I want to get my PPL, but not for a career... (Kent UK)
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Jez, well said.
We had a PA28 with a red velvet interior and little curtains that you could draw for a little extra privacy in the back. There's a persistent rumour that someone once setup a "mile high club" service with that aircraft.
That aircraft was given a major overhaul over the last few weeks. New paint job but also a new grey leather interior.
often the aircraft are 30+ years old with a paint job from the days when yellow and brown were de rigueur.
That aircraft was given a major overhaul over the last few weeks. New paint job but also a new grey leather interior.
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We had a PA28 with a red velvet interior and little curtains that you could draw for a little extra privacy in the back
A bit of a struggle for an old PA28 to reach a mile though, full-rich
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Well I'd put in another vote for Headcorn depending on where you are in Kent, but I would as I'm doing my ppl there.
Two things to pick up on based on your original post and the comments so far:
1) The idea of trying different types is a great one of course, but if you haven't done it before you may be able to get a much cheaper "taster" flight by hanging around a suitable club and asking to go up with a qualified pilot - many are happy to have company while they plug in the hours to keep their licence current and at best you'd pay half the fuel, or maybe get it free. Of course that might take a bit longer finding the right pilot though rather than just turning up with an open cheque book ...
which brings me to ...
2) You said you needed to spend the money quick, and whilst I'm sure if you went down the route of picking one type of aircraft the school would be more than happy to take all your money to pay for lessons up front, I think you will find the recommendation of most of those on here would be to definitely NOT do that (in case the school folds taking your money with it). It all depends WHY you need to spend the money quickly. But I won't ask
Good luck with whatever you choose, and it would be great to hear back what you decide or if you've got any follow up questions.
Happy Flying
Two things to pick up on based on your original post and the comments so far:
1) The idea of trying different types is a great one of course, but if you haven't done it before you may be able to get a much cheaper "taster" flight by hanging around a suitable club and asking to go up with a qualified pilot - many are happy to have company while they plug in the hours to keep their licence current and at best you'd pay half the fuel, or maybe get it free. Of course that might take a bit longer finding the right pilot though rather than just turning up with an open cheque book ...
which brings me to ...
2) You said you needed to spend the money quick, and whilst I'm sure if you went down the route of picking one type of aircraft the school would be more than happy to take all your money to pay for lessons up front, I think you will find the recommendation of most of those on here would be to definitely NOT do that (in case the school folds taking your money with it). It all depends WHY you need to spend the money quickly. But I won't ask
Good luck with whatever you choose, and it would be great to hear back what you decide or if you've got any follow up questions.
Happy Flying
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many are happy to have company while they plug in the hours to keep their licence current
I regularly take people up for a "free" short flight but I only take people I know, and know that they'll either take me on a "free" flight later on, or will do something else in return, or whom I owe a favour, or who do a lot of volunteer work for the club, or who are good mates to sit at the bar with, or something like that. Aka "friends". Not random strangers that wander in from the street looking for an experience flight in a different type.
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Backpacker, I had something "similar" but from the other way. I wanted to experience a flight or two, to get an idea of what I liked, and visited a few clubs just to scope them out. I was offered a free flight from a couple of members, but declined at the time.
It's one thing stepping into an airplane with an instructor, or someone you know and trust. Its another with a complete stranger. I'm sure that the PPL weeds out those who really can't fly, but do you want to be in a plane with someone you don't know, who may have only just passed their test, and then not flown for a month?!
She dreams of flying, its worth investing some of that money you have spare in paying for instructors to take you flying. The experience will be wonderful, rather than nerve-wracking
:-)
It's one thing stepping into an airplane with an instructor, or someone you know and trust. Its another with a complete stranger. I'm sure that the PPL weeds out those who really can't fly, but do you want to be in a plane with someone you don't know, who may have only just passed their test, and then not flown for a month?!
She dreams of flying, its worth investing some of that money you have spare in paying for instructors to take you flying. The experience will be wonderful, rather than nerve-wracking
:-)
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Another gentle nudge towards Headcorn (or Lashenden, to be correct), as for reacreational flying there's a good mix of aircraft, characters and opportunities that could not be found so successfully at other places on Jez's list. If the location works for you, it has to be top of the list.
