Derek Davidson
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wow the prices of Clacton Aero Club is 1k cheaper if not 2 k cheaper to those schools i have looked at price wise for 45 hours PPL, i do understand i may not even need 45 hours but as that is the cheapest school found does that mean there delivering of PPL to students will be less than other schools of different price, now the question asked will the weather be better in clacton ?
i found the following club Flying schools - Clacton Aero Club flying school, the price of 45 hours ppl is between 1 to 2k cheaper to other schools i have looked at the prices are:
Cessna 150/152
Training: Hourly - £129 - 10hr block £122 per hour
PA18 - 150 Super Cub
Training: Hourly £149 - 10hr block £142 per hour
Cessna 172
Training: Hourly £152 - 10hr block £145 per hour
Cessna 150 / 152 (45 hours £5490 )
thus if i need 30 hours it will be that of £3,660
im in two minds now
i found the following club Flying schools - Clacton Aero Club flying school, the price of 45 hours ppl is between 1 to 2k cheaper to other schools i have looked at the prices are:
Cessna 150/152
Training: Hourly - £129 - 10hr block £122 per hour
PA18 - 150 Super Cub
Training: Hourly £149 - 10hr block £142 per hour
Cessna 172
Training: Hourly £152 - 10hr block £145 per hour
Cessna 150 / 152 (45 hours £5490 )
thus if i need 30 hours it will be that of £3,660
im in two minds now
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Accommodation is available too if you ask. You will enjoy it there. The instruction is 1st class grass roots flying. The mindset is totally different.
If the weather plays ball, no reason why you wouldn't complete in 2-3 weeks.
Good luck whichever way you decide to go.
If the weather plays ball, no reason why you wouldn't complete in 2-3 weeks.
Good luck whichever way you decide to go.
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hi jetful thank you for your reply, wow i wish i found or heard about this school before, I'm amazed at the prices surely how can they afford to maintain and run if other schools prices are more? may i ask is there info i should know about clacton?
The Original Whirly
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r10bbr, Stop just concentrating on the price! I would have thought you'd have learned that by now, after your experiences. It's the quality of instruction and - very, very important - how you get on with your instructor which count. Also the organisation at the school - whether you can fly with the same instructor all the time if you want to, whether you can book lessons when YOU want them, type of runways (grass only limits you to dry-ish weather), and a whole host of other things. All this can make a huge difference to the number of hours it'll take you, and more importantly, to your ability as a pilot at the end. Early instruction is very important; you don't want to re-learn stuff you've been badly taught - and, sadly, I speak from experience here. :-(
Look, I don't usually blow my own trumpet, but I'm an instructor and also an aviation writer. I had an article published long ago called "What School, Which Instructor" which covers all these issues and more. If you're serious about this, PM me your email address and I'll send you a copy. You might find it in back issues of Flight Training News, but it was published about 8 years ago!
All of this is equally important when it comes to choosing a school and instructor for more advanced courses too, such as CPL, FI etc, so don't think I'm treating you as a beginner. I'm simply trying to pass on the benefit of my experience. Plus...loads of people helped me on this site in the early days; it's time I passed it on.
Look, I don't usually blow my own trumpet, but I'm an instructor and also an aviation writer. I had an article published long ago called "What School, Which Instructor" which covers all these issues and more. If you're serious about this, PM me your email address and I'll send you a copy. You might find it in back issues of Flight Training News, but it was published about 8 years ago!
All of this is equally important when it comes to choosing a school and instructor for more advanced courses too, such as CPL, FI etc, so don't think I'm treating you as a beginner. I'm simply trying to pass on the benefit of my experience. Plus...loads of people helped me on this site in the early days; it's time I passed it on.
r10bbr - you have received a lot of advice on here, some informed, some maybe not so. I would advise you to take Whirlybird up on her offer.
And, as others have said, do not go on price alone. If you go on to CPL/IR level, costs then will dwarf PPL training. And a little extra spent on good PPL training/grounding now may well save you additional training costs further down the line.
And, as others have said, do not go on price alone. If you go on to CPL/IR level, costs then will dwarf PPL training. And a little extra spent on good PPL training/grounding now may well save you additional training costs further down the line.
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thank you for your replies i had my first trial lesson with Derek today lovely gentleman who cuts to the chase, i flew a PA28 compared to my normal cesna 152, loved it the PA28 was easy to fly, love the hand break style flaps and the big trim wheel, getting used to the new layout will take time lol, my day started doing a flight from Bournemoth Airport to Old Sarum Airfield, and then doing circuits roughly about 7 touch and go's and then general exercises such as stalling/steep turn
i still can't believe how easy it was to fly and i managed no hiccups in term of landing etc..
price is yet to be talked about but i will speak tomorrow but overall i enjoyed my trial flight and hope the good weather continues..
i appreciate everyone input and yes i will look at clacton on my next day off
ps air police i am looking to study my ATPLS at ground school and will build up hours during free time or after completion of ATPLS
i still can't believe how easy it was to fly and i managed no hiccups in term of landing etc..
price is yet to be talked about but i will speak tomorrow but overall i enjoyed my trial flight and hope the good weather continues..
i appreciate everyone input and yes i will look at clacton on my next day off
ps air police i am looking to study my ATPLS at ground school and will build up hours during free time or after completion of ATPLS
Good though DD may be, commuting from Essex to/from Bournemouth over the course of a PPL is going to be both a tough ask and expensive to boot.
Pick a school within an hours commute max would be my recommendation (unless you intend to get accommodation somewhere for a 3 week Florida-style PPL completion course)
Pick a school within an hours commute max would be my recommendation (unless you intend to get accommodation somewhere for a 3 week Florida-style PPL completion course)
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just did my first solo loved it, was so exciting and it went quick the 15 mins of solo lol, i am actually staying nearby than commuting fellow members i will highly recommend others to DEREKDAVISDON, training has been great flying from BOURNEMOUTH INTERNATIONAL TO OLD SARUM AIRFIELD , felt so proud landing back at BOURNEMOUTH INTERNATIONAL on an actual airline airfield felt like i was sat behind a 747, lol..
I completed my conversion from microlight to SSEA this week with Derek. No complaints from me.
Unfair to whom?
DD is a bit more than 'one instructor' and offers in effect a unique product by specialising in helping students/qualified pilots complete courses of instruction.
And from what I have picked up from this thread, he gets a ringing endorsement.
DD is a bit more than 'one instructor' and offers in effect a unique product by specialising in helping students/qualified pilots complete courses of instruction.
And from what I have picked up from this thread, he gets a ringing endorsement.
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just a quick update guys :
Derek's charges are £189 p/h plus landing fees of Bournemouth Airport which is of £30 plus, on top of that the owner of the aircraft used during training his charges are £1,000
Derek's charges are £189 p/h plus landing fees of Bournemouth Airport which is of £30 plus, on top of that the owner of the aircraft used during training his charges are £1,000