Private Pilots License?

[Mac308]

I think you've got some great input here from some people of real experience.

I grew up in an aviation household. While I can handle the basics, I never got my pilots license. It just wasn't a strong desire. IMO it absolutely must be.

When I was 14 and my brother was 16, my father came to me with a worried look and said ;"your brother wants to learn how to fly." I said, "oh really?" Dad looked me straight in the eyes and said, "your brother will kill himself in an airplane - you on the other hand are a natural." lol, I never forgot that.

My father got his first flying lesson at age 14 in 1943 from his cousin Bernard Pietenpol in a Pietnpol Aircamper. He soloed in an Aeronca Champ. After college, he went on to get USAF training for fighters (Korea), then came back to Montana where he taught flying, and was a pilot for hire. He flew hunters into the backcountry (mostly the Bob), delivered mail and groceries in the winter to isolated ranches, etc., etc. He was building hours. Then he got hired by a major airline and retired 33 year later left seat 747 at age 60 with 23,000 hrs.

He's 97 now, and sharp as a tack. His favorite years flying were here in Montana. As he says, "real airplanes have propellers and shit sticking out all over."

Having watched my dad over 65 years, I can say flying wasn't a casual thing to him. He did it because he had a total love and passion for all things flying. Staying safe and proficient isn't anything casual. It takes time, money, real desire and comittment. He lost dozens of friends over the years to aviation accidents. When my dad asked a good friend of his who was retiring at his FAA mandatory 60 years of age if he would continue to fly, the guy replied; "Heck no. These dad-gum airplanes will kill you!"

Truer words were never spoken.

 

[Geewhiz]

I think you've got some great input here from some people of real experience.

I grew up in an aviation household. While I can handle the basics, I never got my pilots license. It just wasn't a strong desire. IMO it absolutely must be.

When I was 14 and my brother was 16, my father came to me with a worried look and said ;"your brother wants to learn how to fly." I said, "oh really?" Dad looked me straight in the eyes and said, "your brother will kill himself in an airplane - you on the other hand are a natural." lol, I never forgot that.

My father got his first flying lesson at age 14 in 1943 from his cousin Bernard Pietenpol in a Pietnpol Aircamper. He soloed in an Aeronca Champ. After college, he went on to get USAF training for fighters (Korea), then came back to Montana where he taught flying, and was a pilot for hire. He flew hunters into the backcountry (mostly the Bob), delivered mail and groceries in the winter to isolated ranches, etc., etc. He was building hours. Then he got hired by a major airline and retired 33 year later left seat 747 at age 60 with 23,000 hrs.

He's 97 now, and sharp as a tack. His favorite years flying were here in Montana. As he says, "real airplanes have propellers and shit sticking out all over."

Having watched my dad over 65 years, I can say flying wasn't a casual thing to him. He did it because he had a total love and passion for all things flying. Staying safe and proficient isn't anything casual. It takes time, money, real desire and comittment. He lost dozens of friends over the years to aviation accidents. When my dad asked a good friend of his who was retiring at his FAA mandatory 60 years of age if he would continue to fly, the guy replied; "Heck no. These dad-gum airplanes will kill you!"

Truer words were never spoken.

Boy I'd love to sit down and talk airplanes with your old man.

 

[Marshfly]

Good call. 40 hours flight time and breaks down to 20 with instructor, 10 solo, 3 cross country, 3 night, 3 instrument


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Very, very, very few people are capable of finishing their PPL in 40 hours. Time available, scheduling, weather, gaps between training for whatever reason just don't allow it. Plan for 50-70.

I used to have a Cherokee 6-300. Amazing plane for a family. Like a suburban. That said, planes need missions. They are tools. Going tool around in the morning in the air just sightseeing gets old IMHO. And as said above, lower 48 fly-in hunting is just not a thing realistically. The few strips that work for that get USED and just might have more traffic than the hike in trailheads in those areas.