The only drawback of going the route that Mr Furner suggests is that your initial sum will be gone sooner, at trial flight rates, whilst your appetite is almost certainly going to be far greater than when you started.
I don't think I'd turn down any offers, if you are lucky enough to get any; pilots who offer a spare seat are doing so to try to encourage your interest, give an insight into the experience and save you money (after all, you share the roads with strangers whose training and discipline can be dubious). Asking is somewhat different though.
A well-known young man whose nose was against the fence every minute he wasn't at school had a good few hours in all sorts of aircraft before he started his formal training, purely because his enthusiasm and attitude outweighed his youth and wallet. Guess where, too?
The only drawback of going the route that Mr Furner suggests is that your initial sum will be gone sooner, at trial flight rates, whilst your appetite is almost certainly going to be far greater than when you started.
I don't think I'd turn down any offers, if you are lucky enough to get any; pilots who offer a spare seat are doing so to try to encourage your interest, give an insight into the experience and save you money (after all, you share the roads with strangers whose training and discipline can be dubious). Asking is somewhat different though.
A well-known young man whose nose was against the fence every minute he wasn't at school had a good few hours in all sorts of aircraft before he started his formal training, purely because his enthusiasm and attitude outweighed his youth and wallet. Guess where, too?
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Offering rides
If anyone shows any interest or enthusiasm and I have the time then I make a point of offering a trip. We discuss what they want to get out of the trip and I try and oblige. This generally means upside-down, looping & swooping time.
Those that ask for a ride fall into two camps a) those who are reticent to do so or ask on behalf of a friend b) those that assume because I've taken X up, they have a God-given right!
Both of these tend to happen in the pub or at social events, ie - away from the aeroplane and then arrangements have to be made. I've learned over the years to deploy the three strike rule - I offer three different opporunities to come flying and if they fail to meet any of them then they have forfeited the offer.
I won't take payment for fuel but am occasionally at a later date unexpectedly receive a gift. In the past, I've had gifts of alcohol, venison and just a few months ago, 3 tonnes of barley-straw!
The trick SDOF is to catch me in the right frame of mind at an aerodrome with my aeroplane!
Those that ask for a ride fall into two camps a) those who are reticent to do so or ask on behalf of a friend b) those that assume because I've taken X up, they have a God-given right!
Both of these tend to happen in the pub or at social events, ie - away from the aeroplane and then arrangements have to be made. I've learned over the years to deploy the three strike rule - I offer three different opporunities to come flying and if they fail to meet any of them then they have forfeited the offer.
I won't take payment for fuel but am occasionally at a later date unexpectedly receive a gift. In the past, I've had gifts of alcohol, venison and just a few months ago, 3 tonnes of barley-straw!
The trick SDOF is to catch me in the right frame of mind at an aerodrome with my aeroplane!
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Wow, thank you and... Headcorn, Kent?
If flying suddenly becomes the drug everyone seems to become hooked on, i'm prepared (ish) to fund further lessons! I live near the M25/M20, so Headcorn might be my easiest for access. I'll call them tomorrow.
Anyone have votes for/against Headcorn (or Rochester)? I'll probably punt for flying lessons instead of microlight lessons. Maybe i'll regret that, but i'm almost at the stage of flipping a coin.
I definitely see your point Kolossi, and it's a bit of a worry i suppose. I can only hope that somewhere like Headcorn will be safe enough.
Could you (or anyone else?) make any recommendations to me regarding your experience at Headcorn? Do your instructors vary each time?
...
Oh and please let me just offer some thank yous for all the replies! ...
1) Jez D & IO540 thank you for listing flying schools. IO540 thank you for your email!!
2) Rebecca / Genghis (the Engineer) as i read your great advice i've just pulled out my note book but a log book will need to be next i guess?
3) Stephen F, i also thought your idea was brilliant, to trial different modes of flying. Unfortunately that wont be possible, as the money being allocated has to be spent in one go.
4) Thank you also to backpacker, jollyrog, londonJ, zulualpha, JP1... and everyone else for all of this great advice!
Kindest,
Anyone have votes for/against Headcorn (or Rochester)? I'll probably punt for flying lessons instead of microlight lessons. Maybe i'll regret that, but i'm almost at the stage of flipping a coin.
I definitely see your point Kolossi, and it's a bit of a worry i suppose. I can only hope that somewhere like Headcorn will be safe enough.
