PPL - Never. Give. Up.

[LimaDelta]

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!

[LimaDelta]

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?

[LimaDelta]

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...

[LimaDelta]

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".