When does learning to fly become fun
 

Haiving just had my second lesson I found the whole experience a bit overwhelming and a lot more difficult than I had expected.
Very nice female instructor from the pilot centre Denham who was very patient but I walked away feeling dispondent and wondering whether I would be better off spending the money changing my Caterham or motorbike. Is this a fairly common reaction which disappears after a few lessons? I have another 3 lessons booked after which I will decide whether to pay for the NPPL course. regards Chas

Personally I have loved the learning experience from the moment I stepped foot in the club. Yes it's been challenging and overwhelming at times but non the less fun.

Give it a few more lessons yet though, would be a huge shame to throw away such a great opportunity so early.

Rich

It is said that flying is many hours of bordom, interspersed with moments of terror. After 33 years and 6000 hours, I can confirm that is correct. Added to which, the moments of terror often occur when you would least expect them, which is additionally frustrating when you're experienced enought to know better!

I can say though that the relationship between moments of terror, and hours of bordom seem to be decreasing. Not because those things are not still happening, but because you're more used to them, anticipate them sooner (most of the time), and have a plan to deal with them.

Still, the three things which keep me most on guard are flying into deteriorating weather, doing maintenance test flights, and landing taildraggers in crosswinds.

Give flying a chance. The places you will see, and the people you will meet are amazing. The moments of terror will definately be worth it in the long term!

Having wanted to learn to fly from 10 years old but then having to wait 30 years to actually do it, I had a job keeping the lid on my enthusiasm especially as I couldn't do more than a lesson a week. I filled the intervening years with building models (static and flying), planespotting, the odd trial flight and every PC flight sim that there was.

What made you want to learn to fly? If you've always wanted to do it then just wait for a few more lessons and see how you feel.

when your instructor gets out...

Couldn't agree more :ok:

When you stop banging circuits and FLY somewhere :)

When you buy your own aircraft (or share in one).

I don't recall what the exact stats are, but a very significant % of PPLs jack it in post-PPL; mainly due to the general poor cost/benefit ratio of club flying ( and I don't blame them to be honest).

There are not many occasions on which a 125- hour pilot can authoritatively disagree with a 6000-hour one, but here, I can confidently say, RUBBISH!! (There, I've said it.:eek:) I've never been bored, and I've never been terrified, though in time, I'm very sure there'll be oppurtunities for these sensations to pop up! :)

Take the time, ChasG, to become comfortable in a very new, noisy, bumpy and possibly smelly environment, with a steep learning curve. It will happen and it's very well worth it!

It happens before then! The first couple of lessons were bemusing and you do wonder how you will ever get to grips with everything as so much happens at once.

The first time my instructor told me to do the take off was buttock clenching as I had no warning. Once airborne the satisfaction was huge. Likewise the first time I did a landing. Going solo was nerve racking, though the most anxious time was when I knew it was coming. Once up there all the worries seem to disappear. Then there was departing the circuit, the solo nav ex ...

The nervous anticipation was always replaced after the event by a huge sense of elation and satisfaction with what I had achieved.

Flying an aircraft is so different from anything else you will have done before that you will certainly feel overwhelmed, but this will pass and it does come together, believe me. There is a lot to learn which is why you have minimum hours to obtain your licence. Please don't give up, give yourself a chance. I would say at least 8 to 10 hours to allow things to really fall into place, perhaps less if you are a quick learner (I wasn't!). You won't regret the cost or the time spent.

Learning to fly is IMHO a game for people who like a challenge and the older one is the truer it is. I found I veered from really enjoying it to hating it and back several times, and progress was a series of lurches, some forwards and some backwards, but since I did get solo etc. overall more forward than backwards. It just didn't feel like it at times.

Suggest you discuss how you felt with the "very nice female instructor" as if she's also a good instructor she should be able to help. I only know what it was like for me learning to fly, a good empathetic instructor should know the range of experiences.

Possibly she has shown you enough that you can see there is a lot to learn, and you don't mention what you found difficult, so no-one can comment on if it's something most people find difficult.

I've mentored a few people and given them a chance to see what the world of a licensed PPL can be like. Hop aboard. You can't fly, but the flights can be an eye-opener and are a great motivator.