I made my plane work because I twisting things and made it useful for some work trips a couple of times a quarter and then added family trips on top. When my kids got older and we started wanted to use the RV more and bring more stuff for our family trips the plane got sold.

That said, we did some super cool trips while I had it. This was a trip from South Louisiana to Montana. Photo taken in West Yellowstone.

 

[Mac308]

Boy I'd love to sit down and talk airplanes with your old man.

@Geewhiz he loves talking airplanes! I wish I had recordings of him with the many conversations I've had over the years. He experienced the "golden age" of aviation for sure - from open cockpit tail draggers to the jets. I've thought about reaching out to one of the Youtube pilots to see if they'd interview him - it would make for incredibly compelling listening if interviewed by a pilot with some depth of experience. It seems a shame not to pass on so much experience.

With TWA he flew the DC3, Martin 404, various Elektra's and all five (or six?) civilian variations of the Constellation (he was qualified as FE, FO and Captain on the Connies - one of only a handful in the world at that time to have all three qualifications). The jets he flew for TWA were Convair 880, 707, 727, L1011, and 747.

But at the end of the day, flying low and slow around Montana and Wyoming was his favorite! Here he is at the controls of a Staggerwing over the Big Horn River here in Montana, circa 1955:

 

[Tahoe1305]

@Geewhiz he loves talking airplanes! I wish I had recordings of him with the many conversations I've had over the years. He experienced the "golden age" of aviation for sure - from open cockpit tail draggers to the jets. I've thought about reaching out to one of the Youtube pilots to see if they'd interview him - it would make for incredibly compelling listening if interviewed by a pilot with some depth of experience. It seems a shame not to pass on so much experience.

With TWA he flew the DC3, Martin 404, various Elektra's and all five (or six?) civilian variations of the Constellation (he was qualified as FE, FO and Captain on the Connies - one of only a handful in the world at that time to have all three qualifications). The jets he flew for TWA were Convair 880, 707, 727, L1011, and 747.

But at the end of the day, flying low and slow around Montana and Wyoming was his favorite! Here he is at the controls of a Staggerwing over the Big Horn River here in Montana, circa 1955:

View attachment 1082744

Staggerwing is sooo sexy.

 

[TimberHunter]

Update:

Went out flying this morning. While the instructor was flying, I felt relaxed and had fun looking around. Once I took over the controls it was a whole other perspective. The slight pushes from the winds felt massive and my initial thought was to make massive corrections, luckily I knew better from driving boats.

Overall it was fun, albeit a little stressful but had a great instructor. Haven’t done something that far over my skis in long time

The instructor was down to earth and mentioned that without a goal to shoot for, many people wash out of PPL training. One interesting item was that one of the local instructors has an air taxi operation in AK that he runs during the summer. A potential in if that is something I want to shoot for.

Haven’t fully decided at this time, going to let it sink in and see if its something I want to chase


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[RadialJett]

Way to go! If you keep after it- pitch, then power, then trim

 

[arrow179]

More right rudder!!!

 

[RadialJett]

More right rudder!!!

I would greet everyone with WAZZZZZZZZUP for the rest of my life to not have to say right rudder ever again.

 

[DCWrinkler]

Kicking around the idea of getting a private pilot’s license at a local, small airstrip. Cost is approx $10k. For those that have their license, I’m curious what you can do with it?

Not looking to monetize it, just looking to see if others’ do fly in hunts or if it’s a more recreational hobby similar to SXS/UTV riding?


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Like many things it is what you make of it. Similar to hunting, it can get very expensive, but it is also extremely fun!

One of the main things to keep in mind if you're going to fly for a hunt is weight. Weight is everything in aviation and if you plan to fly out game you need to plan for that accordingly.

If you're going to do it id recommend doing a discovery flight first before jumping in head first. Get a feel for it and go from there.

