Say you won the lottery..
Author
Discussion

J4CKO

Original Poster:

46,817 posts

229 months

Monday 7th July 2014
quotequote all
And, for something to do, you decide you want to be able to fly a 747 ?

How would you go about it, i.e. trained and certified to fly one, all exams passed, even if you didn't want to do it as a career, is it possible, how long would it take (assuming half a brain), how much would it cost ?

Would it be do a PPL first, then instrument rating, twin engine, small jet or what ?

Would 2 years and 200 grand cover it ?


Gargamel

16,344 posts

290 months

Monday 7th July 2014
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Are terrorists funding your flight training ?


J4CKO

Original Poster:

46,817 posts

229 months

Monday 7th July 2014
quotequote all
Gargamel said:
Are terrorists funding your flight training ?
No, a hypothetical lottery win.

TheEnd

15,370 posts

217 months

Monday 7th July 2014
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John Travolta did this I believe.

J4CKO

Original Poster:

46,817 posts

229 months

Monday 7th July 2014
quotequote all
TheEnd said:
John Travolta did this I believe.
Yeah, he has his own 707 I think, am sure it is possible as long as you have the cash and are of reasonable intelligence, oh and can pass a medical.

Just how much cash and how long really, pass all the flying exams, practicals and eventaully be able to say you are type approved to fly a Jumbo, at least until it lapses.

Should imagine a 747 plus instructor is a very, very expensive thing to hire.

This is just a pipe dream by the way.


surveyor

18,689 posts

213 months

Monday 7th July 2014
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I don't think it would cost anything more than say getting to 737 qualified say.

Actually finding someone to let you loose in one I think would be much more difficult.

J4CKO

Original Poster:

46,817 posts

229 months

Monday 7th July 2014
quotequote all
surveyor said:
I don't think it would cost anything more than say getting to 737 qualified say.

Actually finding someone to let you loose in one I think would be much more difficult.
Yes, dont think the odd go at looping one on MS FS would convince a training company to let someone loose with a 100 million plus aircraft, thats kind of the point, regardless of whether you want to pursue it as a career, what would you need to do to get qualified, starting from scratch.

Regardless of your motivation (terrorism notwithstanding) it shoudl matter as long as you meet the prerequisites and can pay.

belleair302

7,008 posts

236 months

Monday 7th July 2014
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I have a good friend who went form no knowledge of flying to flying An Airbus A 380 for Emirates, via a PPL and then onto twin engines, bigger turbo props, jets, Easyjet and freighters within ten years. He did self fund the part upto a jet licence. Am sure it can be done within 4 years with the right funding and effort re paperwork and hours.

Mojocvh

16,837 posts

291 months

Monday 7th July 2014
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I'd rather lease tbh wink

montymoo

391 posts

196 months

Monday 7th July 2014
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hmm, someone correct me if im wrong but the route i imagine you would have to take;
PPL, can be done in 6 weeks,
Night rating, again done in a couple of nights,
Bash the 14 ATPL subjects, can be completed in about 6 months,
MEP/IR give yourself 8 weeks,
CPL about 6 weeks,
You will need good weather & to be able to fly regularly to do this in the time scales.

Then you are going to need to complete a MCC & JOC course, another 3 weeks or so,
Add a type rating for a shinyish 747 about 6 weeks or so.

The hardest part i imagine will be finding someone to let you loose in a 747 though.
But yes, 2 years 200k, i think it could be done.

IanMorewood

4,309 posts

277 months

Monday 7th July 2014
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I can't see a reason why as a lottery winner I would want to fly myself on a Jumbo. An old warbird or a helicopter for my personal amusement would be fun but I would be quite happy to fly businesses class on scheduled flights anywhere I wanted that a Jumbo could land.

J4CKO

Original Poster:

46,817 posts

229 months

Monday 7th July 2014
quotequote all
IanMorewood said:
I can't see a reason why as a lottery winner I would want to fly myself on a Jumbo. An old warbird or a helicopter for my personal amusement would be fun but I would be quite happy to fly businesses class on scheduled flights anywhere I wanted that a Jumbo could land.
It is hypothetical, separating out the "career" aspects of it all.

I just need to win the lottery now.

Would definitely do the PPL and then see how I felt.

onyx39

11,349 posts

179 months

Monday 7th July 2014
quotequote all
J4CKO said:
TheEnd said:
John Travolta did this I believe.
Yeah, he has his own 707 I think.
Yep, parks it next to his house.


northwest monkey

6,370 posts

218 months

Monday 7th July 2014
quotequote all
onyx39 said:
Yep, parks it next to his house.

Needs a bigger garage by the look of it, he can only fit the front in.

Dr Jekyll

23,820 posts

290 months

Tuesday 8th July 2014
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What's the biggest aircraft you can get a type rating on without a CPL? I'm pretty sure there are PPLs flying business jets.

Tom_C76

1,923 posts

217 months

Tuesday 8th July 2014
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My colleague's husband self-funded his qualifications to CPL and type rating on 737 and 757s. But he can't get a job as the airline training schemes are for either ex military pilots or those starting from scratch. He's since retrained as a flying instructor.

Kempus

168 posts

164 months

Tuesday 8th July 2014
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No need for all the ATPL exams or even a cpl if your not flying for hire or reward.

Technically a ppl, multi engine rating, instrument rating and a type rating with mcc as it's not certified for single pilot operations so bring a mate.

Being your first type rating you'd need to do circuits in an empty 747. I remember my first circuits in a jet. Never hand flown as much since. Shame. I'd rather buy a war bird and enjoy flying!

Dr Jekyll

23,820 posts

290 months

Tuesday 8th July 2014
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From what I read Boeing insist on a CPL before they will let you train for a 747 type rating.

Guvernator

14,442 posts

194 months

Tuesday 8th July 2014
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Hmmm not sure about the 747. I know John Travolta did it but he was helped along by Quantas I believe who let him loose on some of their planes in exchange for some PR work. As others have stated I think you'd struggle to find someone to let you loose on theirs.

At any rate, a lottery win and I'd much prefer to learn how to fly my own Learjet or old fighter jet rather than a 747.

PanzerCommander

5,026 posts

247 months

Tuesday 8th July 2014
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Can't really help the OP but it is an interesting question.

As Kempus said I think you would only need a PPL, multi-engine cert and a type conversion to fly a 747. But the not rated for single crew thing does put a bit of a bind on it, still you could always pay to train a few close and trusted friends to help, and if it was an older aircraft you have the flight engineer to think about too (now dealt with by the computer systems).

I'd want to book in for simulator time myself and spend a bit of time getting acquainted with the systems rather than just reading the books and getting on with (might be mandatory on such a complex aircraft anyway) a type conversion course.

I think if it were me I would:
PPL with a multi-engine cert, night rating and instrument rating.

I'd certainly rather have an old warbird (anything up to a cold war era jet really) than something like a 747.

My (realistic) fantasy hanger would be:
P-51 Mustang cloud9, great for fly in’s and fun flying.
Beech Baron (or similar twin) for taking holidays in.

I think a P-51 mustang to go with my car which shares the same namesake would be nice, all the sounds and romance of a big V12 supercharged aero engine in a stunning looking aircraft (same can be said about many aircraft of that era).

I wonder if you could get a Lancaster or Mosquito built brand new off the original plans - now that would be cool.

Sadly I will have to stick with Microsoft Flight Sim 10 until the day my numbers come up (my finances can't support racing and a PPL hehe)