Join an experienced pilot on a trip or a club outing. Visit a fly-in. Remember what you're doing it all for, it will carry you through those those difficult moments of hard practising and studying and practising.

Have fun!

I recall that being said about being in Vietnam :)

I think the original quote goes back to Ernie Gann in his biography "Fate is The Hunter".

It goes along the lines of;

It is generally accepted that pilots are overpaid.

Their lives consist of 98% boredom and 2% sheer terror.

During the latter 2%, they earn their entire annual salary.

Overload added to comfort zones!! It is that simple.

When you start flying you are definitely overloaded in all sorts of different ways. Now us Sky Gods :} can cope with periods of overload from time to time. The problem is when you also add in being out of your comfort zone.

I had around 500 hours before I started doing some aeros and expected to be comfortable with the flying. For the first few sessions I wasnt. Looking back I was overloaded but I was also out of my comfort zone - I couldnt imagine an aircraft could do those things. On the other hand when I first started flying instruments I wondered what all the fuss was about. Yes there were times I was overloaded, but the aircraft behaved in the same way to which I was accustom and therefore I stayed in my comfort zone.

So the short answer is that hopefully you will quickly get comfortable with bumping around in a light aircraft, and once you are, even if your instructor pushes you, hopefully you will start enjoying the experience.

After that with any luck the smile will just gets bigger - until you give aeros a go that is. :}

I also recall someone saying the average life expectancy on putting foot off the skids in Nam was about 45 seconds so, sadly, I suppose you didnt have all that long in which to be bored.

Chas, two lessons is just not enough time to think that you can't do it, as you are only just getting to learn what all the knobs and switches are for. I think you will find that if you give it a couple more lessons you will lose the gloom and despondency because you will suddenly realize that you can actually fly the aeroplane a bit! . As soon as you start to get to this point you will not only feel some elation, but you will also be able to talk about it with other fliers who will love to yarn about it all. A good example of this is when Kev Music publicly, on this forum, put all his feelings into very eloquent print when he was going through his PPL with all its ups and downs. It was probably one of the most successful threads this forum has ever seen when so many other fliers joined in and supported him through to the end:D
Getting the PPL is not an easy thing to do and will always have it's frustrating times along the way. But the day when you finish it and get the bit of paper in you sweaty hand will be one of the most satisfying days in your life.
One other thing; without implying anything negative about your present flying instructor, it is a good thing to try a different instructor if you are not feeling good about progress. It's your money after all and you are buying a product, so why not have a go with one of the other instructors (maybe a different age and gender) and see how you do then.
Best of luck:ok:
BTF

thanks for all your responses. The consensus appears to be overloaded at first but getting better. I will give it more time regards Chas:ok:

My father took me to the local airport (now Manchester International) when I was young and I was hooked things that fly from that point on. I went through the model aircraft (flying type) then the Airfix stage, and then in my early 20s enjoyed several gliding holidays with friends.

Then cars, women, kids etc. took over until I was just a bit younger than you. Then it became financially possible to get my PPL. It took about 18 months of weekends before I finally had my licence. I never dreamt, all those years ago, that one day I'd be flying out of Ringway....

I've been an aviation junkie from the age of about 6, and still enjoy every flight. But now I'm retired, my flying days are numbered. Hopefully I will be able to enjoy at least another 5 years before either health or money (lack of) bring things to a stop.

If you've had a 'thing' about aircraft for years, just DO IT.

You're only here once - grasp the opportunity! :ok:

Knocking off that first solo is an unbelievable feeling, ditto first solo land-away.

Chas G

As an instructor I can confirm what you are feeling is normal. For the first few lessons there is so much new stuff coming your way that it is hard not to become overwhelmed. The good news is my experience is that around lesson 5 most students start having the "ah hah" moment and a lot of stuff suddenly starts making sense.

I'd hope it would happen before then!

How about

• first complete flight without instructor input
• first spin
• first launch failure or engine failure
• when everything just "goes right"
• when the instructor gives you an unexpected "now get out of that situation", and you do

after that lot, first solo should be an anticlimax.

BTW don't be disheartened when (not if) you've been improving, and then it feels like you're making negative progress. It happens to most people.

Also, I'd try different instructors on principle - you'll learn different things from each of them.

