New Omaha user with a few questions

tuwood

tuwood

Pre-takeoff checklist
Joined
Dec 30, 2015
Messages
363
Location
Omaha, NE
Display Name
tuwood
Home Airfield
Kmle
Hi guys and gals, I just joined today because after a lifelong desire to get a PPL my wife is cautiously agreeing to let me get it next year.

She does have the normal "reservations" about safety and I have been doing my best to alleviate her concerns.
I have scheduled an orientation lesson next week with a reputable flight training school and they're willing to let her come along for the ride. I'm a little nervous that she won't like it and my whole plan will blow up, but she's never been up in a small plane before. She's always loved big rollercoasters and such, so I don't think the motion or bumps will bother her at all.

My long term plan is to get my PPL for regional trips to visit the kids in college and cross country mini-vacations throughout the year. I plan on using rentals primarily (club has a nice Cirrus SR20) for a year or so and if all goes well I'll purchase my own plane.

Would be curious if you guys have any advice for my wife prior to her first Cessna flight next week.
 
Smoother on an overcast day :)

Are you in Omaha NE? If you qualify for membership might want to check out the Offut AFB Aero Club.
 
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mscard88 said:
Smoother on an overcast day :)

Are you in Omaha NE? If you are might want to check out the Offut AFB Aero Club.
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Yeah, in Omaha, NE. The Flight club I'm planning to use is Performance Aircraft out of Lincoln.
 
So I took my wife on a flight lesson a few years back and prior to going up, I just gave her an article to look about the safety record of the 172 (what we would be flying that day) She read it and I think it helped calm her a little as she had no knowledge about this flying thing anyway.

Also, I gave her a job "Film my landings so I can review them after". I think that helped too.

Now we fly a lot and she has had several lessons in that 172.

One important thing to think about and that is that we had a talk about this lifelong dream bit and how even if she wasn't on board, I was going to do it, and she was good with that. Its pretty important that she not let her fear keep you from something. I would kick myself if she had said "I hate this" and I said "ok, I wont do it then". Maybe Have that talk at some point...

Hopefully she will love it and maybe even take a pinch hitter course down the road.

Good Luck!
 
tuwood said:
Hi guys and gals, I just joined today because after a lifelong desire to get a PPL my wife is cautiously agreeing to let me get it next year.

She does have the normal "reservations" about safety and I have been doing my best to alleviate her concerns.
I have scheduled an orientation lesson next week with a reputable flight training school and they're willing to let her come along for the ride. I'm a little nervous that she won't like it and my whole plan will blow up, but she's never been up in a small plane before. She's always loved big rollercoasters and such, so I don't think the motion or bumps will bother her at all.

My long term plan is to get my PPL for regional trips to visit the kids in college and cross country mini-vacations throughout the year. I plan on using rentals primarily (club has a nice Cirrus SR20) for a year or so and if all goes well I'll purchase my own plane.

Would be curious if you guys have any advice for my wife prior to her first Cessna flight next week.
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Dress warm.
 
SixPapaCharlie said:
So I took my wife on a flight lesson a few years back and prior to going up, I just gave her an article to look about the safety record of the 172 (what we would be flying that day) She read it and I think it helped calm her a little as she had no knowledge about this flying thing anyway.

Also, I gave her a job "Film my landings so I can review them after". I think that helped too.

Now we fly a lot and she has had several lessons in that 172.

One important thing to think about and that is that we had a talk about this lifelong dream bit and how even if she wasn't on board, I was going to do it, and she was good with that. Its pretty important that she not let her fear keep you from something. I would kick myself if she had said "I hate this" and I said "ok, I wont do it then". Maybe Have that talk at some point...

Hopefully she will love it and maybe even take a pinch hitter course down the road.

Good Luck!
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Great advice. I'm definitely committed and she'll be ok either way. Long ago when we first met as teenagers (both 42 now) she wanted to be a pilot too, so I'm hoping this may rekindle her dreams as well.
 
Fwiw I also operate a flight school in Lincoln. Our instructors have more experience, the instruction is less per hour, and our aircraft are less per hour.

