got my PPL ................. finally

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fast99

Pre-takeoff checklist
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Aug 3, 2023
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fast99
Been just short of 2 years since I started ground school. Did that in the winter because this area gets a lot of fog. The area has had quite a bit of wind making the flying part difficult. 3 weeks in between lessons doesn't work. We started flying very early in the morning last couple months so it would be calmer. Then 4 times the check ride was canceled just one or 2 days before for various reasons. Even this week we had to delay the flying until the next morning because the wind picked up after getting done with the ground portion. Glad the examiner was flexible and plane was available. The check ride wasn't perfect but apparently good enough. Going to take a month or so off then try some crosswind training. Might try a few short flights to stretch my wings a bit.

As you all say, the license is just a ticket to learn. Glad the first part of the education is over.
 
Congrats! Welcome to the club!
 
fast99 said:
Been just short of 2 years since I started ground school. Did that in the winter because this area gets a lot of fog. The area has had quite a bit of wind making the flying part difficult. 3 weeks in between lessons doesn't work. We started flying very early in the morning last couple months so it would be calmer. Then 4 times the check ride was canceled just one or 2 days before for various reasons. Even this week we had to delay the flying until the next morning because the wind picked up after getting done with the ground portion. Glad the examiner was flexible and plane was available. The check ride wasn't perfect but apparently good enough. Going to take a month or so off then try some crosswind training. Might try a few short flights to stretch my wings a bit.

As you all say, the license is just a ticket to learn. Glad the first part of the education is over.
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Well done! This is an accomplishment that few achieve, and which can’t be taken away. Enjoy it - but remember that there is always more to learn, and every flight is a training flight.
 
StraightnLevel said:
Well done! This is an accomplishment that few achieve, and which can’t be taken away. Enjoy it - but remember that there is always more to learn, and every flight is a training flight.
Click to expand...
Yes. both the CFI and examiner pounded that into me. Examiner also said welcome to the club and congratulations, new pilots are the most dangerous thing in the air. Got it, have no plans to have a passenger in the near future.
 
fast99 said:
Been just short of 2 years since I started ground school. Did that in the winter because this area gets a lot of fog. The area has had quite a bit of wind making the flying part difficult. 3 weeks in between lessons doesn't work. We started flying very early in the morning last couple months so it would be calmer. Then 4 times the check ride was canceled just one or 2 days before for various reasons. Even this week we had to delay the flying until the next morning because the wind picked up after getting done with the ground portion. Glad the examiner was flexible and plane was available. The check ride wasn't perfect but apparently good enough. Going to take a month or so off then try some crosswind training. Might try a few short flights to stretch my wings a bit.

As you all say, the license is just a ticket to learn. Glad the first part of the education is over.
Click to expand...
Good on you for sticking it out with all those obstacles in the way. The harder something is to get, the sweeter it is when you do. Have fun, be safe
 
fast99 said:
Yes. both the CFI and examiner pounded that into me. Examiner also said welcome to the club and congratulations, new pilots are the most dangerous thing in the air. Got it, have no plans to have a passenger in the near future.
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I think statistically new pilots are actually safer than the couple hundred hour pilots that have let complacency creep in.

Go take a friend or family member for a ride. It makes it much more fun.
 
fast99 said:
Been just short of 2 years since I started ground school. Did that in the winter because this area gets a lot of fog. The area has had quite a bit of wind making the flying part difficult. 3 weeks in between lessons doesn't work. We started flying very early in the morning last couple months so it would be calmer. Then 4 times the check ride was canceled just one or 2 days before for various reasons. Even this week we had to delay the flying until the next morning because the wind picked up after getting done with the ground portion. Glad the examiner was flexible and plane was available. The check ride wasn't perfect but apparently good enough. Going to take a month or so off then try some crosswind training. Might try a few short flights to stretch my wings a bit.

As you all say, the license is just a ticket to learn. Glad the first part of the education is over.
Click to expand...
Don't wait a month to fly again. Try to fly once a week if possible.
Congratulations.
 
Gary Ward said:
Don't wait a month to fly again. Try to fly once a week if possible.
Congratulations.
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probably good advice. I might feel different after a week or so. Didn't sleep much for about 3 days. Just now starting to feel normal.

Anticipation was way worse. I nailed nearly every question he tossed at me and really only messed up a little bit on one maneuver. Late on the flaps for the approach to landing stall. He did toss in a 20 degree turn during TO stall, never did it that way but was a non-event.
 
