AirTalk.org Aviation discussions newsgroups   Archives   FAQ   Search   Memberlist   Usergroups   Register   Profile   Log in to check your private messages   Log in  Flight Instruction Goto page 1, 2  Next          AirTalk.org Forum Index -> Aviation (Students) View previous topic :: View next topic   Author Message Phil Guest Posted: Tue Apr 24, 2007 6:00 am    Post subject: Flight Instruction Greetings. I am planning to start taking lessons, hopefully next month, with the goal of getting a sport pilot license. Does anyone have any general advice for me about the process of learning to fly? Any things you wish you had known before you started? I listened to an aviation podcast recently, and one of the pieces of advice for student pilots was to start wearing old t-shirts when you get up to about 6 hours of instruction. That way when you solo and they cut the back out of your shirt, you don't lose a good shirt. Is this still common practice? Back to top Capt. Geoffrey Thorpe Guest Posted: Tue Apr 24, 2007 6:08 am    Post subject: Re: Flight Instruction "Phil" <pjacobsma (AT) comcast (DOT) net> wrote in message news:1177376437.443811.282370 (AT) b58g2000hsg (DOT) googlegroups.com... Quote: Greetings. I am planning to start taking lessons, hopefully next month, with the goal of getting a sport pilot license. Does anyone have any general advice for me about the process of learning to fly? Any things you wish you had known before you started? Have fun. Don't get stressed if it seems tough at first. Have fun. Don't worry about how many hours it took to solo, etc... Have fun. Feel free to shop around for an instructor - even after you get started. Have fun. Quote: I listened to an aviation podcast recently, and one of the pieces of advice for student pilots was to start wearing old t-shirts when you get up to about 6 hours of instruction. That way when you solo and they cut the back out of your shirt, you don't lose a good shirt. Is this still common practice? Depends on where you are - I would suggest looking at the wall at your FBO - if there are a lot of shirt tails hanging there, you know what to do. -- Geoff The Sea Hawk at Wow Way d0t Com remove spaces and make the obvious substitutions to reply by mail When immigration is outlawed, only outlaws will immigrate. Back to top Phil Guest Posted: Tue Apr 24, 2007 6:13 am    Post subject: Re: Flight Instruction On Apr 23, 8:08 pm, "Capt. Geoffrey Thorpe" <The Sea Hawk at wow way d0t com> wrote: Quote: "Phil" <pjacob...@comcast.net> wrote in message news:1177376437.443811.282370 (AT) b58g2000hsg (DOT) googlegroups.com... Greetings. I am planning to start taking lessons, hopefully next month, with the goal of getting a sport pilot license. Does anyone have any general advice for me about the process of learning to fly? Any things you wish you had known before you started? Have fun. Don't get stressed if it seems tough at first. Have fun. Don't worry about how many hours it took to solo, etc... Have fun. Feel free to shop around for an instructor - even after you get started. Have fun. I listened to an aviation podcast recently, and one of the pieces of advice for student pilots was to start wearing old t-shirts when you get up to about 6 hours of instruction. That way when you solo and they cut the back out of your shirt, you don't lose a good shirt. Is this still common practice? Depends on where you are - I would suggest looking at the wall at your FBO - if there are a lot of shirt tails hanging there, you know what to do. -- Geoff The Sea Hawk at Wow Way d0t Com remove spaces and make the obvious substitutions to reply by mail When immigration is outlawed, only outlaws will immigrate. Thanks. I definitely plan to have fun. It is something I have wanted to do since I was about 4, and I am turning 52 this year! When you have held onto a dream for so long, it is really exciting and also a little scary to make it a reality. But I am absolutely itching to get my hands on those controls. Back to top Jim Stewart Guest Posted: Tue Apr 24, 2007 10:09 pm    Post subject: Re: Flight Instruction Phil wrote: Quote: Greetings. I am planning to start taking lessons, hopefully next month, with the goal of getting a sport pilot license. Does anyone have any general advice for me about the process of learning to fly? Any things you wish you had known before you started? I listened to an aviation podcast recently, and one of the pieces of advice for student pilots was to start wearing old t-shirts when you get up to about 6 hours of instruction. That way when you solo and they cut the back out of your shirt, you don't lose a good shirt. Is this still common practice? I know a little bit about this as I've been taking lessons since November for my Light Sport license. Don't worry about the shirt. It will probably be awhile before you solo, and the shirt will be the last thing on your mind. Plus the cost of even a nice shirt will be insignificant relative to the money you're going to spend learning to fly (: Start reading. I liked "Stick and Rudder" and have read it 3 times. My wife found it too dry and she likes "Your Pilot's License". Don't worry that they aren't written specifically to Light Sport students. Start your ground school. I like both the Gleim manual and the ASA Test Prep book and wasn't particularly pleased with the King computer class. I also took a formal