Rigged4Flight
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- Jun 11, 2012
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Rigged4Flight
New to the forum - here's my background: Had about 7 hours instruction about a decade ago. Seemed to never have the time when I had the money, and vice versa. Knew that if I only did an hour here and there I would be a perpetual student pilot, forever broke and under-qualified, so I put it off until better times.
Now I'm to a point where I can start to plan my plan. I'm currently out of the country, but I should be leaving here in about 18 months or so, and I will have some time on my hands, and funds available to devote to serious flight training. I know that no plan ever survives the first minute of combat, so this is only a plan - not a concrete road. Looking for input, suggestions and insight from pretty much anyone at this point.
I will have access to the Post-911 GI Bill. I haven't done a lot of research on it lately, but I know that the latest revision to it allows for flight training without going through a college program.
I want to devote a good solid 30-60 days to nothing but flying. I plan on looking for a flight school in Arizona (most predictably good weather in the lower 48), and live there for as long as it takes to get my PPL - or at least very close to it if it doesn't happen within 60 days. I figure with the predictable weather, plus access to mountains for diversity of flying/terrain conditions, Arizona is my best bet.
My home is in Vermont, so after I do my 30-60 days in AZ I'll look up a CFI near home and spend some time with him/her to get acclimated to the different flying conditions in New England.
I would very much like to purchase an economical plane to train in that I could take back to VT. I've asked a few pilot friends, and the responses I get run from the extremely positive to "don't be a fool!" I know the purchase price of the aircraft represents only the entry cost. The loaded cost/hour, and the annual cost - whether I fly the plane or not - can equal or exceed the purchase price. While I will be able to afford to not work for a couple of months, pay for full time training, and spend ~$20k for a plane, my goal is to make this expensive hobby as affordable as possible once I attain the PPL. I would like a reliable, low GPH, 4 (or comfortable 2) seater that I would use for ~100 hours/year. I live just on the other side of nowhere, and as far as I know there are no flying clubs or concentration of pilots in my area that I could enter into a partnership with to share the cost of an aircraft. So unless I find something like that, my choices as I see them are to purchase or rent. Not entirely sure that purchasing something along the lines of a C150, C172 or even a Ercoupe would meet my need for economical flying, given the unknown costs of the annual, periodic engine overhauls, etc. I could do a lot of rental with $20K worth of slush funds, so I'm not welded to the idea of purchasing, but I do like the pride of ownership aspect. ...so I'm still on the fence on this issue, is what I'm trying to say.
Such as it is, that's my plan for 18 months from now. In the meantime, I have the King School Private Pilot DVD course (the "Get It All" bundle). Once the fighting season settles down a bit here, I plan to go through the course and do some practice exams until I can comfortably score very high. Until I leave this part of the world that's about all I can think of to do to work towards my goal from here.
Sorry for the long post. I'm looking for input. I don't have thin skin, and I know that at this point I don't even know what I don't know - so feel free to give me advice in any way you like. Thanks in advance!
Now I'm to a point where I can start to plan my plan. I'm currently out of the country, but I should be leaving here in about 18 months or so, and I will have some time on my hands, and funds available to devote to serious flight training. I know that no plan ever survives the first minute of combat, so this is only a plan - not a concrete road. Looking for input, suggestions and insight from pretty much anyone at this point.
I will have access to the Post-911 GI Bill. I haven't done a lot of research on it lately, but I know that the latest revision to it allows for flight training without going through a college program.
I want to devote a good solid 30-60 days to nothing but flying. I plan on looking for a flight school in Arizona (most predictably good weather in the lower 48), and live there for as long as it takes to get my PPL - or at least very close to it if it doesn't happen within 60 days. I figure with the predictable weather, plus access to mountains for diversity of flying/terrain conditions, Arizona is my best bet.
My home is in Vermont, so after I do my 30-60 days in AZ I'll look up a CFI near home and spend some time with him/her to get acclimated to the different flying conditions in New England.
I would very much like to purchase an economical plane to train in that I could take back to VT. I've asked a few pilot friends, and the responses I get run from the extremely positive to "don't be a fool!" I know the purchase price of the aircraft represents only the entry cost. The loaded cost/hour, and the annual cost - whether I fly the plane or not - can equal or exceed the purchase price. While I will be able to afford to not work for a couple of months, pay for full time training, and spend ~$20k for a plane, my goal is to make this expensive hobby as affordable as possible once I attain the PPL. I would like a reliable, low GPH, 4 (or comfortable 2) seater that I would use for ~100 hours/year. I live just on the other side of nowhere, and as far as I know there are no flying clubs or concentration of pilots in my area that I could enter into a partnership with to share the cost of an aircraft. So unless I find something like that, my choices as I see them are to purchase or rent. Not entirely sure that purchasing something along the lines of a C150, C172 or even a Ercoupe would meet my need for economical flying, given the unknown costs of the annual, periodic engine overhauls, etc. I could do a lot of rental with $20K worth of slush funds, so I'm not welded to the idea of purchasing, but I do like the pride of ownership aspect. ...so I'm still on the fence on this issue, is what I'm trying to say.
Such as it is, that's my plan for 18 months from now. In the meantime, I have the King School Private Pilot DVD course (the "Get It All" bundle). Once the fighting season settles down a bit here, I plan to go through the course and do some practice exams until I can comfortably score very high. Until I leave this part of the world that's about all I can think of to do to work towards my goal from here.
Sorry for the long post. I'm looking for input. I don't have thin skin, and I know that at this point I don't even know what I don't know - so feel free to give me advice in any way you like. Thanks in advance!
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