Congrats now get out there AMD fill the skies
 
fast99 said:
probably good advice. I might feel different after a week or so. Didn't sleep much for about 3 days. Just now starting to feel normal.

Anticipation was way worse. I nailed nearly every question he tossed at me and really only messed up a little bit on one maneuver. Late on the flaps for the approach to landing stall. He did toss in a 20 degree turn during TO stall, never did it that way but was a non-event.
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It took me 18 months to get my PPL and a lot of hours.
At one point my last, oldest and wisest instructor said you got too much invested to give up when I was getting up there in hours.
At the beginning I was not taking it serious enough, toward the end I flight trained 24/7 in my head and flew 3 days a week as long as the weather was good.
I didn't sleep much for 3-4 days either before my check ride. Know what you mean.
 
fast99 said:
Been just short of 2 years since I started ground school. Did that in the winter because this area gets a lot of fog. The area has had quite a bit of wind making the flying part difficult. 3 weeks in between lessons doesn't work. We started flying very early in the morning last couple months so it would be calmer. Then 4 times the check ride was canceled just one or 2 days before for various reasons. Even this week we had to delay the flying until the next morning because the wind picked up after getting done with the ground portion.
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I am glad you persevered and have your ticket! Now go forth and fly every chance you get to embed your hard earned skills.

Your post reinforces the old truism: Mother Nature hates checkrides!

-Skip
 
Gary Ward said:
It took me 18 months to get my PPL and a lot of hours.
At one point my last, oldest and wisest instructor said you got too much invested to give up when I was getting up there in hours.
At the beginning I was not taking it serious enough, toward the end I flight trained 24/7 in my head and flew 3 days a week as long as the weather was good.
I didn't sleep much for 3-4 days either before my check ride. Know what you mean.
Click to expand...
Your describing me. I had a lot of hours because was just not quite ready last fall. Then the examiner the school was using moved away. No more testing until spring. Flew once or twice a week when weather was decent. This area also gets fog in the winter. In the spring they thought they had another examiner lined up..... not. That fell through. Another 6 weeks until they found another one. Myself and another student took check rides last week with the new examiner. Both of us thought he was very reasonable, wasn't crabby or short and seemed to enjoy it. Anyway, I hope he works out for the school. They seem to be a good fit.
 
Congratulations!!!
What part of the country do you fly?
 
Anyone have advice for me on getting a CFI to give the PPL Checkride in Knoxville TN, or nearby?
 
fast99 said:
Been just short of 2 years since I started ground school. Did that in the winter because this area gets a lot of fog. The area has had quite a bit of wind making the flying part difficult. 3 weeks in between lessons doesn't work. We started flying very early in the morning last couple months so it would be calmer. Then 4 times the check ride was canceled just one or 2 days before for various reasons. Even this week we had to delay the flying until the next morning because the wind picked up after getting done with the ground portion. Glad the examiner was flexible and plane was available. The check ride wasn't perfect but apparently good enough. Going to take a month or so off then try some crosswind training. Might try a few short flights to stretch my wings a bit.

As you all say, the license is just a ticket to learn. Glad the first part of the education is over.
Click to expand...
Congratulations !
I started flight school in 1970 , bought a C172 in 2019 passed the written in 2024, have 250+ hours in and waiting to take flight test in September. At Age 84 it’s time to get it done . :)
(I’ll be 85 in October )
 
fast99 said:
Been just short of 2 years since I started ground school. Did that in the winter because this area gets a lot of fog. The area has had quite a bit of wind making the flying part difficult. 3 weeks in between lessons doesn't work. We started flying very early in the morning last couple months so it would be calmer. Then 4 times the check ride was canceled just one or 2 days before for various reasons. Even this week we had to delay the flying until the next morning because the wind picked up after getting done with the ground portion. Glad the examiner was flexible and plane was available. The check ride wasn't perfect but apparently good enough. Going to take a month or so off then try some crosswind training. Might try a few short flights to stretch my wings a bit.

As you all say, the license is just a ticket to learn. Glad the first part of the education is over.
Click to expand...
Indeed, a big day. Congratulations.
 
Southpaw said:
Congratulations !
I started flight school in 1970 , bought a C172 in 2019 passed the written in 2024, have 250+ hours in and waiting to take flight test in September. At Age 84 it’s time to get it done . :)
(I’ll be 85 in October )
Click to expand...
Better late than never.
 
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