Our instructors have been instructing for a long time and we are all experienced pilots that instruct because we want to not because we need to. We don't have an instructor with less than thousands of hours and experience flying in the real world.

I run the business and do some of the instruction. I make my actual living in technology. Our other two instructors are professional pilots that in addition to instruction make their living flying jets and turbines.

We ask for no money up front ever. In fact, I won't even take the money if you tell me you way to prepay. You pay as you go.

We don't have a fancy office because, well, we'd never actually be in the office since we're out flying.

If you'd like to take the wife up for a no pressure easy flight let me know. No charge, it's on the house :)

http://www.nebraskaflight.com
 
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re: Jesse's post above ... it just does NOT get any better than that!

Enjoy!!!! oh, and WELCOME to POA! Looking forward to reading your posts as you progress!
 
jesse said:
Fwiw I also operate a flight school in Lincoln. Our instructors have more experience, the instruction is less per hour, and our aircraft are less per hour.

Our instructors have been instructing for a long time and we are all experienced pilots that instruct because we want to not because we need to. We don't have an instructor with less than thousands of hours and experience flying in the real world.

I run the business and do some of the instruction. I make my actual living in technology. Our other two instructors are professional pilots that in addition to instruction make their living flying jets and turbines.

We ask for no money up front ever. In fact, I won't even take the money if you tell me you way to prepay. You pay as you go.

We don't have a fancy office because, well, we'd never actually be in the office since we're out flying.

If you'd like to take the wife up for a no pressure easy flight let me know. No charge, it's on the house :)

http://www.nebraskaflight.com
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Wow, I really appreciate the offer. I'll admit that the main draw for me to the other Lincoln club was that they had a Cirrus SR20 that they were willing to train me in. If all goes well and my wife really enjoys flying I was planning to purchase a SR22T within the next couple years, so I really was excited to learn on one and have it available for weekend trips.

I recognize the Cirrus time is significantly more expensive, but fortunately the cost isn't a huge factor for me.
 
frfly172 said:
Welcome,enjoy the flight.
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Thank you, I'm really looking forward to it.

gkainz said:
re: Jesse's post above ... it just does NOT get any better than that!

Enjoy!!!! oh, and WELCOME to POA! Looking forward to reading your posts as you progress!
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Thanks, I have been reading through the site and see there's a wealth of information here.
 
I think you and your wife are going to have a great time and I think going up with you will alliviate some of her concerns. As above posters have said, be sure to pick a nice smooth day and you'll be god to go.

Enjoy and keep us updated with your training progress. POA is also an amazing resource. So much information on here.
 
tuwood said:
Wow, I really appreciate the offer. I'll admit that the main draw for me to the other Lincoln club was that they had a Cirrus SR20 that they were willing to train me in. If all goes well and my wife really enjoys flying I was planning to purchase a SR22T within the next couple years, so I really was excited to learn on one and have it available for weekend trips.

I recognize the Cirrus time is significantly more expensive, but fortunately the cost isn't a huge factor for me.
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Definitely understand. My only concern would be whether or not the owner that actually owns that SR20 (local doctor) is going to continue to lease it to that school. It'd be frustrating if the owner pulled it away from them halfway through your training. That is actually a pretty common thing as owners typically don't do well in leaseback arrangements and eventually decide to stop leasing it, once they realize they're losing piles of money.

The above is why we own all our aircraft 100 percent. If an owner wants me to lease an airplane for them I do everything I can to show them why that's a bad idea and why they'll end up not liking me one day :)

If a Cirrus is what you want, it certainly makes sense to train in one.
 
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My wife rode in the back on a lot of my training flights when I was working on my PPL. Even doing unusual attitudes a few times. We didn't have any kids then although she did fly with me a few months pregnant with our first.

