra to get current with the school again.
Inevitably, after a year or so it was just so expensive and it was easy to give it up, giving us an extra £100 per month (an awful lot when you're in your first house!).
To start with it was nice having the extra cash, not having to worry about the weather. After a year or so I started to regret giving up, and now a few years later have decided to start again. This was after hunting high and low for cheap rental, and differing options. I tried the gliding route, but not really practical never knowing where you're going to land next. I seriously considered Microlighting, but not being able to hire them made it an expensive outlay to purchase one.
Last month we moved further north within 15 mins of cheap flying at Netherthorpe, at £75 per hour and no annual membership. I have taken a better paid job after searching high and low, giving us more money per month. Converting to an NPPL will save on medical expenses, and I'm hoping to cost share with somebody there to allow further trips.
No more family outings, but I learned to fly for my own enjoyment and that's what I intend to in the future. I have my first revalidation flight on Saturday all being well! :-)
So I will say please please please look at the options before giving up. I seriously regret giving up in the first place and am glad that with everything as it is I am able to revalidate before the 5 year threshold. You probably won't miss it initially but given time you really will regret it.
Cheers
Noel
Apologies in advance for the life story!
I have been in exactly the situation that you are in currently. My ambition got the better of me when I was 18 and I took out a loan for £4500 for my PPL that took years to pay off. I rushed headlong into completing my PPL ASAP, with no thought whatsoever about how I was going to afford to keep current when I finished.
My successful flying test just so happened to coincide with meeting my now wife and moving into our first house. Not the ideal time to pay £100 per month in flying, plus associated costs! I had a strict budget of this amount for flying, meaning I would either squeeze a few circuits in once a month, or take family up for sightseeing trips, even managing a flyin at Hucknall on one occasion. This was all we could afford, just once a month, and if the weather was bad on that date then I had to pay extra to get current with the school again.
Inevitably, after a year or so it was just so expensive and it was easy to give it up, giving us an extra £100 per month (an awful lot when you're in your first house!).
To start with it was nice having the extra cash, not having to worry about the weather. After a year or so I started to regret giving up, and now a few years later have decided to start again. This was after hunting high and low for cheap rental, and differing options. I tried the gliding route, but not really practical never knowing where you're going to land next. I seriously considered Microlighting, but not being able to hire them made it an expensive outlay to purchase one.
Last month we moved further north within 15 mins of cheap flying at Netherthorpe, at £75 per hour and no annual membership. I have taken a better paid job after searching high and low, giving us more money per month. Converting to an NPPL will save on medical expenses, and I'm hoping to cost share with somebody there to allow further trips.
No more family outings, but I learned to fly for my own enjoyment and that's what I intend to in the future. I have my first revalidation flight on Saturday all being well! :-)
So I will say please please please look at the options before giving up. I seriously regret giving up in the first place and am glad that with everything as it is I am able to revalidate before the 5 year threshold. You probably won't miss it initially but given time you really will regret it.
Cheers
Noel
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: uk
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Glider tug pilot
Hi total beginner, the suggestion to try Gliding may work out, once converted to gliders most Clubs with tugs (towplanes) will allow you to fly them, my club requires 100 hrs P1 and tail dragger experience.
You could then find yourself in a Piper Pawnee, more power than most PPL`s get their hands on and it`s free!
good luck
You could then find yourself in a Piper Pawnee, more power than most PPL`s get their hands on and it`s free!
good luck
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: UK
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Enjoy your flying. As`has already been mentioned its a gift, a fantastic gift that not all of us get to do. And way things are going in this country savour every minute of it as in 5 - 10 years there will be no such thing as a private pilot over here. ( no one will be able to afford it!)
And also as mentioned do not get in to debt for it! I was going to, but have seen very differently now, and have managed to stop before I would have financially crippled myself for the rest of my life. I still cant believe the people who blow 70k plus away! To do that in todays economic climate might as well be suicide!
Best wishes
And also as mentioned do not get in to debt for it! I was going to, but have seen very differently now, and have managed to stop before I would have financially crippled myself for the rest of my life. I still cant believe the people who blow 70k plus away! To do that in todays economic climate might as well be suicide!
Best wishes
