How did you justify the cost of the PPL?
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This Forum and the "Flyer"forum, contain a wealth of information. It's not necessarily where you'd expect to find it!.....answer,- have a read through all the sub-Fora, from Cabin-crew to Tech, Test-pilots, jet-blast.
you'll learn a lot and be entertained (saves on a telly- license!)
having done this for a couple of months, you'll have an appreciation of the who's what's and whyfor's of the CAA, LAA, BMA, BGC etc.
You'll understand that an airworthy flying-machine "can" be bought for under a thousand pounds!!!!
The licensing situation seems a bit of a jungle, right now,- but again, there are discussions on here, as to the most cost-effective route to pursue,- dependent on your ultimate goal, of course.
As long as your hours are logged in your newly bought log-book and properly signed-off, AFAIK, they will still count even iff your training takes a break.
there are certain fixed-wing aircraft that are also available as a Microlight....it's down to wing-loading and power....so the M/light version has a smaller engine and a bigger wing....of necessity, these aircraft are also built down to a weight-limit (wonderful what you can learn on PPrune!)
The regulatory and compliance cost is far lower in Microlight and Permit (LAA) aircraft.
You don't say what you spend on transport....A car is horiffically expensive for a youngster and even the "collector's classic" route to cheap, easily -maintained cars is closed.
Think Insurance group 1...or a scooter/small motorbike....or even a Microcar (Aixam or Ligier come to mind)....dirt-cheap on tax/insurance/fuel....but a glorified lawnmower-engine....huge advantage is, you keep dry and warm and they can be driven on a motorcycle-license.
Great if you're into DIY maintenance - it all helps to fre-up the cash for flying!
There's NO short, easy "Magic-Fix"...I'm assuming you've read "Flying Lawyer's" Sticky, re- FREE flying- Scholarships for young people ???
In short...If you want it enough, you'll find a way.
you'll learn a lot and be entertained (saves on a telly- license!)
having done this for a couple of months, you'll have an appreciation of the who's what's and whyfor's of the CAA, LAA, BMA, BGC etc.
You'll understand that an airworthy flying-machine "can" be bought for under a thousand pounds!!!!
The licensing situation seems a bit of a jungle, right now,- but again, there are discussions on here, as to the most cost-effective route to pursue,- dependent on your ultimate goal, of course.
As long as your hours are logged in your newly bought log-book and properly signed-off, AFAIK, they will still count even iff your training takes a break.
there are certain fixed-wing aircraft that are also available as a Microlight....it's down to wing-loading and power....so the M/light version has a smaller engine and a bigger wing....of necessity, these aircraft are also built down to a weight-limit (wonderful what you can learn on PPrune!)
The regulatory and compliance cost is far lower in Microlight and Permit (LAA) aircraft.
You don't say what you spend on transport....A car is horiffically expensive for a youngster and even the "collector's classic" route to cheap, easily -maintained cars is closed.
Think Insurance group 1...or a scooter/small motorbike....or even a Microcar (Aixam or Ligier come to mind)....dirt-cheap on tax/insurance/fuel....but a glorified lawnmower-engine....huge advantage is, you keep dry and warm and they can be driven on a motorcycle-license.
Great if you're into DIY maintenance - it all helps to fre-up the cash for flying!
There's NO short, easy "Magic-Fix"...I'm assuming you've read "Flying Lawyer's" Sticky, re- FREE flying- Scholarships for young people ???
In short...If you want it enough, you'll find a way.
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The question "How do you justify flying?" Is impossible for anyone other than yourself to answer, there are far too many reasons that can be cited as justification.
Cockney Steve said it all, If you want it badly enough ie: you have the passion, then you will find a way.
Information is out there & is a lot easier to find in this day of internets than it was in my day of watching a/c fly overhead & being "lucky" enough to live 20 miles from an airbase.
Cockney Steve said it all, If you want it badly enough ie: you have the passion, then you will find a way.
Information is out there & is a lot easier to find in this day of internets than it was in my day of watching a/c fly overhead & being "lucky" enough to live 20 miles from an airbase.
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Many moons ago I was in the Army, having passed the tests but failed the medical to be an RAF pilot, always wanted to fly but never thought I would be able to because of my eyesight problem.
I took up rallying as a navigator. Because the skills required were beneficial skills to Army service we were able to use Army Landrovers for the rallies. This essentially meant the cost of our weekend hobby was just our time and the entry fees. We had to do the modifications (Fit Rollbars and Lights etc, and do any repairs in our own time as well).
