PPL Costs & Expected Duration
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When I did my PPL many years ago (early 1980s) I managed it in 40 hrs 15 mins. I would have completed in 40 hours but I was enjoying myself so much doing circuits that i did an extra one. Can't remember exactly how much it cost then but "Hey!!" we do it for the love of flying. Ask a smoker how much he spends on fags and how much enjoyment he gets out of them.
Sadly with the cost of fuel, flying is becoming "The sport of kings" again.
Sadly with the cost of fuel, flying is becoming "The sport of kings" again.
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I was delayed a few hours on my 1st solo as I couldn't quite master the landing. I got there in the end, and it's never been a problem since.
The people I was learning with actually laughed at me for not being able to land very well, but I just laughed right back at them months later when I found nav so easy and they were all struggling.
As said above, most people will probably get a bit stuck on something, it's all about how you deal with that.
The people I was learning with actually laughed at me for not being able to land very well, but I just laughed right back at them months later when I found nav so easy and they were all struggling.
As said above, most people will probably get a bit stuck on something, it's all about how you deal with that.
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For me the main sticking point was fear. Fear of flying, fear of crashing, fear of engine failure, fear of a wing dropping off, fear of getting lost etc etc.
Getting a licence was, and still is, the most difficult stressful awful thing I ever had to do in my life, and the training and learning to come to terms with my emotions became an almost carthartic exercise in self awareness, vulnerabilty and self conquest.
To this day, 25 years and seven hundred hours later, it remains far and away the best, most life enhancing wonderfully rewarding decision I ever made. The "edge" is still there but the joy is immeasurable....
Getting a licence was, and still is, the most difficult stressful awful thing I ever had to do in my life, and the training and learning to come to terms with my emotions became an almost carthartic exercise in self awareness, vulnerabilty and self conquest.
To this day, 25 years and seven hundred hours later, it remains far and away the best, most life enhancing wonderfully rewarding decision I ever made. The "edge" is still there but the joy is immeasurable....
Join Date: May 2008
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Piper Classique (and anyone else)
My sticking points were probably Nav and I remember struggling with RT (got quite tongue-tied) but then it clicked. Also started on DA20 in Dundee and had to convert to PA28 in Jersey...from all electric trims, flaps, etc and variable pitch propeller, to manual flaps and trims, and fuel mixture...
I still hate NDB and ADF!
What's wrong with VOR / DME / ILS?!
Tom
My sticking points were probably Nav and I remember struggling with RT (got quite tongue-tied) but then it clicked. Also started on DA20 in Dundee and had to convert to PA28 in Jersey...from all electric trims, flaps, etc and variable pitch propeller, to manual flaps and trims, and fuel mixture...
I still hate NDB and ADF!
What's wrong with VOR / DME / ILS?!
Tom
Join Date: May 2008
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Hey TommyGun I started at Dundee too.
I also converted to the PA-28. It's a bit strange going from simply flicking a switch and watching the flaps move to pulling a big lever up from the floor.
I miss the DA20, although I might now start flying a robin which is also a very nice aircraft.
I also converted to the PA-28. It's a bit strange going from simply flicking a switch and watching the flaps move to pulling a big lever up from the floor.
I miss the DA20, although I might now start flying a robin which is also a very nice aircraft.
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Robins look like a cross between the DA20 and PA28.
When under instruction on Katana in Dundee, my instructor and I failed to notice the circuit breaker for the flaps popped out, and as the sun was shining through the bubble cockpit we also failed to see the LED light on the flap switch had not illuminated...On finals at around 95-100kts instead of about 65kts! He took control and put the tail on the ground before the wheels! (I have - thankfully - since then, learnt a term called 'Going Around'!).
Sent you a PM.
When under instruction on Katana in Dundee, my instructor and I failed to notice the circuit breaker for the flaps popped out, and as the sun was shining through the bubble cockpit we also failed to see the LED light on the flap switch had not illuminated...On finals at around 95-100kts instead of about 65kts! He took control and put the tail on the ground before the wheels! (I have - thankfully - since then, learnt a term called 'Going Around'!).
Sent you a PM.