ground school, but it wasn't much more than a reading of the ASA book with some discussion. Don't get your hopes up for soloing at 6 hours or so. Just because the light sport license sets a minimum of 20 hours doesn't mean you're going to go that fast. I made great progress until I got to landings then had a real hard time. That coupled with an instructor that only has one plane to support his livelihood meant that the landings have to be perfect before soloing. Bad weather or plane non- availability can set you way back. I had to fly twice a week or I made no progress at all. Be aware that even though the FCC sets a lower standard for the license, the light sport planes can be more challenging to fly than most GA planes because they are so light. I've got more to say, but I have to get to work. Back to top Mike Proctor Guest Posted: Wed Apr 25, 2007 3:10 am    Post subject: Re: Flight Instruction Phil wrote: Quote: Greetings. I am planning to start taking lessons, hopefully next month, with the goal of getting a sport pilot license. Does anyone have any general advice for me about the process of learning to fly? Any things you wish you had known before you started? I listened to an aviation podcast recently, and one of the pieces of advice for student pilots was to start wearing old t-shirts when you get up to about 6 hours of instruction. That way when you solo and they cut the back out of your shirt, you don't lose a good shirt. Is this still common practice? Another book not mentioned that I like is the Airplane Flying Handbook. http://www.amazon.com/Airplane-Handbook-Federal-Aviation-Administration/dp/1602390037/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/002-0432385-3562410?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1177452252&sr=8-1 I also bought Stick and Rudder but haven't read it all yet. I bought "Say Again Please" yesterday because I'm working on getting my B,C,D airspace endorsements. I soloed in about 15hrs (I think) and got my license in about 32hrs. I did it in about 2.5 months. I paid for 25hrs in advance so I tried to fly as often as I could which helps a lot. Back to top C J Campbell Guest Posted: Wed Apr 25, 2007 4:52 am    Post subject: Re: Flight Instruction On 2007-04-23 18:00:37 -0700, Phil <pjacobsma (AT) comcast (DOT) net> said: Quote: Greetings. I am planning to start taking lessons, hopefully next month, with the goal of getting a sport pilot license. Does anyone have any general advice for me about the process of learning to fly? As a flight instructor, I would suggest making sure you study the material for your lesson before you go. If your instructor does not give you assigned material to study, find another instructor. Quote: Any things you wish you had known before you started? Yes. Mainly, I wish I had started earlier in life. Quote: I listened to an aviation podcast recently, and one of the pieces of advice for student pilots was to start wearing old t-shirts when you get up to about 6 hours of instruction. That way when you solo and they cut the back out of your shirt, you don't lose a good shirt. Is this still common practice? Somewhat, although generally most instructors don't like to cut shirt tails unless the student requests it. Then we are most happy to oblige. It is more important to some students than others. Some students just bring a T-shirt that is not cut but simply decorated with the same stuff they put on a shirt tail. Then they can keep wearing it at family picnics, fly-ins, and whatnot. Traditionally, of course, it is not a T-shirt at all. It is a white shirt, such as is now only worn as a dress shirt, or a military uniform shirt, and only the tail is cut off, not the whole back. Another old tradition that has died out is giving the instructor a silver dollar after your demo flight. I suppose it is the lack of silver dollars that killed this one. I never got one (or gave one, either). -- Waddling Eagle World Famous Flight Instructor Back to top Helen Guest Posted: Wed Apr 25, 2007 5:12 am    Post subject: Re: Flight Instruction Phil, I would recommend picking up a copy of Rod Machado's Private Pilot Handbook and Workbook. I am the manager of a new sport pilot school in Maryland and have quiet a few "refugees" from other sport pilot programs under my wing now happily transitioned over to this book. Sport Pilot training is very new, and as such there are no good text books out there written strictly for the Sport Pilot student. That being said, 95% of this book is information you will need to know to both pass the written and be a knowledgeable sport pilot. I previewed most everything out there prior to selecting these books for our school. Most of the "refugees" I have came from schools where they were given "test prep" books or software to study instead of a real text. The materials from Gleim, ASA, and King for Sport Pilot are all the former. The schools that these students came from had the attitude that preparing for and passing the written test was what ground school should be about. IT IS NOT. One of my "refugees" received a 94% on his written test from one of these other schools but I am having to start over from chapt 1 in the Machado text with him because his understanding of the fundamentals required of a safe and competent pilot are so lacking. Rod Machado is a comedian as well as a superb author and instructor. You