Anyway another squaddie in our unit used to rally in an NSU prinz, the rally car of the era (giving my age away here). When he wrapped it round a tree and spent the next few weeks burning the midnight oil rebuilding it I asked why he was spending all of his money on a rally car when he could use a landrover like we were.
"Because its my hobby. That's what we earn it for, to spend on hobbies."
"Another guy used to spend all his money and use all of his leave travelling to Formula One Races".
"So there's your answer - you don't have justify it, its a hobby, that's why hobbies exist - to soak up spare disposable income".
So when I did start learning to fly (It transpired that my eyesight problem is only a class one problem.) I didn't have to justify the expenditure because its my Hobby.
I took up rallying as a navigator. Because the skills required were beneficial skills to Army service we were able to use Army Landrovers for the rallies. This essentially meant the cost of our weekend hobby was just our time and the entry fees. We had to do the modifications (Fit Rollbars and Lights etc, and do any repairs in our own time as well).
Anyway another squaddie in our unit used to rally in an NSU prinz, the rally car of the era (giving my age away here). When he wrapped it round a tree and spent the next few weeks burning the midnight oil rebuilding it I asked why he was spending all of his money on a rally car when he could use a landrover like we were.
"Because its my hobby. That's what we earn it for, to spend on hobbies."
"Another guy used to spend all his money and use all of his leave travelling to Formula One Races".
"So there's your answer - you don't have justify it, its a hobby, that's why hobbies exist - to soak up spare disposable income".
So when I did start learning to fly (It transpired that my eyesight problem is only a class one problem.) I didn't have to justify the expenditure because its my Hobby.
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Interesting thread!
I'm busy selling my scooter, classic car, watch and artwork collection to fund my PPL(H). It was a big decision but sod it. It's something i've always wanted to do so i'm going for it and like Adam Frisch's reply said, instead of keeping up with the Jones's, i'm sticking with my 262,000 mile, 12 year old Alfa and putting the money into my training! This helicopter flying lark is a bloody expensive hobby but i'd just fritter the money away on more scooters, cars, watches and art!
I'm busy selling my scooter, classic car, watch and artwork collection to fund my PPL(H). It was a big decision but sod it. It's something i've always wanted to do so i'm going for it and like Adam Frisch's reply said, instead of keeping up with the Jones's, i'm sticking with my 262,000 mile, 12 year old Alfa and putting the money into my training! This helicopter flying lark is a bloody expensive hobby but i'd just fritter the money away on more scooters, cars, watches and art!
Last edited by KNIEVEL77; 11th Apr 2013 at 18:08.
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I didn't learn to fly until I was 30, and when I was 30 I was single, had a well paid job in Oil and Gas, and plenty of spare cash. Had I not had the spare income I doubt I'd have learned to fly unless I REALLY wanted to do if for a job.
Save the money, work your way up the ladder until you have some spare cash, then learn to fly. There is no rush at all.
PS in the meantime, hang around airfields and get to know people with aeroplanes and you'll soon get offered rides. Offer to wash someone aeroplane and maybe they will take you up and give you a go on the sticks...for example.
Save the money, work your way up the ladder until you have some spare cash, then learn to fly. There is no rush at all.
PS in the meantime, hang around airfields and get to know people with aeroplanes and you'll soon get offered rides. Offer to wash someone aeroplane and maybe they will take you up and give you a go on the sticks...for example.
Last edited by englishal; 12th Apr 2013 at 07:44.
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Many gliding clubs have cadet schemes which offer cheap or even free membership and/or flying.
In my club this applies to people up to the age of 25 if in full-time education. Such young people are expected to do a lot of running about, pulling cables ready for launch, helping to all pull gliders back from other parts of the airfield to the launch point, and running with the wingtip during the launch until the glider is flying fast enough for its controls the work. (Washing gliders is also an occasional chore which has to be done.)
We have several pilots have reached solo standard at very little cost in money to themselves. I added up what it would have cost for one of them, had he paid the full membership and other fees, and it reached over £5000 in terms of the subsidy we had given him.
Chris N
In my club this applies to people up to the age of 25 if in full-time education. Such young people are expected to do a lot of running about, pulling cables ready for launch, helping to all pull gliders back from other parts of the airfield to the launch point, and running with the wingtip during the launch until the glider is flying fast enough for its controls the work. (Washing gliders is also an occasional chore which has to be done.)
We have several pilots have reached solo standard at very little cost in money to themselves. I added up what it would have cost for one of them, had he paid the full membership and other fees, and it reached over £5000 in terms of the subsidy we had given him.
Chris N