Join Date: Jul 2007
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This has become an interestng thread for me as I am currently 'sticking' on a couple of things:
1. The ongoing challenge that is crosswind landings
2. Inability (mainly due to wx) to get even a second solo in (it's now 7 months since my first solo).
Having just notched up 30 hrs it's becoming obvious that this is not going to be completed in 45
as I am still circuit bashing & have no nav flights done.
The frustration is now beginning to set in but it's somehow comforting to know that 60 hrs is more 'normal'.
Gavin.
www.madgav.org
1. The ongoing challenge that is crosswind landings
2. Inability (mainly due to wx) to get even a second solo in (it's now 7 months since my first solo).
Having just notched up 30 hrs it's becoming obvious that this is not going to be completed in 45
as I am still circuit bashing & have no nav flights done.The frustration is now beginning to set in but it's somehow comforting to know that 60 hrs is more 'normal'.
Gavin.
www.madgav.org
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Chin up madgav
I remember it feeling like I was rubbish when it became clear I wasn't going to finish near 45 hours, but I soon got over it.
It doesn't really matter how long you take, as long as you're a confident and compitant pilot at the end of it. I could've gone off to the US and done a PPL in under a month, but I don't think this would've suited my needs at the time.
Don't give up, stay focused and make sure you learn something every time you fly.
I remember it feeling like I was rubbish when it became clear I wasn't going to finish near 45 hours, but I soon got over it.
It doesn't really matter how long you take, as long as you're a confident and compitant pilot at the end of it. I could've gone off to the US and done a PPL in under a month, but I don't think this would've suited my needs at the time.
Don't give up, stay focused and make sure you learn something every time you fly.
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Another top tip and handy hint is when the weather prevents you from flying, then revise and take the ground exams, otherwise it's a waste of a day. Best aid in revision is the PPL Confuser!
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£8000 55 hours including landing fees books etc (was at WW so landing free there but membership was £250.) Spent 6 weeks waiting to do cross country exam due to WX causing several hours of solo requailfieng.
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Can't really say that I found anything too difficult - even the IMC course - some frustrations but nothing that I didn't overcome.
One lesson that I learned the hard way was how to open the throttle slowly after an incident in the Beagle Pup (beautiful aircraft) that I was learning on. While doing circuits in damp weather, I happened to open the throttle a little too quickly and got a bit of ice in the carb. The aircraft became airbourne on the fairly short runway, so no chance of landing back. I was mighty glad that the Pup, with flaps up, gave you a bit of buffet before the stall, so I was able to fly the aircraft at minimum speed while using oodles of carb heat. Eventually cleared the ice as I was turning downwind. The rest of the circuits were uneventful, but enjoyable.
One lesson that I learned the hard way was how to open the throttle slowly after an incident in the Beagle Pup (beautiful aircraft) that I was learning on. While doing circuits in damp weather, I happened to open the throttle a little too quickly and got a bit of ice in the carb. The aircraft became airbourne on the fairly short runway, so no chance of landing back. I was mighty glad that the Pup, with flaps up, gave you a bit of buffet before the stall, so I was able to fly the aircraft at minimum speed while using oodles of carb heat. Eventually cleared the ice as I was turning downwind. The rest of the circuits were uneventful, but enjoyable.
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Sticking point? Aside from lack of instructors leaving me grounded for months... Power off landings has probably been the hardest thing for me. Judging them right is hard! In the old 172N with 40 degrees of flaps it's no biggie, with everything hanging out you're dropping like a brick... In the 172R/S with only 30 degrees, it's still tricky! Working on it tho'...!
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It doesn't really matter how long you take, as long as you're a confident and compitant pilot at the end of it
I'm honestly not too concerned how many hours it takes, just find it a bit frustrating on those occasions when I don't feel I'm progressing as quickly as I would like..... and of course (
) every hour adds £145 to the total cost, not insignificant since I'm trying to fly once a week while still a stude......
Crosswind landings...remember to roll the aircraft into the wind and kick in the opposite rudder (also keep a keen eye on speed!)
Unfortunately I got it into my head quite early on that establishing the wing-down approach early on final was a good idea (after it worked really well on one occasion following several lessons with little progress). I've since found that it's hit or miss whether that really works, depending on the conditions on the day - doesn't work well if it's gusty for instance, and even if it's not there will always be some further control inputs required as the wind changes near the ground. And of course flying wing-down for most of final is less comfortable for both myself and any passengers. More recently I've been crabbing on final and only changing to wing-down when 100-200ft agl, things have improved but it's not there yet.