will find his text to be humorous while giving wonderful real-world explanations of even the most complicated topics. His web site provides supplemental materials for sport pilots to complement his text and workbook. The workbook will prepare you for the FAA written, but instead of simply being a book of test questions, it includes FAA test question side by side with other questions to test your comprehension of each section of his text. The answers are included with a reference to the paragraph in the book with the explanation. The books are also very well priced. His text is also available in CD so you can listen in car. http://www.rodmachado.com/ Other advice: Plan to fly several times a week. The further apart your lessons are, the more you will forget between them and the more hours and money it will take to finish your ticket. Plan adequate time to study between lessons. Good luck with your flight training. I hope that if you are in ever Maryland you will stop by and check out our school. Tailwinds! Helen www.chesapeakesportpilot.com Phil wrote: Quote: Greetings. I am planning to start taking lessons, hopefully next month, with the goal of getting a sport pilot license. Does anyone have any general advice for me about the process of learning to fly? Any things you wish you had known before you started? I listened to an aviation podcast recently, and one of the pieces of advice for student pilots was to start wearing old t-shirts when you get up to about 6 hours of instruction. That way when you solo and they cut the back out of your shirt, you don't lose a good shirt. Is this still common practice? Back to top Phil Guest Posted: Fri Apr 27, 2007 6:13 am    Post subject: Re: Flight Instruction On Apr 24, 12:09 pm, Jim Stewart <jstew...@jkmicro.com> wrote: Quote: Phil wrote: Greetings. I am planning to start taking lessons, hopefully next month, with the goal of getting a sport pilot license. Does anyone have any general advice for me about the process of learning to fly? Any things you wish you had known before you started? I listened to an aviation podcast recently, and one of the pieces of advice for student pilots was to start wearing old t-shirts when you get up to about 6 hours of instruction. That way when you solo and they cut the back out of your shirt, you don't lose a good shirt. Is this still common practice? I know a little bit about this as I've been taking lessons since November for my Light Sport license. Don't worry about the shirt. It will probably be awhile before you solo, and the shirt will be the last thing on your mind. Plus the cost of even a nice shirt will be insignificant relative to the money you're going to spend learning to fly (: Start reading. I liked "Stick and Rudder" and have read it 3 times. My wife found it too dry and she likes "Your Pilot's License". Don't worry that they aren't written specifically to Light Sport students. Start your ground school. I like both the Gleim manual and the ASA Test Prep book and wasn't particularly pleased with the King computer class. I also took a formal ground school, but it wasn't much more than a reading of the ASA book with some discussion. Don't get your hopes up for soloing at 6 hours or so. Just because the light sport license sets a minimum of 20 hours doesn't mean you're going to go that fast. I made great progress until I got to landings then had a real hard time. That coupled with an instructor that only has one plane to support his livelihood meant that the landings have to be perfect before soloing. Bad weather or plane non- availability can set you way back. I had to fly twice a week or I made no progress at all. Be aware that even though the FCC sets a lower standard for the license, the light sport planes can be more challenging to fly than most GA planes because they are so light. I've got more to say, but I have to get to work. Thanks for the feedback. I hadn't been able to reply until now because Google groups wasn't letting me into this group. Back to top Phil Guest Posted: Fri Apr 27, 2007 6:13 am    Post subject: Re: Flight Instruction On Apr 24, 8:56 am, Little Endian <girish....@gmail.com> wrote: Quote: month, with the goal of getting a sport pilot license. Does anyone have any general advice for me about the process of learning to fly? Any things you wish you had known before you started? Congrats on your decision to learn to fly! Its not too late at all because if you take good care of your health, you could easily still be flying 25 yrs from now especially with a sport licence. If you get a chance, then read the timeless classic by Wolfgang Langewiesche (Stick and Rudder), especially the chapters on slow flight, angle of attack, stalls etc, its well worth it. Its the only book I have come across in aviation which has that "Zen" like feel to it. Thanks. I've heard of that book, but I haven't read it. I did read his son's book a few years back and it was very well written. It's called Inside the Sky: A Meditation on Flight by William Langewiesche. Back to top Phil Guest Posted: Fri Apr 27, 2007 6:13 am    Post subject: Re: Flight Instruction On Apr 24, 7:12 pm, Helen <Helen_Wo...