How Did You Get Here?

[gismo]

Self-financed with liquid assets. I would never go into debt for a hobby

Not sure of the OP's intent on this issue but "financing" doesn't necessarily imply borrowing. IOW I took the question to ask did the availability of money or the lack thereof inhibit your foray into aviation significantly?

 

[gismo]

5. No I felt sort of out there on my own. But that could've been to my own dimise I invest myself into a project - head down and focused.

Makes me wonder if we've (the 90+% of pilots in the male gender) made it more difficult female pilots (especially students) to interact socially in a manner useful to said females? Part of the reason I ask is that my daughter is learning to fly and AFaIK she doesn't know a single other living female who's into flying (her flying grandmother passed away several years ago). I'm pretty certain no one in her current circle of friends at home or in college is involved in flying and I hadn't really considered how isolating this could be.

 

[Iwannafly172]

For the currently active Student Pilots, I'd like to ask you the following five (5) questions:

1) How were you first introduced to General Aviation? (describe the experience)
2) Did you feel like you were an integral part of a real "Community" at the point you first began your initial flight training?
3) Do you feel like your flight training is going as you planned it from the start?
4) Do you have broad and flexible access to safe training aircraft, competent flight instructors and facilities that inspire/support your aviation learning and education?
5) Was financing your flight training classified as -A- Easy (smooth as silk and painless), -B- Tough (difficult to manage along the way but I got it done), or -C- Mission Impossible (doable, but a total nightmarish headache along the way)?

1) The one thing that REALLY made me decide to become a Pilot was a flight I took in a C150. The CFI (Mark) got in the right side of the plane, pointed at the left seat and told me the pilots seat is over there..so Slightly confused,:I got in the left seat...( I thought I was just going for another Ride) He showed me how to taxi, we went out to the runway, him explaining the different markings on the Runway. where to stop, where NOT to go Etc.
We had to stop before reaching the runway to wait on a C180 Coming in for a Touch and go.
Then he told me to line the plane up with the center line of the runway, OK Give it Full throttle, and when the front wheel comes off the ground, pull back on the Yoke Gently..
My Head spun to the right like a top and I said, with my eyes about to pop out of my head "WHAT" no time for conversation the front wheel came off the ground and since I was the only one in the plane with his hands on the controls I thought I better so something besides starting a conversation !
Well I can't REALLY Explain the feeling I had when that little Plane left the ground..If you have ever done it you don't need no explanation...I just KNEW my life would never be complete until I was a Certified Pilot !


2) I did feel closer to Mark ( The CFI ) than on the previous flights with Him after I took off on my own !

3) My Flight training NOT going as I hoped, not at all. Mostly due to lack of MONEY. Guess I could visit the airports around here and try to get to know some in GA.

4) No I do not feel I have broad and flexible access to safe training aircraft, competent flight instructors and facilities that inspire/support my aviation learning and education, mostly due to lack of Money..seems there are not that many interested if I don't have the money to buy a 10 hour block of Flight time...

5) -C- Mission Impossible (doable, but a total nightmarish headache along the way)

 

[CT Arrow]

1) How were you first introduced to General Aviation? (describe the experience)

It was 1999 and my wife and I were going to Tortola, BVI. We boarded a twin (Cessna 421 I later found out).I asked the Pilot, who looked like he was 12, if I could sit up front in the right seat. He said sure! As we departed San Juan, PR, I was loving life. I guess my face was gleaming with excitement (or maybe shear terror) but my wife saw my reaction. My Birthday was 5 months later and I opened this heavy box and found inside FAR, AIM, Pvt Pilot stuff. I asked her what all this stuff was and she said "remember the trip to Tortola? I think you would like flying" She bought me Flight lessons and the rest is history.

2) How long did it take between the time you were first introduced to General
Aviation and when you took your first flying lesson?

About 5 months later from my first flight in Tortola to starting my training.

3) Did you obtain your Instrument Rating immediately after completing your Private Pilots License, or was there a significant lag (more than 1 year) between both certifications?

I waited about 6 years from my PVT ticket. Started and stopped it a few times due to idiotic instructors. Finally, I found guys who could and wanted to teach. Finished it off quickly! The Instrument rating is worth every penny and hour you sink into learning. I could not use my aircraft
for over 40% of my missions without the rating.

4) Was financing your flight training classified as -A- Easy (smooth as silk and painless), -B- Tough (difficult to manage along the way but I got it done), or -C- Mission Impossible (doable, but a total nightmarish headache along the way)?

A- It was painless for the most part. Simply write the check. What I learned along the way was that there was CFI's who didn't give a damn about you and only care about gaining hours to stick in their logbook. Sadly, we all pay for this. No wonder so many have bailed out of flight lessons! I learned along the way about who to use and who to stay away from.

