Private pilot resources

[mike80]

I'm doing a trial flying lesson in a few weeks, and I'd like to be as prepared and knowledgable as possible for it. I've been interested in flying since I was a boy, and had a bit of a go on the controls of a Cessna about 15 years ago, but haven't been in a light aircraft for a long time.

Are there any good online resources where I can brush up on some basics? Or any decent reading? To be honest this will be one off for a while (Christmas present!) as I can't afford flying lessons right now, but it's something I will definitely pursue in a few years, so I'd like to go in as prepared as I can be.

[Eric Mc]

Not sure about what you are after exactly -

theory of flight?
how an aeroplane flies?
primary and secondary effects of controls?

There are lots of good books available on these matters and I'm sure a quick Google on any of the above headings would direct you to some internet sites where these matters are explained.

For general discussion on piloting matters, pprune is probably the biggest flight based forum on the net. Flypast Magazine also have lively discussion forums with one dedicated to General Aviation.

[eharding]

mike80 said:

I'm doing a trial flying lesson in a few weeks, and I'd like to be as prepared and knowledgable as possible for it. I've been interested in flying since I was a boy, and had a bit of a go on the controls of a Cessna about 15 years ago, but haven't been in a light aircraft for a long time.

Are there any good online resources where I can brush up on some basics? Or any decent reading? To be honest this will be one off for a while (Christmas present!) as I can't afford flying lessons right now, but it's something I will definitely pursue in a few years, so I'd like to go in as prepared as I can be.

Where are you doing the trial lesson?

White Waltham have a very neat little booklet covering the basic areas of aircraft operation which you might reasonably experience during a trial lesson, which was thrown in as part of the deal - if your flying school does the same, it might be worth while getting hold of it beforehand and reading it through.

[ninja-lewis]

AFE have a book about introductory lessons - explains some of the basic theory, controls and what might happen on your trial lesson. The Introductory Flying Lesson (Fixed-wing) £4.99

If you want more information, RAF Lyneham Flying Club have exercise briefings hidden on their website, starting with Ex. 4 - Effects of Controls. Some of the details won't be relevant to what or where you'll fly but it gives you a decent grounding for nothing.

Edited by ninja-lewis on Sunday 30th January 14:31

[mrloudly]

If you're serious just buy a set of "Trevor Thom" Probably pick up a set on Amazon second hand.

[DamienB]

Frankly I'd ignore all the above, just go along totally unprepared and let your instructor introduce you to flying without any preconceptions. Enjoy it.

[eharding]

DamienB said:

Frankly I'd ignore all the above, just go along totally unprepared and let your instructor introduce you to flying without any preconceptions. Enjoy it.

Disagree - a well-structured trial lesson will cover all manner of things which need explanation, and a bit of prior reading will cut down on the time spent in explanation.

For example, when you see the instructor draining fuel from various points on the aircraft during the walk-round, a bit of prior reading about the perils of water contamination and why it can be particularly prevalent in various training types would save a bit of time. Similarly, when you then see the instructor take a deep swig from the fuel strainer, gargle it in a theatrical manner, before swallowing the lot, a bit of prior research will have already informed you most PPL instructors can't afford to drink anything other than waste 100LL, and this is entirely normal.

[flyingjase]

mrloudly said:

If you're serious just buy a set of "Trevor Thom" Probably pick up a set on Amazon second hand.

This. But only get volume 1 to start with - all the basic stuff you'll want to know

[eharding]

flyingjase said:

This. But only get volume 1 to start with - all the basic stuff you'll want to know

Now that's just cruel - wading through Thom Vol.1 and wondering what the hell the Chicago convention has to do with anything at all is hardly going to help the OP.

I suspect the Waltham booklet is a re-badged version of the AFE booklet cited above - and probably the best thing to get hold of. I tried to find mine, but I suspect I gave it away to some other deserving cause years ago.

[flyingjase]

eharding said:

Now that's just cruel - wading through Thom Vol.1 and wondering what the hell the Chicago convention has to do with anything at all is hardly going to help the OP.
I suspect the Waltham booklet is a re-badged version of the AFE booklet cited above - and probably the best thing to get hold of. I tried to find mine, but I suspect I gave it away to some other deserving cause years ago.

I must be a geek then, I enjoyed volume 1 when I was first starting out!

I suspect thay you're right though.

[mike80]

Cheers all, the introductory flying lesson book looks good. I'll look into the others as well, and get a bit of Microsoft Flight Simulator time as well...

[Fat Albert]

Go and have a look at the Students Section of the Flyer forum, Leia has done a great guide to learning to fly and it is a good resource to see what other people are doing and ask any questions you like as we have a no-Flaming policy on the studes section

http://forums.flyer.co.uk/

Whatever you do, do not be tempted to hand over any cash lump sums up front to the flying school, they have had an annoying habit of going bust of late and a few students have lost all of their money!