@verizon.net> wrote: Quote: Phil, I would recommend picking up a copy of Rod Machado's Private Pilot Handbook and Workbook. I am the manager of a new sport pilot school in Maryland and have quiet a few "refugees" from other sport pilot programs under my wing now happily transitioned over to this book. Sport Pilot training is very new, and as such there are no good text books out there written strictly for the Sport Pilot student. That being said, 95% of this book is information you will need to know to both pass the written and be a knowledgeable sport pilot. I previewed most everything out there prior to selecting these books for our school. Most of the "refugees" I have came from schools where they were given "test prep" books or software to study instead of a real text. The materials from Gleim, ASA, and King for Sport Pilot are all the former. The schools that these students came from had the attitude that preparing for and passing the written test was what ground school should be about. IT IS NOT. One of my "refugees" received a 94% on his written test from one of these other schools but I am having to start over from chapt 1 in the Machado text with him because his understanding of the fundamentals required of a safe and competent pilot are so lacking. Rod Machado is a comedian as well as a superb author and instructor. You will find his text to be humorous while giving wonderful real-world explanations of even the most complicated topics. His web site provides supplemental materials for sport pilots to complement his text and workbook. The workbook will prepare you for the FAA written, but instead of simply being a book of test questions, it includes FAA test question side by side with other questions to test your comprehension of each section of his text. The answers are included with a reference to the paragraph in the book with the explanation. The books are also very well priced. His text is also available in CD so you can listen in car. http://www.rodmachado.com/ Other advice: Plan to fly several times a week. The further apart your lessons are, the more you will forget between them and the more hours and money it will take to finish your ticket. Plan adequate time to study between lessons. Good luck with your flight training. I hope that if you are in ever Maryland you will stop by and check out our school. Tailwinds! Helenwww.chesapeakesportpilot.com Thanks. I have the Rod Machado book and Stick and Rudder on order. One question. I am thinking about asking for spin training provided the trainer airplane is certified for it. Do you think that would be worthwhile? Back to top Phil Guest Posted: Fri Apr 27, 2007 6:13 am    Post subject: Re: Flight Instruction On Apr 24, 5:10 pm, Mike Proctor <m...@nsmikeproctor.com> wrote: Quote: Phil wrote: Greetings. I am planning to start taking lessons, hopefully next month, with the goal of getting a sport pilot license. Does anyone have any general advice for me about the process of learning to fly? Any things you wish you had known before you started? I listened to an aviation podcast recently, and one of the pieces of advice for student pilots was to start wearing old t-shirts when you get up to about 6 hours of instruction. That way when you solo and they cut the back out of your shirt, you don't lose a good shirt. Is this still common practice? Another book not mentioned that I like is the Airplane Flying Handbook. http://www.amazon.com/Airplane-Handbook-Federal-Aviation-Administrati... I also bought Stick and Rudder but haven't read it all yet. I bought "Say Again Please" yesterday because I'm working on getting my B,C,D airspace endorsements. I soloed in about 15hrs (I think) and got my license in about 32hrs. I did it in about 2.5 months. I paid for 25hrs in advance so I tried to fly as often as I could which helps a lot. I am hoping for good weather this summer so I can get in as many lessons as possible. Back to top Phil Guest Posted: Fri Apr 27, 2007 6:13 am    Post subject: Re: Flight Instruction On Apr 24, 6:52 pm, C J Campbell <christophercampb...@hotmail.com> wrote: Quote: On 2007-04-23 18:00:37 -0700, Phil <pjacob...@comcast.net> said: Greetings. I am planning to start taking lessons, hopefully next month, with the goal of getting a sport pilot license. Does anyone have any general advice for me about the process of learning to fly? As a flight instructor, I would suggest making sure you study the material for your lesson before you go. If your instructor does not give you assigned material to study, find another instructor. Any things you wish you had known before you started? Yes. Mainly, I wish I had started earlier in life. You and me both! Quote: I listened to an aviation podcast recently, and one of the pieces of advice for student pilots was to start wearing old t-shirts when you get up to about 6 hours of instruction. That way when you solo and they cut the back out of your shirt, you don't lose a good shirt. Is this still common practice? Somewhat, although generally most instructors don't like to cut shirt tails unless the student requests it. Then we are most happy to oblige. It is more important to some students than others. Some students just bring a T-shirt that is not cut but simply decorated with the same stuff they put on a shirt tail. Then they can keep wearing it at family picnics, fly-ins, and whatnot. Traditionally, of course, it is not a T-shirt at all. It is a white shirt, such as is now only worn as a dress shirt, or a military uniform shirt, and only the tail is cut off, not the whole back. Another old tradition that has died out is giving the instructor a silver dollar after your demo flight. I suppose it is the lack of silver dollars that killed this one. I never got one (or gave one, either). -- Waddling Eagle World Famous Flight Instructor That's a tradition I had never heard of before. I do have a Susan B Anthony dollar. Maybe that would work. Back to top Phil Guest Posted: Fri Apr 27, 2007 6:13 am    Post subject: Re: Flight Instruction On Apr 26, 6:22 pm, "gatt" <LiveFromTheClockto...