LoLPilot
Line Up and Wait
Hi everyone! I am new here but I used to be flatlander88 on the student pilot forum. I can't find it anymore so I assum it is now defunct.
I'm taking my private pilot checkride on July 24. This has been 3 years in the making. I'm a full time graduate student and I had to take a full year off due to some financial problems. I have two big questions: any recent PPL checkride grads here who have any tips they would like to offer up?
Second, I am unsure what exactly to do after I finish my PPL. I want to get my tailwheel endorsement but after that I'm not sure what the best way to go about flying is. I do not want to be a career pilot. Eventually I'd like to get my commercial just so I can do things like banner rows and photography flights because those look fun, but I only want to fly for enjoyment. I know that at the $130 it costs to rent the kinds of 172's I've been training in around me I will not be able to get my 50-100 hours a year that seems to be a magic number for proficiency. I've thought of joining a club, though that doesn't really make a big dent in rental costs it seems and then you also have the dues. I've thought of buying something like a Champ or Colt, renting a small t-hangar and then trying to offset some of the costs by allowing an FBO to rent it as a VFR only plane. I would not expect to recover all costs but I think such an arrangement might make that a realistic option. My typical mission would be me, myself and I flying to an oddball small airport near me. I am within a Class B operational area and I'd like to fly at night so I need the electrical system for lights and a transponder. I have no delusions about flying myself to destinations that I need to be at. I think something old and simple like that would present low enough insurance, fuel, maintenance and annual costs to make it doable.
I'm taking my private pilot checkride on July 24. This has been 3 years in the making. I'm a full time graduate student and I had to take a full year off due to some financial problems. I have two big questions: any recent PPL checkride grads here who have any tips they would like to offer up?
Second, I am unsure what exactly to do after I finish my PPL. I want to get my tailwheel endorsement but after that I'm not sure what the best way to go about flying is. I do not want to be a career pilot. Eventually I'd like to get my commercial just so I can do things like banner rows and photography flights because those look fun, but I only want to fly for enjoyment. I know that at the $130 it costs to rent the kinds of 172's I've been training in around me I will not be able to get my 50-100 hours a year that seems to be a magic number for proficiency. I've thought of joining a club, though that doesn't really make a big dent in rental costs it seems and then you also have the dues. I've thought of buying something like a Champ or Colt, renting a small t-hangar and then trying to offset some of the costs by allowing an FBO to rent it as a VFR only plane. I would not expect to recover all costs but I think such an arrangement might make that a realistic option. My typical mission would be me, myself and I flying to an oddball small airport near me. I am within a Class B operational area and I'd like to fly at night so I need the electrical system for lights and a transponder. I have no delusions about flying myself to destinations that I need to be at. I think something old and simple like that would present low enough insurance, fuel, maintenance and annual costs to make it doable.