She is not overly adventurous but she loves to fly private or commercial. When I started up again after a long break she had the usual concerns mainly about the two of us flying together without our kids and possibly leaving them. I simply explained that I had no plans to die that day and that while not what anyone would want if something really bad happened our "kids" 19 and 22 were very capable and with the 401Ks and the house would be well taken care of for the next several years and that would be true if it happened in a car, a plane or otherwise.
 
jesse said:
Definitely understand. My only concern would be whether or not the owner that actually owns that SR20 (local doctor) is going to continue to lease it to that school. It'd be frustrating if the owner pulled it away from them halfway through your training. That is actually a pretty common thing as owners typically don't do well in leaseback arrangements and eventually decide to stop leasing it, once they realize they're losing piles of money.

The above is why we own all our aircraft 100 percent. If an owner wants me to lease an airplane for them I do everything I can to show them why that's a bad idea and why they'll end up not liking me one day :)

If a Cirrus is what you want, it certainly makes sense to train in one.
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Yeah for sure that would suck. Fingers crossed.
Hopefully I'll be flying it enough over the next several months to keep it financially viable for him. lol
 
mscard88 said:
Smoother on an overcast day :)

Are you in Omaha NE? If you qualify for membership might want to check out the Offut AFB Aero Club.
Click to expand...

Yup. :yes:


I'd also educate her a little on the aircraft, the safety concern is just because folks fear what they don't understand, maybe a hour or so on the ground with a good CFI explaining some basic aircraft stuff to her.
 
I have a similar situation; my wife is not a fearful flyer but uncomfortable when off the ground (even in a Boeing). She only flies with me when there's a horse or family she wants to see at the other end of the journey.

If you are trying to get her excited about the prospect of flying places with you, you may want to consider putting her in the right seat of the Cirrus with a trusted PIC for that introductory flight, not a well worn C172 trainer. The first impression might make all the difference.
 
My wife has always been the more "daring" type. She was excited for her first flight... in fact, she got me an intro flight (to get me back into it) and specifically asked the instructor to ride in the back seat. He let her. After getting my PPL, and then several years later my IR, I finally got tired of my wife bugging me to take her flying. I set her up with my instructor for her own intro flight (figured worst case it would be a pinch-hitter lesson) and low and behold... she got her PPL!

Best of luck to you! I know the Cirrus is a great attraction, but unless you're in the $250k+ market for aircraft steam gauge training is best. I, however, got well cross-trained. Did my 1st half PPL in steam, second half in a G1000, and my IR on steam. Now with an Aspen in my plane I have both.
 
Thanks to your advise I had spent a great deal of time talking with my wife the past several days about flying in general and I could certainly see the gears turning positively. She absolutely loves to travel, so I'm playing on that chord. ;-)

I scheduled the discovery flight this morning. The Cirrus wasn't available, but they had a fairly new C172S with full glass panel that we went up in.
The weather couldn't have been more perfect because it was glass smooth from takeoff to landing. My wife snuggled up with her blanket in the back seat, but the heater worked plenty good to keep us all nice and toasty.
We flew around west of Lincoln for about 30 minutes and then circled downtown Lincoln for 15-20 minutes and the CFI let me drive for pretty much the whole flight.
Entire flight was about an hour, but seemed like 10 minutes. It was an absolute blast. I got permission form my wife to do a few steep turns and she did awesome.

On the way home, she was going on and on about how cool it was and how excited she is for me to get my license and us to get a plane. :happy dance:

She also said that she wants to get her PPL after I get mine, so double happy dance.

Mission accomplished, and the journey has officially begun. :)

Here's a few pics my wife took from the day.
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IMG_3916%202_zps8xau20qi.jpg


IMG_3918%202_zps7fm1eocz.jpg


IMG_3920%202_zpsrfjjq1yi.jpg


IMG_3917%202_zpsngnexa0e.jpg


IMG_3919%202_zpsy0do0fgt.jpg


IMG_3922%202_zpsvi1ti11j.jpg
 
Congrats! You guys are on the long, hard, expensive, but very rewarding road to becoming a flying family!

I love it!

Don't get discouraged and stay the course! You'll never experience the type of freedom that flying can bring you and the family!

Congrats again!!
 