For me the real joy of GA flying is sitting in that right seat teaching!!!! And passing on my love of flying.

Watching people like yourself going through exactly what your going through then go solo and then pass the test brings huge amounts of job satisfaction.

I have a different opinion on this point. I strongly believe that presolo you should keep the same instructor unless there is a personality conflict or other definite problem indicating a change is required. Despite standardized curriculums, everybody teaches a little differently therefore flynig with different instructors will add a level of uncertainty to what you are doing that you do not need in early training. Also and more importantly the level of familiarity that the instructor will have with you and your training progress will improve the pace of your training progress.

When you can do something like this ...... and then share it with your friends :)

13hrs into it now and loved every minute of it. Never fail to get the buzz when i walk out to the warrior.

In financial terms, you will certainly be better off remaining earth-bound.

However, aeroplanes, and in particular aerobatic types, can deliver an order of magnitude of experience and enjoyment more than anything that is required to keep tyres connected to - or at least in the proximity of - terra firma.

Try to think back to your first driving lessons - they hardly prepared you for the Caterham or motorbike experience - but you need the be trained in the basic arts of any discipline, and the first few steps of that training can seem like wading through glue.

Stay with it - and if you start to question why you're doing it, book yourself an aerobatics session, and understand that you could be doing the same thing yourself in a year or so.

When I did my training for my PPL, the first few flights were alright. Until the point where I started practicing stalls. Got sick a couple of times. That was the lowest point in my training.

I had left home and went down to Aussie all on my own to train for my PPL. At that point where I started getting sick, I felt all lonely and lost. Once I got over the getting sick phase, it was much better. Granted, there were other times I felt down, but grit your teeth and bear with it. You will get through it somehow.

Very positive and honest responses - much appreciated. Having felt that I didnt do very well, I then started to worry about what would I be like when asked to land the plane in a few lessons time.
Now I rather think what would I have been like if on my second driving lesson someone had said it wont be long before we can start practising drifting and donuts or doing wheelies on the bike. I need to stay positive and not worry so much - I have no doubt that I will not be asked to do something the instructor doesnt think I can do.

That's absolutely right. I got my self a bit hung up on stalling, but I just kept practicing until the fear factor went and I felt that I was in control. We would be perfect indeed if there was nothing in the huge number of skills to be taken on board that didn't phase us.

I worked on a tanker supplying JP4 aviation fuel to south nam during the war, I was saddened by how many Huey personnel missing/dead between each two week run to NhaBe, Danang & Qui Nhon - they really didn't have time to get bored

All been said, but yes, expect it to be overload for the first few. As you get used to it, you'll start to enjoy a lot more.

It should become fun a lot sooner than solo; Personally now I've got a few hours past the 'solo' kick, I actually enjoy it more having someone along - yes, 'even' being under instruction.

If you like caterhams and motorbikes, it'll become *really* fun when you discover that 45degrees is not a steep bank, and you can go way past that without the wings falling off (in a suitable aircraft of course!).

Presumably you have by now done two solo flights. If you haven't it is time to change to a senior instructor. There are some instructors who have no conscience in ripping you off while they log hours and before you know it you have 20 hours and still not solo.

"No problem, Bloggs, a couple more sessions of circuits should see you ready for solo. When the time I'll let you know and we will rustle up a senior instructor to give you the pre-solo check. But we have to make sure you have got those circuits taped before you are ready to be put up...."

I have seen students with 30 hours and still on circuit after circuit because the instructor was too exacting when all that is needed is a safe standard; not a Red Bull ace pilot.

DO NOT pay up front.

I think that is the one subject on which all Ppruners will agree.

similarly not all students pick it up as quickly as others, some need practice. some students can be stuck on circuits for longer than others, as the approach and landing is one of the most if not the most important part of the flight.

chas - stick with it mate. i became totally comfortable with flying after about 10 hours. since then it's been excellent. enjoyed every minute of it. you will love pottering around the sky, doing stalls, circuits, landings (my favourite bit), and then navigations, which are really good. navigating and landing away is when you feel your training comes together towards this end result.

stick with it, you will enjoy it. don't let turbulence and all that put you off, some days you will fly around and it will be smooth as silk and you will think, there really is nothing better than this.

