Starting my PPL
Join Date: Oct 2018
Location: Oh, you know round and about.
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I'm 51 and only started my PPL a few months ago. I found that the first 5 lessons flew by (Pun intended) and I didn't have a grasp on all the procedures, they all seemed to be separate functions. However, I think the key is consolidation, don't space out your lessons too much and by lesson 7 look to get your own headset and get your medical. Around that time you will start circuit bashing and there is nothing worse than having to strain to hear A/G operators or other aircraft in the circuit. It is vital you have good clear comms to build that picture of other aircraft around you in the circuit, you have enough to do flying the aircraft. Once you have a medical and your instructor deems you competent you will get your first solo, no holding you back then.I am planning on getting a good few lessons under my belt before taking the exams as you don't need the added pressure of time ticking away on the certificate, or the cost of having to resit them.
My only regret, I didn't start at 29 and have more years flying!
Join Date: Oct 2016
Location: UK
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Glad you’re enjoying your training, it gets better as you go along. The will be times when your progress plateaus or you even feel you are going backwards but don’t worry, it happens to us all.
One word of advice, do not shell out large training payments in advance unless you can do so by credit card. I am sure your school are healthy and stable but too many people have lost out when their flying school went bust.
One word of advice, do not shell out large training payments in advance unless you can do so by credit card. I am sure your school are healthy and stable but too many people have lost out when their flying school went bust.
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Banished (twice) to the pointless forest
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In the words of Edith Piaf...
Now you are making me feel old I'm 51 and only started my PPL a few months ago. I found that the first 5 lessons flew by (Pun intended) and I didn't have a grasp on all the procedures, they all seemed to be separate functions. However, I think the key is consolidation, don't space out your lessons too much and by lesson 7 look to get your own headset and get your medical. Around that time you will start circuit bashing and there is nothing worse than having to strain to hear A/G operators or other aircraft in the circuit. It is vital you have good clear comms to build that picture of other aircraft around you in the circuit, you have enough to do flying the aircraft. Once you have a medical and your instructor deems you competent you will get your first solo, no holding you back then.
I am planning on getting a good few lessons under my belt before taking the exams as you don't need the added pressure of time ticking away on the certificate, or the cost of having to resit them.
My only regret, I didn't start at 29 and have more years flying!
I'm 51 and only started my PPL a few months ago. I found that the first 5 lessons flew by (Pun intended) and I didn't have a grasp on all the procedures, they all seemed to be separate functions. However, I think the key is consolidation, don't space out your lessons too much and by lesson 7 look to get your own headset and get your medical. Around that time you will start circuit bashing and there is nothing worse than having to strain to hear A/G operators or other aircraft in the circuit. It is vital you have good clear comms to build that picture of other aircraft around you in the circuit, you have enough to do flying the aircraft. Once you have a medical and your instructor deems you competent you will get your first solo, no holding you back then.I am planning on getting a good few lessons under my belt before taking the exams as you don't need the added pressure of time ticking away on the certificate, or the cost of having to resit them.
My only regret, I didn't start at 29 and have more years flying!
I started mine at 51.
I was confident that I was too old, too fat, too heavy, (those are two different problems for light aircraft pilots) and too skint.
As it happens, I was wrong about all of that.
Here I am ten years older, and flying. Still too fat, but making allowances, mostly by telling Pax that I need them to move over when I reach for controls between the seats. Still too heavy for the EV97 but I prefer bigger aircraft with more power and equipment. I seem to manage to find the money each month, probably because being a pilot is so much fun.
There's no benefit in wishing the past was different, fly now, and love it. I can't go back to being school age, or make my teenage eyesight perfect. So I have to live with what I have done instead.
Sure I would do it different, but that's not an option for any of us.
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Lancashire & Florida
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Interesting to read how many guys have the mindset that at 30 or 40 yrs old it's too late to start flying.
Nobody told me it was too old when I started at 62 !...
I'm 70 now and have flown all over the USA and now I'm home based again back in the UK I've just started to fly here.
I still get the biggest buzz when I take to the air, just as if it was the day I first took my discovery flight which was a birthday present from my kids.
Something else I'll mention, my CFI in Florida who trained me didn't learn to fly himself until he was 45 yrs old, he went on to get his CFI ticket and at age 50 he joined Delta Airlines as a FO on regional jets, that was 2yrs back and he is now close to moving across to the captains seat...just goes to show, it's never too late to pursue your dreams.
Nobody told me it was too old when I started at 62 !...
I'm 70 now and have flown all over the USA and now I'm home based again back in the UK I've just started to fly here.
I still get the biggest buzz when I take to the air, just as if it was the day I first took my discovery flight which was a birthday present from my kids.
Something else I'll mention, my CFI in Florida who trained me didn't learn to fly himself until he was 45 yrs old, he went on to get his CFI ticket and at age 50 he joined Delta Airlines as a FO on regional jets, that was 2yrs back and he is now close to moving across to the captains seat...just goes to show, it's never too late to pursue your dreams.
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: Guildford
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54 and just starting. 1 lesson in, always been a dream and now reality, loved it. Looking forward to the journey despite the challenges of winter in the UK with a grass strip, the Katana D20 seems a nice place to be doing it too. Currently trying get the principles of the constant speed prop straight, always wondered what that was about and now I've actually got my hand on the levers!
Great resource here and valuable input from some very experienced pilots.Thanks for supporting us fledglings!
Great resource here and valuable input from some very experienced pilots.Thanks for supporting us fledglings!
