How many pilots out there?

[BlackSheepSpeedShop]

How many of you fly out there? Any light sport licenses?

 

[ishiboo]

How many of you fly out there? Any light sport licenses?

Half way there, but I had to take a break while I work on the new property. Been a month since the last time I was out now! Found a sport license was only slightly less time/money than a private pilots so I'm going that route. Plus, to me I'm much happier in a "decent" sized plane like a Skyhawk.

 

[ixlr8]

PP SEL, flew a Long-Ez for about 10 years. Sold it and have not had the time to fly for the last 6 years. Neighbor has a J3, which he flys out of his back yard, and keeps threatening to take me up... I don't since I am afraid I will get the bug again and I just don't have the time or money at the moment.

 

[kbkna]

Currently on the Boeing 767/757. Prior Air Force. I wish I had my own. Someday I hope.

 

[ramtuff]

Been working on my license for awhile, but always run out of time or money to finish up...of course it doesn't help that I've been working on a Mustang II kitplane too.

 

[scotstern]

SE, ME, Instrument. Owned a Senaca II loaded with flight director and all. Had Mooney's, Pipers and Cessna's two. About 4,000 hours.

 

[bczygan]

Sport Pilot Fixed Wing Land, Weight Shift Control Land and Powered Parachute Land.
Advanced and Instrument Ground Instructor.

Flying Quicksilver MXL and rebuilding Quicksilver MXIIA and Quicksilver MX Super.

 

[danv]

I had a Challenger Advanced ultralight. Great airplane for fun flying. Skis in the winter and amphibs in the summer. Sold it a few years back. Moved on to new challenges. Life is short and there are to many other things to experience.

 

[Jackfre]

Been a student pilot for years. Time, weather, money, kids, college. All the normal EXCUSES. I would like to build an RV12. Plan on finishing PPL this year.

 

[santagary]

How many of you fly out there? Any light sport licenses?

I started a flying club 12 years ago, we have 18 pilots and two airplanes and a hanger...a Cherokee 180 and a Cessna Skylane 182, both IFR and painted to match, with garmins, etc.

 

[BlackSheepSpeedShop]

I started a flying club 12 years ago, we have 18 pilots and two airplanes and a hanger...a Cherokee 180 and a Cessna Skylane 182, both IFR and painted to match, with garmins, etc.

What are the dues on something like that?

 

[santagary]

$3500 to join and $150 a month dues for insurance, etc. 182 is $100/hr. wet and 180 is $75. This is the most inexpensive way to fly I've found.

 

[BlackSheepSpeedShop]

$3500 to join and $150 a month dues for insurance, etc. 182 is $100/hr. wet and 180 is $75. This is the most inexpensive way to fly I've found.

Thank you for the info.

 

[planecrazy]

Currently flying the A320 and on a Fargo layover, former 757/767 & 737. No military experience. Have a C-182 and half a share in a J3. Live on an airpark. I guess it is in my blood. The wife is also a pilot but just for fun.

For anyone thinking about flying, I say go for it!!! In my prior life, I was in construction and drove a dump truck, all worthy endevors but I always wanted to fly so I made it happen.

 

[Mike in Ohio]

Was nearly finished with private license in 1990 when I got layed off and my instructor got transfered. All the usual excuses since, got married had a kid got a mortgage etc.

I have a buddy who flies for a local freight and charter service, he used to let me ride along and fly a little on freight hauls. So in addition to the piper tomahawk trainer I've got to fly a navaho, a cherokee 300 and cessna caravan.

 

[TLCDino]

I got my single engine land 20 years ago. I was 17. I finally got my instrument rating about 4 years ago. I have flown all kinds of contraptions from ultralight to Cessna Turbo 210. I am really luck that my father always had the aviation bug and helped me out quite bit. He currently has a really pretty little taildragger. It's a 2006 Scout.

 

[pgreen]

Ok, first I know it all depends....

But, what kind of $$$ range does it take to get a PP license? Approximately how long?

 

[ishiboo]

Ok, first I know it all depends....

But, what kind of $$$ range does it take to get a PP license? Approximately how long?

