Good reasons for PPL

[PAUK]

Hi all

I've had the ambition to learn to fly for many years and I'm going to be on a position in terms of time and finances get started with a PPL next year. I know what I would like to do with a PPL but I'm not sure how practical my ambitions are.
I'm based in South Buckinghamshire UK.
Hope you can all advise....

1. I'd like to be able to go on day trips and long weekends around the UK, but also into France and Netherlands with the option to take friends/family

2. I'd also like to take my road bike to new places to cycle for a few hours and fly back.

3. The ultimate ambition is to get aerobatic rating, not for competition but for fun and fly with a group.

I don't want to become a commercial pilot as a profession, but I would also like to find a way of making some of the money back from flying (if possible) while also enjoying hours up in the air!

Your advice:

Are these practical ambitions?

Is it easy to rent a plane to take a couple of friends/ family abroad for a long weekend? Or is that an expensive approach.

Is it even possible to take a road bike (pedal bike) on something like a Cessna ?

If I am thinking of aerobatics longer term, should I find a school that can take me all the way from PPL to aerobatics or ok to train these seperatly? I live close to denham aerodrome UK, I believe this is a good school but I don't believe they do aerobatics.

Making money part time from flying, any ideas welcome.

Thanks for your help

[Maoraigh1]

Start getting a basic PPL. Rent for some time before buying or joining a syndicate.
If you don't enjoy flying, give up. If you're not confident on your own don't take unqualified pax until you are confident.
Find what kind of flying YOU enjoy and can afford, and do it.
I got a PPL, couldn't afford to keep it up, let it lapse for over 20 years, regained it and have been flying regularly for 32+ years.
PS for making money see "footballer" thread in Accidents" forum. There's presumably now a vacancy in that business

[Jan Olieslagers]

Small (folding) bikes can and are carried by SEP's, yes; I have even seen them on ultralights. Not sure about a full size road bike, though.

https://i.imgur.com/SR6yFbp.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/Ss1LukO.jpg

[Genghis the Engineer]

Originally Posted by PAUK

Hi all

I've had the ambition to learn to fly for many years and I'm going to be on a position in terms of time and finances get started with a PPL next year. I know what I would like to do with a PPL but I'm not sure how practical my ambitions are.
I'm based in South Buckinghamshire UK.
Hope you can all advise....

1. I'd like to be able to go on day trips and long weekends around the UK, but also into France and Netherlands with the option to take friends/family

Totally feasible, just expect to have to plan for reasonable flexibility - weather and other things WILL regularly disrupt your plans.

2. I'd also like to take my road bike to new places to cycle for a few hours and fly back.

I have a rather odd folding mountain bike that fits in the back of a 4-seater very happily. I've not tried myself, but have spoken to plenty of people who say they can get a standard road bike in the back with a wheel removed.

3. The ultimate ambition is to get aerobatic rating, not for competition but for fun and fly with a group.

Plenty do that, although aerobatic syndicates are relatively rare.

I don't want to become a commercial pilot as a profession, but I would also like to find a way of making some of the money back from flying (if possible) while also enjoying hours up in the air!

If you want to make money flying you need either a commercial licence, or an instuctor's rating. Both are expensive and require reasonable flying experience, but both are possible.

The other possibility is that there are plenty of people with PPLs working in ancillary jobs - for example aircraft maintenance, accounts, management who are not professional pilots, but have become aviation professionals, *and* use their PPLs to add to their level of knowledge and engagement.

Your advice:

Are these practical ambitions?

Is it easy to rent a plane to take a couple of friends/ family abroad for a long weekend? Or is that an expensive approach.

Expensive - generally it's best to have a share, as syndicates don't impose minimum "per day" pricing like most rental operations do.

Is it even possible to take a road bike (pedal bike) on something like a Cessna ?

As above - yes.

If I am thinking of aerobatics longer term, should I find a school that can take me all the way from PPL to aerobatics or ok to train these seperatly? I live close to denham aerodrome UK, I believe this is a good school but I don't believe they do aerobatics.

Near Denham, West London Aero Club at White Waltham will do that certainly.

Making money part time from flying, any ideas welcome.

Good luck with that! Most of us throw far more back than we get out.

G