PPL - Never. Give. Up.
Discussion
So, I started my PPL training back in June 2011. Since then I have had (in no particular order):
One new job,
One house move,
The birth of two children
2 Different training airfields.
4 Different flying schools (two sold, one bankrupt)
4 Aircraft types
4 Six-month+ gaps in training (including no flying at all in 2014 and only 2:35 in 2016)
7 Original theory exams passed, and expired
9 New theory exams passed
11 Instructors
13 Hours pre-April 2012 which no longer count
114 Take-offs and landings (over £2k alone!)
Before finally passing my skills test yesterday with 47:20 (countable) hours in the book.
The journey is not quite over yet, as I still have the headache of recovering my training records from the school which has gone bust - apparently the liquidators will be passing them directly to the CAA. Lots more chasing round and headaches yet before I actually have my licence in hand I imagine.
So relieved to finally have it all finished though!
One new job,
One house move,
The birth of two children
2 Different training airfields.
4 Different flying schools (two sold, one bankrupt)
4 Aircraft types
4 Six-month+ gaps in training (including no flying at all in 2014 and only 2:35 in 2016)
7 Original theory exams passed, and expired
9 New theory exams passed
11 Instructors
13 Hours pre-April 2012 which no longer count
114 Take-offs and landings (over £2k alone!)
Before finally passing my skills test yesterday with 47:20 (countable) hours in the book.
The journey is not quite over yet, as I still have the headache of recovering my training records from the school which has gone bust - apparently the liquidators will be passing them directly to the CAA. Lots more chasing round and headaches yet before I actually have my licence in hand I imagine.
So relieved to finally have it all finished though!
walamai said:
Congratulations! I'm off to Spain next month to hopefully get it all finished off in a few weeks. I can't begin to imagine having to do all the theory exams twice, once is bad enough!
Yes, with hindsight I should have gone the residential intensive route. Preferably somewhere with predictable weather conditions. Are you going to Jerez?Well done...that's a hell of a journey and good going getting it done in 47hrs 
I've got >5500hrs Mil/Civ mainly in noisy shaky things and am still learning, but it's still fun and I hope you enjoy it as much as I have. Would recommend doing something to keep the interest, like an aero or IFR rating....and you never know where it will take you. A mate of mine started flying for fun well into his 30s and is now flying P1 in 777s living the ex-pat dream, so best of luck with wherever flying takes you.
I've got >5500hrs Mil/Civ mainly in noisy shaky things and am still learning, but it's still fun and I hope you enjoy it as much as I have. Would recommend doing something to keep the interest, like an aero or IFR rating....and you never know where it will take you. A mate of mine started flying for fun well into his 30s and is now flying P1 in 777s living the ex-pat dream, so best of luck with wherever flying takes you.
Siko said:
Well done...that's a hell of a journey and good going getting it done in 47hrs
I've got >5500hrs Mil/Civ mainly in noisy shaky things and am still learning, but it's still fun and I hope you enjoy it as much as I have. Would recommend doing something to keep the interest, like an aero or IFR rating....and you never know where it will take you. A mate of mine started flying for fun well into his 30s and is now flying P1 in 777s living the ex-pat dream, so best of luck with wherever flying takes you.
Thanks! Plan now is night rating this winter, then IMC or IR(R) or whatever they change it to next. I know Cambridge do tailwheel and aero instruction on an Extra 200 which looks interesting...I've got >5500hrs Mil/Civ mainly in noisy shaky things and am still learning, but it's still fun and I hope you enjoy it as much as I have. Would recommend doing something to keep the interest, like an aero or IFR rating....and you never know where it will take you. A mate of mine started flying for fun well into his 30s and is now flying P1 in 777s living the ex-pat dream, so best of luck with wherever flying takes you.
Congratulations on the achievement. Really well done.
It’s something I never completed ppl(h). Started and realised about 15-20 hours in was just something I couldn’t afford to maintain. I could have afforded the £15k for the licence just not enough hours to make it safe.
A guy I work with said to me(owns his own stunt plane). It’s no good passing the test if you can’t stay current and more importantly safely current. In his opinion the most dangerous pilot is the low annual hours pilot that just does enough to keep current and thinks he’s competent. And whilst nothing out the ordinary is happening there fairly safe. When things start going wrong though it tends to go wrong badly as there just not familiar and comfortable dealing with it.