5) Did you feel like you were an integral part of a real "Community" at the point you first began your initial flight training?

No, not really! I was a student pilot and until I earned my license, I was not a "real pilot". I was actually told that by a CFI at an airport that I trained at. I left shortly there after and went elsewhere. Pilots are a unique group.....

In hindsight, my biggest regret was not discovering flying much earlier in my life. I would have probably been flying for a major carrier.

Either way, no regrets!

 

[bob_albertson]

I got here via the interwebs for dummies. I just know how to click a mouse and flip switches.

 

[Henning]

1) How were you first introduced to General Aviation? (describe the experience)
2) How long did it take between the time you were first introduced to General Aviation and when you took your first flying lesson?
3) Did you obtain your Instrument Rating immediately after completing your Private Pilots License, or was there a significant lag (more than 1 year) between both certifications?
4) Was financing your flight training classified as -A- Easy (smooth as silk and painless), -B- Tough (difficult to manage along the way but I got it done), or -C- Mission Impossible (doable, but a total nightmarish headache along the way)?
5) Did you feel like you were an integral part of a real "Community" at the point you first began your initial flight training?

1. 1970, I was 4, and we were visiting relatives in Houma LA. My 'Uncle Lloyd' (actually works out as a second cousin but has always been 'Uncle Lloyd') who was a pilot in WWII owned an oil field service company with seaplanes and boats that hauled people and parts around. He took us for a ride in a 206 on floats, put me in the right seat and handed me the controls, later he handed me the controls of a boat, pretty much set the course for my life that vacation.

2. 19 years, although my dad and I went on quite a few scenic flights in the mean time on various vacations where you always get to fly a bit.

3. Actually, I got my Multi rating almost immediately after when I bought my Travelair with 60hrs and flew it enough to get my Commercial within a year, then I got my IR. All this was within a year and a half. The interesting advantage to this progression was that I was able to deduct my Instrument Rating and training from my taxes.

4. A. I had to feed Sea Lions to finance it all. I ran a glass bottom boat tour in Lover's Cove off Catalina Island CA. My sea lion show pulled in between $300 & $500 a day in tips plus the $125 a day pay.

5. Yes, I was fortunate in that regard. During my flight training I would hang out in the Maint hangar and talk to the owner/IA to learn airplanes. Since I grew up as a mechanic I would put a finger where it was needed as we talked and one day he asked, "You want a job?" which I accepted. One day there was an old man putting an engine in his Navion and I gave him a hand. This gentleman was a QB (Quiet Birdman), a UFO (United Flying Octogenarian) and OX-5 (a person who learned in a plane powered by an OX-5 engine, in his case a Curtis Jenny) and WWII B-24 pilot who took a shine to me and took me on most of his trips having me fly. Through him and my boss at the airport who was second generation there and had the hangar where the QBs would have their meetings, I was quickly accepted by them as someone worth passing on experience and information. I learned a heck of a lot from these guys and got some excellent deals on top quality training. Example; I got my Instrument Rating for $30hr including the instructor and 172 wet and went through a week of brutal training with a 30,000 hr CFII and did it in a week flying all up and down CA in all weather, pretty much all partial panel and flying into every airport with an approach in the SoCal plate book. The plane had a single KX 170B and an ADF. The training was brutal enough that I flew with a guy in his 310 on an IFR flight in solid IMC and after about 10 minutes I was back on rails with it to the point where the owner commented "WTF, 10 years no IFR and 10 minutes and you have it to ATP standards" I laughed and told him never having an autopilot in in 2000 hrs and the memory of the ruler hitting my thigh every time I busted ATP standards helped a bunch.

The moral there, hang out at the airport even when you don't have anything scheduled, be friendly, helpful and fun, and doors you never dreamed of will open for you.

 

[brcase]

For the already Licensed Pilots I'd like to ask you five (5) questions:

1) How were you first introduced to General Aviation? (describe the experience)

Family friend took me for ride in a T-Craft when I was 4 years old. I stood in the baggage area.

2) How long did it take between the time you were first introduced to General Aviation and when you took your first flying lesson?

16 years, but fell in love with it on my 1st flight

3) Did you obtain your Instrument Rating immediately after completing your Private Pilots License, or was there a significant lag (more than 1 year) between both certifications?

Started it pretty much right away but took a few years to complete

4) Was financing your flight training classified as -A- Easy (smooth as silk and painless), -B- Tough (difficult to manage along the way but I got it done), or -C- Mission Impossible (doable, but a total nightmarish headache along the way)?

A-B, I was delivering pizzas, but I was single with no debt.

5) Did you feel like you were an integral part of a real "Community" at the point you first began your initial flight training?

What Community, there were 5 hangers and a 1 room FBO Building. Did get a bit more involved when Joined a flying club, but didn't really become part of a community until I start instructing.


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