Flying lesson for a kid
Discussion
My son is starting to develop an interest in aviation.
Talking about being a pilot or a career in the RAF. Wife is ATC but he has no interest in that side.
Does anyone know the minimum age for a flying lesson, he is 13.
Also any recommendations for a flying school, I'm on the herts /essex border.
Talking about being a pilot or a career in the RAF. Wife is ATC but he has no interest in that side.
Does anyone know the minimum age for a flying lesson, he is 13.
Also any recommendations for a flying school, I'm on the herts /essex border.
Have you considered gliding instead? It's a LOT cheaper, so he'll be able to really crack on learning if he takes a shine to it without costing you thousands, and you can solo at 14, rather than 16 for a powered aircraft. Depending upon where exactly you are, check out Cambridge, London or Essex and Suffolk Gliding Clubs.
escargot said:
Get him into the Air Training Corps too.
If he's really serious about an RAF Career be selective as to which Air Training Corps Squadron he joins, some are little more than youth clubs. The right staff approach counts for a lot and makes the difference between a good unit and a very average one!(I speak as an ex-cadet and staff member)
Boatbuoy said:
escargot said:
Get him into the Air Training Corps too.
If he's really serious about an RAF Career be selective as to which Air Training Corps Squadron he joins, some are little more than youth clubs. The right staff approach counts for a lot and makes the difference between a good unit and a very average one!(I speak as an ex-cadet and staff member)
Best years of my life looking back, summer/easter camps were good fun too!
I was in a bad Sqn to begin with but then moved to a better one, night and day difference the quality of staff/training/opportunities.
13 is the joining age (unless it's changed?) so your kid is at the perfect age.
http://www.raf.mod.uk/aircadets/findasquadron/
Boatbuoy said:
escargot said:
Get him into the Air Training Corps too.
If he's really serious about an RAF Career be selective as to which Air Training Corps Squadron he joins, some are little more than youth clubs. The right staff approach counts for a lot and makes the difference between a good unit and a very average one!(I speak as an ex-cadet and staff member)
escargot said:
Boatbuoy said:
escargot said:
Get him into the Air Training Corps too.
If he's really serious about an RAF Career be selective as to which Air Training Corps Squadron he joins, some are little more than youth clubs. The right staff approach counts for a lot and makes the difference between a good unit and a very average one!(I speak as an ex-cadet and staff member)
Simpo Two said:
How do the ATC and CCF fit together? We had a CCF at school (RAF and Army; the latter thought it most amusing that we didn't have any aeroplanes whilst they had guns...) and it's still going strong. Several of my 'unit' went on to join the RAF.
My school also had (still has) a CCF - RAF & Army sections. The Army section had a 25 pounder to play with as well as rifles
Those who went on to join the Services usually went either to Sandhurst or Cranwell.I also spent some years as an adult (Officer) with the ACF & the majority who went on to join the Army joined as other ranks.
CCF are school based & for the pupils whilst ATC/ACF are community based & open to all
Edited by paintman on Friday 22 November 11:12
You'd be better going to a bonafide ATC squadron IMO.
I loved my time there. I got loads of flying through the Air Experience Flights, great summer camps at RAF stations and flights in Tucanos, Nimrods, Sentry etc. I fired a lot of rounds at various rifle range, participated in lots of competitive aviation orientated events. Later on promotion introduces the concepts of leadership and responsibility. It's quite good helping to "bring up" younger cadets too. Duke of Edinburgh awards are well supported and I even got to attend various Royal garden parties and PR events as Lord Lieutenant's Cadet. All good character building stuff.
I'm 32 now and my closest friends are all ex-cadets too. The staff make a huge difference, but it tends to become very close knit and the cadets really start to look out for one another - even those they don't really get on with so well. It's like having loads of half-brothers and sisters and I'd recommend it for any teenager.
Of direct relevance to the OP - the ATC gave me access to funded Gliding Scholarships to solo standard, and cadets were very well positioned to successfully apply for RAF Flying Scholarships & Sixth Form Scholarships. I didn't bother with the latter but the Flying Scholarship was brilliant - getting near enough half your PPL in your logbook on a residential course over summer.
I loved my time there. I got loads of flying through the Air Experience Flights, great summer camps at RAF stations and flights in Tucanos, Nimrods, Sentry etc. I fired a lot of rounds at various rifle range, participated in lots of competitive aviation orientated events. Later on promotion introduces the concepts of leadership and responsibility. It's quite good helping to "bring up" younger cadets too. Duke of Edinburgh awards are well supported and I even got to attend various Royal garden parties and PR events as Lord Lieutenant's Cadet. All good character building stuff.