Another top tip and handy hint is when the weather prevents you from flying, then revise and take the ground exams, otherwise it's a waste of a day. Best aid in revision is the PPL Confuser!
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Madgav,
Keep working on those crosswind landings, as you really will need them when you qualify (otherwise you'll never get to fly).
What type(s) are you training on?
What exams have you done? Obviously you've done Air Law...Human Performance and Limitations is easy, I had a little ground school for Navigation and Radio Telephony...I just used the confuser for Meteorology and Flight Planning. The one I found hard was Air Tech/General (whatever it was called)...but clicked in the end and the PPL Confuser helped.
Like I said, don't let work get in the way...whenever you go up to your club and get weathered off, get some ground school instead and do some revision and get another exam.
Keep working on those crosswind landings, as you really will need them when you qualify (otherwise you'll never get to fly).
What type(s) are you training on?
What exams have you done? Obviously you've done Air Law...Human Performance and Limitations is easy, I had a little ground school for Navigation and Radio Telephony...I just used the confuser for Meteorology and Flight Planning. The one I found hard was Air Tech/General (whatever it was called)...but clicked in the end and the PPL Confuser helped.
Like I said, don't let work get in the way...whenever you go up to your club and get weathered off, get some ground school instead and do some revision and get another exam.
Pompey till I die
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Quote:
Gotta say that is also something that is progressing fairly slowly due to other committments (and work of course, which is sadly necessary to fund all of this). I haven't had any particular problem with the exams so far, got 3 of them done and currently studying nav, but it's taking time....... only got 11 months now to get the other 4 done......
You will get there, wasn't that long ago I was in the same boat
Gotta say that is also something that is progressing fairly slowly due to other committments (and work of course, which is sadly necessary to fund all of this). I haven't had any particular problem with the exams so far, got 3 of them done and currently studying nav, but it's taking time....... only got 11 months now to get the other 4 done......
You will get there, wasn't that long ago I was in the same boat
I know if you are full time then a subject every 2 weeks is easy. I was on 11 hour days at work, but it was exciting because I could feel the skills test coming and the license was on it's way
Read the book in one week, hammer the revision the next week, take the exam.I did cheat though and did human performance, solely from the confuser, in around 4 days.
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Keep working on those crosswind landings, as you really will need them when you qualify (otherwise you'll never get to fly)
What type(s) are you training on?
What exams have you done?
Met 30/11/07
Human Perf 22/02/08
Like I said, it's getting there, slowly. I'm told that:
- Nav is fairly tough, mainly due to time constraints in the exam, so loads of practice exams required
- Flight planning/perf is fairly straightforward
- Aeroplane technical is easy enough but there is lots to learn
- Comms (written paper) is easy, could possibly do it now but would prefer to leave it until I have more experience.
I am using the confuser + airquiz practice exam website, have also been listening to an R/T CD in the car.
Read the book in one week, hammer the revision the next week, take the exam.
Will be several more weeks before I am ready to sit the nav exam.
G.
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Wrote the nav exam yesterday. Loads of time - I finished in well under an hour and I didn't rush it. Double check your triangle of velocity calcs - many of the answers can be found by looking at the chart legend.
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Mmmm I may have been a bit hasty with my reply #29 (although I don't really think so after 7 months). However today in fairly benign conditions I did 3 circuits dual before being sent off to do another 3 on my own .
So something new on the solo score sheet at last, now I have only 2½ hours more solo yet to do in the circuit
G.
. So something new on the solo score sheet at last, now I have only 2½ hours more solo yet to do in the circuit
G.
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Hey,
My PPL cost me £6000 INC all exams and ground school. And a decent set of David Clark headset. It took me 45 hours bang on and i completed my night ratin within the PPL.
From 1st lesson to completion took 8 months. However i had a 2 month break over xmas. I also went solo on 9.5 hours.
Good luck
My PPL cost me £6000 INC all exams and ground school. And a decent set of David Clark headset. It took me 45 hours bang on and i completed my night ratin within the PPL.
From 1st lesson to completion took 8 months. However i had a 2 month break over xmas. I also went solo on 9.5 hours.
Good luck