@gfy.com> wrote: Quote: "Phil" <pjacob...@comcast.net> wrote in message news:1177376437.443811.282370 (AT) b58g2000hsg (DOT) googlegroups.com... Greetings. I am planning to start taking lessons, hopefully next month, with the goal of getting a sport pilot license. Does anyone have any general advice for me about the process of learning to fly? Enjoy it. If you're not enjoying it, switch instructors. Any things you wish you had known before you started? Get it done. If you let it lapse for a year, you'll end up almost starting back over the next year before the instructor will sign you off. I listened to an aviation podcast recently, and one of the pieces of advice for student pilots was to start wearing old t-shirts when you get up to about 6 hours of instruction. That way when you solo and they cut the back out of your shirt, you don't lose a good shirt. Is this still common practice? Yep. -c Good advice. Thanks. Back to top Helen Guest Posted: Fri Apr 27, 2007 6:13 am    Post subject: Re: Flight Instruction You may have a hard time finding an LSA certified for it. That being said, it should be pretty easy to find a school with a C152 to do it in. I'd hold off until you get further into your training and see how you like stalls in general before you jump into spins though. Extra stall/spin training never hurts though IMHO. Helen PS. You'll like Rod's book. Phil wrote: Quote: On Apr 24, 7:12 pm, Helen <Helen_Wo...@verizon.net> wrote: Phil, I would recommend picking up a copy of Rod Machado's Private Pilot Handbook and Workbook. I am the manager of a new sport pilot school in Maryland and have quiet a few "refugees" from other sport pilot programs under my wing now happily transitioned over to this book. Sport Pilot training is very new, and as such there are no good text books out there written strictly for the Sport Pilot student. That being said, 95% of this book is information you will need to know to both pass the written and be a knowledgeable sport pilot. I previewed most everything out there prior to selecting these books for our school. Most of the "refugees" I have came from schools where they were given "test prep" books or software to study instead of a real text. The materials from Gleim, ASA, and King for Sport Pilot are all the former. The schools that these students came from had the attitude that preparing for and passing the written test was what ground school should be about. IT IS NOT. One of my "refugees" received a 94% on his written test from one of these other schools but I am having to start over from chapt 1 in the Machado text with him because his understanding of the fundamentals required of a safe and competent pilot are so lacking. Rod Machado is a comedian as well as a superb author and instructor. You will find his text to be humorous while giving wonderful real-world explanations of even the most complicated topics. His web site provides supplemental materials for sport pilots to complement his text and workbook. The workbook will prepare you for the FAA written, but instead of simply being a book of test questions, it includes FAA test question side by side with other questions to test your comprehension of each section of his text. The answers are included with a reference to the paragraph in the book with the explanation. The books are also very well priced. His text is also available in CD so you can listen in car. http://www.rodmachado.com/ Other advice: Plan to fly several times a week. The further apart your lessons are, the more you will forget between them and the more hours and money it will take to finish your ticket. Plan adequate time to study between lessons. Good luck with your flight training. I hope that if you are in ever Maryland you will stop by and check out our school. Tailwinds! Helenwww.chesapeakesportpilot.com Thanks. I have the Rod Machado book and Stick and Rudder on order. One question. I am thinking about asking for spin training provided the trainer airplane is certified for it. Do you think that would be worthwhile? Back to top Phil Guest Posted: Fri Apr 27, 2007 6:13 am    Post subject: Re: Flight Instruction On Apr 26, 9:31 pm, Helen <Helen_Wo...@verizon.net> wrote: Quote: You may have a hard time finding an LSA certified for it. That being said, it should be pretty easy to find a school with a C152 to do it in. I'd hold off until you get further into your training and see how you like stalls in general before you jump into spins though. Extra stall/spin training never hurts though IMHO. I took an aerobatic ride a number of years ago in which we did a loop, roll, and spin. Of course, it would be a different thing to be at the controls, but I thought it was fun at the time. I just feel like it would be good to know how to handle a spin just in case. I like your idea of using a standard trainer. I may pursue that. 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