Could you (or anyone else?) make any recommendations to me regarding your experience at Headcorn? Do your instructors vary each time?
...
Oh and please let me just offer some thank yous for all the replies! ...
1) Jez D & IO540 thank you for listing flying schools. IO540 thank you for your email!!
2) Rebecca / Genghis (the Engineer) as i read your great advice i've just pulled out my note book but a log book will need to be next i guess?
3) Stephen F, i also thought your idea was brilliant, to trial different modes of flying. Unfortunately that wont be possible, as the money being allocated has to be spent in one go.
4) Thank you also to backpacker, jollyrog, londonJ, zulualpha, JP1... and everyone else for all of this great advice!
Kindest,
she-dreams: any flying school will have a couple of different logbooks to sell you, at a price equivalent to 10 minutes flying. Take advice, then pick one that you just like - they're all very similar.
There's nothing incidentally to stop you taking a trial flight in both an aeroplane and a microlight, before making a decision. This gives you both a choice of aeroplane types, and a choice of training environments to see what you prefer.
G
There's nothing incidentally to stop you taking a trial flight in both an aeroplane and a microlight, before making a decision. This gives you both a choice of aeroplane types, and a choice of training environments to see what you prefer.
G
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I have to agree with Genghis, but then that's what I did! Its worth trying out a microlight as well. When I compared the cockpit of a cessna 152 to that of a eurostar, it was very obvious very quickly which would be more enjoyable! Especially if you want the fun, rather than feel you have to qualify and do a whole load of other certifications.
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Hey everyone, i was recommended by a pilot i met in Bluewater
Simulator wannabes! (good recommendation to come here though!)
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Simulator wannabes! (good recommendation to come here though!)
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Summer in the Alps?
When I was in a similar situation years and years ago I just wanted to be able to fly anything on a miniscule budget. I went to the French Alps and learnt to paraglide. 1 week gets you solo, 2-3 weeks gets you your french license, then get a job locally in a bar or whatever and carry on through the rest of the summer, gliding every day. You could then stay on for a ski season. Think of it as a gap year! Sometimes I wish I had stayed out there rather than going down the expensive powered route as soon as I could afford it. Make sure there is not a language barrier with the school though.
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I like the suggestion by Stratus that is in my view a very cool approach to the issue. These days you can learn to paraglide in the Sussex downs and a number of other locations around the UK.
When I was camping in Yosemite National Park many many years ago each day these brightly coloured hang gliders drifted high over my head along the valley the camp site was in. It looked so effortless as they slowly moved across a clear blue sky. I was transfixed by it. I thought it was just the coolest thing I had ever seen. Needless to say when I finally decided to do more than just read about flying I made tracks for the nearest hang gliding school.
Here I came into contact with the difference between the image and reality of flying. After sliding down a few hills on my rear end whilst strapped into a large heavy kite like machine I realised the true benefits of having an engine at the front. Clearly there was a lot more to hang gliding close up and personal than when admired from a distance. I promptly started visiting local flying schools to find out a bit more about the pleasures of powered flight and what a PPL (A) entailed.
When I was camping in Yosemite National Park many many years ago each day these brightly coloured hang gliders drifted high over my head along the valley the camp site was in. It looked so effortless as they slowly moved across a clear blue sky. I was transfixed by it. I thought it was just the coolest thing I had ever seen. Needless to say when I finally decided to do more than just read about flying I made tracks for the nearest hang gliding school.
Here I came into contact with the difference between the image and reality of flying. After sliding down a few hills on my rear end whilst strapped into a large heavy kite like machine I realised the true benefits of having an engine at the front. Clearly there was a lot more to hang gliding close up and personal than when admired from a distance. I promptly started visiting local flying schools to find out a bit more about the pleasures of powered flight and what a PPL (A) entailed.
Last edited by Stephen Furner; 19th Dec 2010 at 12:27.
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You could pop along to see these guys. You may get some ideas from them and the LAA are a fairly sociable bunch. Mid Kent Strut
Mid Kent Strut
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Now the Kent Strut.
www.kentstrut.co.uk and yes you would be very welcome. Next meeting is the AGM on the 27th January 2011.
www.kentstrut.co.uk and yes you would be very welcome. Next meeting is the AGM on the 27th January 2011.