I'm 32 now and my closest friends are all ex-cadets too. The staff make a huge difference, but it tends to become very close knit and the cadets really start to look out for one another - even those they don't really get on with so well. It's like having loads of half-brothers and sisters and I'd recommend it for any teenager.
Of direct relevance to the OP - the ATC gave me access to funded Gliding Scholarships to solo standard, and cadets were very well positioned to successfully apply for RAF Flying Scholarships & Sixth Form Scholarships. I didn't bother with the latter but the Flying Scholarship was brilliant - getting near enough half your PPL in your logbook on a residential course over summer.
Evo,
I can only echo the comments that have already been made, however, there is the chance for your son to actually get the ATC to fund the PPL in full, but he has to be a bloody good pilot.
He will have the chance to do a gliding scholarship, this opens a door to staying on the gliding school as a staff cadet, I did this and became a qualified instructor; providing the gliding induction courses to the cadets. Very few cadets will ever a how've that during their time in the corps.
Next the flying scholarship, there's 4 different versions of this one. Once competed, a report is sent to HQ air cadets and then all the scholars are compared, the top 6 are selected to then apply for a further scholarship of which four places are awarded. If he is lucky enough to get both of these scholarships he will have 25hours powered flying FREE! Then, of these four cadets, 1 will then be selected for a fully funded PPL. I was one of these 4 scholars this year to be awarded the GDHFF scholarship, and recieved a medal at Windsor castle last month followed by lunch in the private quarters of the castle.
Obviously all of this is a long way in the distance, but I thought I could shed some light on your options. Personally, I wouldn't spend any money on lessons at his age. License issue can't happen until he's 17, and you'd fork out a lot more money as if her starts now, the hours won't be usable for license issue due to being so far in the past (fast forwarding to when he's 17). If I were you, get him in the ATC, get his name down for all gliding and flying slots you can, that way it will be a free trial flight. If he's set on the idea, put away a little every month for the next 4 years, when he's 17 bung him off on a 4 week PPL course. You'll save your pocket, and along the way, doors may open which lead to you having to provide less funding in the end. I got my PPL purely from scholarships (bar 3/4 hours).
There's a bit of light reading hey! Haha
I can only echo the comments that have already been made, however, there is the chance for your son to actually get the ATC to fund the PPL in full, but he has to be a bloody good pilot.
He will have the chance to do a gliding scholarship, this opens a door to staying on the gliding school as a staff cadet, I did this and became a qualified instructor; providing the gliding induction courses to the cadets. Very few cadets will ever a how've that during their time in the corps.
Next the flying scholarship, there's 4 different versions of this one. Once competed, a report is sent to HQ air cadets and then all the scholars are compared, the top 6 are selected to then apply for a further scholarship of which four places are awarded. If he is lucky enough to get both of these scholarships he will have 25hours powered flying FREE! Then, of these four cadets, 1 will then be selected for a fully funded PPL. I was one of these 4 scholars this year to be awarded the GDHFF scholarship, and recieved a medal at Windsor castle last month followed by lunch in the private quarters of the castle.
Obviously all of this is a long way in the distance, but I thought I could shed some light on your options. Personally, I wouldn't spend any money on lessons at his age. License issue can't happen until he's 17, and you'd fork out a lot more money as if her starts now, the hours won't be usable for license issue due to being so far in the past (fast forwarding to when he's 17). If I were you, get him in the ATC, get his name down for all gliding and flying slots you can, that way it will be a free trial flight. If he's set on the idea, put away a little every month for the next 4 years, when he's 17 bung him off on a 4 week PPL course. You'll save your pocket, and along the way, doors may open which lead to you having to provide less funding in the end. I got my PPL purely from scholarships (bar 3/4 hours).
There's a bit of light reading hey! Haha
I'd get a trial flight, I don't see any flying school turning you away, it's revenue for them at the end of the day. If he likes it, get him signed up to a local gliding club. It'll be a way for him to stay in the air for cheap until the point where he can apply for scholarships.
And the biggest thing.... Use your anti virus software to Block PPRuNe! If there's one forum that's great for putting off newcomers to general aviation, it's that place!
And the biggest thing.... Use your anti virus software to Block PPRuNe! If there's one forum that's great for putting off newcomers to general aviation, it's that place!
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