I’m fotunate to fly for the airforce (not flight deck), I’m avionics by trade and used to work Hercules. I got the privalidege of watching them in the simulator. You realise that when the s
t hits the fan you want a competent pilot in the seat.
I remember watching them do an engine fire drill on a jolly flight once (turned out to be false FireWire indication so no actual fire) it was like watching poetry in motion. It was so drilled in to them (red card drill they have to be able to perform all red card drills from memory perfectly) it was done and dusted and engine shut down before I realised much more than the Fire alarm had gone off and diagnosed which engine it was.
Sorry if that sounds like I am putting a downer on your achievement. I guess the point is, stay safe. Use your hours wisely and congratulations again.
It’s something I never completed ppl(h). Started and realised about 15-20 hours in was just something I couldn’t afford to maintain. I could have afforded the £15k for the licence just not enough hours to make it safe.
A guy I work with said to me(owns his own stunt plane). It’s no good passing the test if you can’t stay current and more importantly safely current. In his opinion the most dangerous pilot is the low annual hours pilot that just does enough to keep current and thinks he’s competent. And whilst nothing out the ordinary is happening there fairly safe. When things start going wrong though it tends to go wrong badly as there just not familiar and comfortable dealing with it.
I’m fotunate to fly for the airforce (not flight deck), I’m avionics by trade and used to work Hercules. I got the privalidege of watching them in the simulator. You realise that when the s
t hits the fan you want a competent pilot in the seat. I remember watching them do an engine fire drill on a jolly flight once (turned out to be false FireWire indication so no actual fire) it was like watching poetry in motion. It was so drilled in to them (red card drill they have to be able to perform all red card drills from memory perfectly) it was done and dusted and engine shut down before I realised much more than the Fire alarm had gone off and diagnosed which engine it was.
Sorry if that sounds like I am putting a downer on your achievement. I guess the point is, stay safe. Use your hours wisely and congratulations again.
MB140 said:
Sorry if that sounds like I am putting a downer on your achievement.
Not at all, I'm well aware of the importance of currency. However, now passed there should be less variables in play resulting in more flying hours.One of my favourite pieces of advice (not received during flying training, but thoroughly applicable there) is "In times of extreme stress you will not rise to the occasion, you will rise to the level of your training".
The Selfish Gene said:
thanks for posting - I'm on 3 hours ish from 1997............... 
I still feel I'll do it one day though.
I'm on about 25 hours, the bulk of it was done about 12-14 years ago, then I had a few more lessons in a taildragger may 5 years ago, then stopped yet again.I still feel I'll do it one day though.
On hols this week and not far from Shoreham, I may go and have a look and see whether that rekindles anything (although Storm Ali might interfere with that plan).
Congrats to the OP!
LimaDelta said:
MB140 said:
Sorry if that sounds like I am putting a downer on your achievement.
Not at all, I'm well aware of the importance of currency. However, now passed there should be less variables in play resulting in more flying hours.One of my favourite pieces of advice (not received during flying training, but thoroughly applicable there) is "In times of extreme stress you will not rise to the occasion, you will rise to the level of your training".
CAPP0 said:
The Selfish Gene said:
thanks for posting - I'm on 3 hours ish from 1997...............
I still feel I'll do it one day though.
I'm on about 25 hours, the bulk of it was done about 12-14 years ago, then I had a few more lessons in a taildragger may 5 years ago, then stopped yet again.I still feel I'll do it one day though.
On hols this week and not far from Shoreham, I may go and have a look and see whether that rekindles anything (although Storm Ali might interfere with that plan).
Congrats to the OP!
I was at the Revival a few weekends ago watching the Spitfires (I know i'll never fly one of those!) but it reminded me of why I fell in love with flying in the first place.
at 43, as my car racing is coming to an end, maybe it's time to revisit with those finances!
The Selfish Gene said:
I was at the Revival a few weekends ago watching the Spitfires (I know i'll never fly one of those!) but it reminded me of why I fell in love with flying in the first place.
Not too impossible https://flyaspitfire.com
magpie215 said:
The Selfish Gene said:
I was at the Revival a few weekends ago watching the Spitfires (I know i'll never fly one of those!) but it reminded me of why I fell in love with flying in the first place.
Not too impossible https://flyaspitfire.com
The Selfish Gene said:
magpie215 said:
The Selfish Gene said:
I was at the Revival a few weekends ago watching the Spitfires (I know i'll never fly one of those!) but it reminded me of why I fell in love with flying in the first place.
Not too impossible https://flyaspitfire.com
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