I found getting my PPL to be far more of a journey than I ever expected. I have previously done university study etc etc but nothing prepared me for the ups and downs (pardon the pun ;) ) of learning to fly. There were many, many times when I felt I would never get there (flying skills and ground exams) but I stuck at it and my shiny new licence arrived last week. :ok:

It WILL get better, and when you get your licence you will feel such a sense of accomplishment because you will know EXACTLY how hard you had to work to get it. Don't give up we have all been there. Good luck and keep us posted!

Hello, CharlesG!

Being at the advanced age of 56 before you cast off the surly bonds of earth is starting late, which means your learning curve will often resemble a plateau.

I started at 50, but I started by flying gliders....which did eventually lead to the PPL. Nobody on this thread has said a word about gliding? o my, you are missing the most fun of all!

Lots of people gain a power license and then don't use it very much, for reasons of cost or boredom. Many of us who learn to become soaring pilots are still enjoying the sport at very advanced ages! Your first solo, yes, your first cross country (if you get it wrong, you visit a farmer!) and
your friends come to get you, and help derig, and you all stop at the pub on the way back to the club.... We fly in Wales, rock polishing in the Black Mountains at Talgarth. We fly in the wave over Scotland, at Aboyne. We fly in competitions, we relish analysing the weather and using the ridge, or the thermals, to float around local soaring, or to try for the silver distance in an open cockpit T-21, now there is a challenge! Vintage gliders, modern 25 meter state of the art, there are syndicates to share the cost and the enjoyment.

But best of all, we help each other.

Nobody on this thread has said a word about gliding?
 

I did!! I enjoyed holidays at Great Hucklow (£16 for a week, all in - OK it was about 1962...) several weeks at Husband's Bosworth and one at Nymphsfield. absolutely agree that gliding is great. But there was nowhere close enough to carry on with it on a regular basis, hence the 30 odd year gap until the PPL.
RF

As one other on here has already said, you should not be afraid to change instructors if you feel you could do better than your current one. I've had several different instructors on the same course at various stages of my flying career. Whilst doing my PPL I realised that at £125 an hour I should be able to 'hire and fire' my instructors if I was not happy with their performance. I have had bad instructors and good instructors over the years and this made me realise they are not all the same.
If you were taking driving lessons and you weren't happy with your instructor you wouldn't hesistate to change, would you?

Re- the gliding previously mentioned, I started out in gliders and I've never been happier in powered aircraft than I was back in a glider. The only reason I didn't stick with it was the 'golf-club' mentality and the need to have the cooperation of at least five others to get yourself airborn. It was amazing though, to fly a vintage glider solo in formation with a buzzard is a memory that will never leave me.

It gets really fun when you first solo. My first solo in a glider had me singining Bohemian Rhapsody at the to of my voice all the way round. It remains the single most happy and exhilerating moment in my life.

"BISH ME LAA NOO, YOU WOULD NOT LET ME GOOOO......."

Crikey, you three are making me wonder whether I ought to take up gliding again instead of blowing 6K boring holes in the sky....I could get a nice 1/3 share in something glass and nippy for 6K. Aaaargh. Trouble is with gliding is that you can't stick some baggage and the wife (are both those terms mutually inclusive?) in and go somewhere. Agree with the golf club mentality too but don't you get the same at powered clubs? I've only visited them, never been a member. I don't miss getting fried in the summer driving the winch all day only to get a 10 minute circuit in at the end of flying when everyone else is telling me about the 300K they just did either.

Decisions, decisions.

The golf club mentality thing doesn't seem to apply at power clubs as the power clubs seem to be run as businesses with services (landing fees/parking/etc) sold to members without work being expected of the members. Gliding clubs are run as societies on a not for profit basis, so require their members to get involved in every aspect (CAA/BGA compliance/accounting/running the launch point/driving the winch/etc) and this makes gliding clubs a haven for jobsworths and for those too lazy to pull their own weight. This in turn creates the friction and the feeling of 'being watched' lest you don't make a reasonable contribution. Its the feeling of being watched that give the golf club mentality feeling.

It also has to be said that the gliding club system brings out the best in most of the members and keeps the flying cost much lower than if it were done the same way as a powered club.

Becuase I'm not a team player, I will stick with powered flying but I miss gliding enough to be tempted by motor gliders.