IF you're going to do all your training in four seat plane, take her along on every lesson. There's some calming affect of knowing what you're learning and how it all works. Also, "share" the joy of a weekend groundschool for the written. You can both pass and have to years for her to get her training in.

Lastly, I'll bet if you stay away from the Cirrus until you've got a couple hundred hours behind you the savings will more than pay BOTH of your PPL's.

Enter 6PC to tell you how I'm jealous that he has Cirrus in the shop while I have an RV in the shop! heehee
 
rolivi said:
IF you're going to do all your training in four seat plane, take her along on every lesson. There's some calming affect of knowing what you're learning and how it all works. Also, "share" the joy of a weekend groundschool for the written. You can both pass and have to years for her to get her training in.

Lastly, I'll bet if you stay away from the Cirrus until you've got a couple hundred hours behind you the savings will more than pay BOTH of your PPL's.

Enter 6PC to tell you how I'm jealous that he has Cirrus in the shop while I have an RV in the shop! heehee
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She would definitely love that, but I'll likely be taking lessons during the workday and she won't be able to take time off.

No question it would be a ton cheaper if I stayed away from the Cirrus, but I don't mind paying the extra. If anything it will help make the leaseback more profitable for the guy who owns it so it will still be there for me to use when I get done training. :)
 
This is awesome. I love reading posts like this, as it gets me jazzed about flying all over again. Enjoy your journey!
 
My wife isn't that excited about flying but she still goes with me because she enjoys the trip and I take her to destinations she likes.

Sometimes this has meant I fly somewhere and we do something I find kinda boring... but I got to fly and she got to do something she wanted so it works for both of us.
 
Congrats! You are half way to your PPL already.
Ahh-Sum
That C172 doesn't look like the typical broke flight student conveyance though, so shouldn't be a hardship if the Cirrus is not available for training. Yes, I am envious...
 
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DFH65 said:
Man look at all those fields to put down in? How do you pick just one? :rofl:
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I think I'd be more inclined to hit one of the gravel roads.

On a serious note, I hadn't really given much thought to it before but having infinite gravel runways across the state wouldn't be a bad thing in an emergency.
 
tuwood said:
I think I'd be more inclined to hit one of the gravel roads.

On a serious note, I hadn't really given much thought to it before but having infinite gravel runways across the state wouldn't be a bad thing in an emergency.
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That's tempting at first - but the vast majority of flight instructors will teach you to go for a field over a road unless none of the fields are an option at all.

It can be tricky to spot the things that can really ruin your day with the roads (until you're too low to do anything about it) such as power lines, signs, poles, etc. Catching a wingtip on something then going into a ditch nose first with a lot of energy is a pretty bad result.

Hay fields are pretty nice if there aren't hay bails to hit.

Soybean fields really suck if the crop has grown much at all. Typically results in a flipped airplane. I'd take corn over soybeans pretty much always.

I've seen some airplanes go into corn fields that are nearly full grown that didn't flip and were just fine afterwords. Can be a bit of a PITA to get them out of the field.

Try to find something into the wind, that isn't a soybean field if possible, and don't worry if the airplane gets banged up a bit. Insurance company already bought it if the engine quits and people are a hell of a lot more expensive.
 
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jesse said:
That's tempting at first - but the vast majority of flight instructors will teach you to go for a field over a road unless none of the fields are an option at all.

It can be tricky to spot the things that can really ruin your day with the roads (until you're too low to do anything about it) such as power lines, signs, poles, etc. Catching a wingtip on something then going into a ditch nose first with a lot of energy is a pretty bad result.

Hay fields are pretty nice if there aren't hay bails to hit.

Soybean fields really suck if the crop has grown much at all. Typically results in a flipped airplane. I'd take corn over soybeans pretty much always.

I've seen some airplanes go into corn fields that are nearly full grown that didn't flip and were just fine afterwords. Can be a bit of a PITA to get them out of the field.

Try to find something into the wind, that isn't a soybean field if possible, and don't worry if the airplane gets banged up a bit. Insurance company already bought it if the engine quits and people are a hell of a lot more expensive.
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Good advice. I have so much to learn. :)
 
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