 

[MTSLW]

If you have the time, desire, and money absolutely get your PPL! I’ve never regretted it.
If you have a couple buddies you could look at buying a trainer type plane and offset some of the cost.
I joined a local flying club that had an older 182 which was great, then bought a Taylorcraft F19 when I was about 100 hours of pilot time. Cost less than 30k and I flew it for 150hrs and sold it for about what I paid.
I think 10k is realistic, depending on what your local costs are and how quickly you pick it up. You can check around the country. I’ve seen some guys doing instruction for much less.
If you have experience running equipment it makes the mechanics much easier to master.
The one thing that is super cool about the aviation community is that you’ll never meet a better community of people. Helpful, friendly, and just all around quality people!

 

[Flyinfarmer]

Hardly, but I also know their credentials which is why I made my post.

I'm just a retired IT guy that boils everything down to a zero or one. You know, binary.

In this case, a zero is a person who has the flying characteristics I mentioned and a one is a military trained, and current commercial, pilot that fly for the big airlines.

Best of luck in pursuing your PPL.


Eddie

I get where you are coming from for sure.....Like I said, nothing against those guys.

Also, there's a difference in 3000 hours and one hour 3000 times. In the ag aviation world, I might take off and land that 60-80 times a day doing heavy rates of fertilizer, in 25mph crosswinds, short rough grass strips, upwind, downwind, whatever is quicker. But even though I am multi engine, intrument rated and have a lot of IFR time, I would need a refresher before going out and flying an ILS to minimums after sitting in that 802 all season. With the airline guy or military guy, he could rattle off every waypoint on that approach by memory and program the flight director in his sleep, but some good ole stick and rudder flying with not so favorable winds might make him sweat a bit if he's spent the last decade behind an autopilot. Point is, go flying with someone who is current in the type of flying you are doing in the type of aircraft you are flying and life will be great!

 

[Johnny Tyndall]

I get where you are coming from for sure.....Like I said, nothing against those guys.

Also, there's a difference in 3000 hours and one hour 3000 times. In the ag aviation world, I might take off and land that 60-80 times a day doing heavy rates of fertilizer, in 25mph crosswinds, short rough grass strips, upwind, downwind, whatever is quicker. But even though I am multi engine, intrument rated and have a lot of IFR time, I would need a refresher before going out and flying an ILS to minimums after sitting in that 802 all season. With the airline guy or military guy, he could rattle off every waypoint on that approach by memory and program the flight director in his sleep, but some good ole stick and rudder flying with not so favorable winds might make him sweat a bit if he's spent the last decade behind an autopilot. Point is, go flying with someone who is current in the type of flying you are doing in the type of aircraft you are flying and life will be great!

Interesting/sobering article about an airliner crash caused by just that - crews that don't actually fly the planes much (coincidentally written by the son of the guy who wrote the book Stick and Rudder).

 

[chaser_2332]

Here is my quick take away with a little background. My partner and i purchased a piper as a trainer plane and it served its purpose well. He has his PPL and im about 20hrs into mine before i came to the realization that it just wasn't for me. I loved it when i was actually in the air but not enough for the financial and time commitment it actually was. It's been said on here a few times but until you get into serious money the useful load kinda sucks on most of those planes. Having a PPL doesn't mean your a good pilot yet it means you have bare minimum to pass the test so factor in a ton more money and time to be proficient. Before starting on paper it didn't seem like the cost was a huge factor but once everything starts rolling they add up quick, fuel, instructors, hanger fees, insurance, maintenance, that's all well and good if that's your passion but i found i had too many other hobbies that i would rather be doing. I think one big misconception is that once you have your ppl traveling to certain places might be cheaper however i can't really think of many instances you could drive or fly commercial a lot cheaper and haul what you wanted vs flying yourself, again many exceptions to the rules but this is my observation. Flying IS a lot of fun and i did enjoy it but i think its important to keep in mind that its more practical as a hobby vs a utilitarian use