Figure about 35-60 hours of flying time. I'd say 50 hours is a good bet. Our FBO charges $79/hr for the Skyhawk wet, and $25/hr per instructor, or $5200 for the flying/instruction time. It's actually less since not all hours require an instructor (ie, your solo time), but there is ground work as well which is instructor only

How long it takes all depends on how long you want to spend at it, I think a couple hours a week is the way to go and that's what I was doing. But there are places which will stuff everything in 2 weeks. Some people take years.

 

[nitrohog]

I got my private license when I was 17 and my A&P when I was 20. I wanted to fly for a living but it turned into a hobby when the industry went down the tubes. I kind of found a niche as an avionics tech at a small shop that works on anything from LSAs to turboprops and quite a few warbirds mixed in too.

 

[Stargeezer]

Commercial Glider, CFI-G,
Rated for Aero tow, Auto Tow.

 

[Nighttrain]

My previous life. I’m the good looking one.
<O> </O>




I still fly for a living although not looking for dope. I do not fly for pleasure. I guess I get all I need while being paid for it.<O></O>
<O></O>

 

[stopdroplol]

Figure about 35-60 hours of flying time. I'd say 50 hours is a good bet. Our FBO charges $79/hr for the Skyhawk wet, and $25/hr per instructor, or $5200 for the flying/instruction time. It's actually less since not all hours require an instructor (ie, your solo time), but there is ground work as well which is instructor only

How long it takes all depends on how long you want to spend at it, I think a couple hours a week is the way to go and that's what I was doing. But there are places which will stuff everything in 2 weeks. Some people take years.

I wish you could get those rates in Socal. I could almost cry...

I just got my A.S. degree in Aviation Science which is pretty much an ATC requirement for the FAA. So now i'm waiting for them to pick up. In the meantime i'm working on getting my A&P starting next month and trying to finish up my Private. Got about 10 hours before I ran out of money. But now that I've gathered some more cash and found some cheaper rates I'm hoping it works out this time.

 

[rvr6000]

Got my private while I was still in high school then went to school for aviation operations. Flew a little bit while in college but just got too expensive. I liked the school and the teachers but I wouldn't do it again or recommend it....should have gotten a degree in business or computers.

But for the last 15+ years I've been sitting behind a desk dispatching flights. Worked as a chief dispatcher for an airline that had "red tails" but decided to stay here rather than move to Atlanta.

Always thought I'd get back into it but I kinda doubt it now. When I'm not at work or in the garage I'm driving fire trucks.....a very good adreneline substitute also...

 

[Jackfre]

Figure about 35-60 hours of flying time. I'd say 50 hours is a good bet. Our FBO charges $79/hr for the Skyhawk wet, and $25/hr per instructor, or $5200 for the flying/instruction time. It's actually less since not all hours require an instructor (ie, your solo time), but there is ground work as well which is instructor only

How long it takes all depends on how long you want to spend at it, I think a couple hours a week is the way to go and that's what I was doing. But there are places which will stuff everything in 2 weeks. Some people take years.

You will have some upfront costs as well. Try www.sporty's.com for gear. You can keep your cost pretty reasonable if you can dedicate the time to start and finish the training. Sustained effort and flying is the key. I'd get 10,15,20 hrs and get weathered 4 or 5 times in a row, get busy, disconnect months go by. It is not exactly starting over, but you do back track, meaning $.

While I was a student pilot I offered flight lessons to my 15 yr old daughter. Bought her an hr in an SNJ (WWII primary fighter trainer) and she has never been the same. She went to Embry Riddle to become a pro pilot and the deal is she will come home and finish my flight training. I liked that idea. Graduation nears, phone rings, "Dad, I've got a problem" I of course know what this means. "So, let me get this straight, honey! You would rather take a job living in Maui and flying inter-island than come home and finish your old mans training?" That was six yrs ago. The new deal is I'm going to LA later in the year for a few weeks and finish there. The beat goes on

 

[Stephenw]

Commmercial rotary wing/instrument. I used to fly Cobras for the Army, but haven't flown since 1992. I'm now an Air Transportation Systems Specialist for the Federal Aviation Administration.

 

[B-36]

<----professional passenger. I don't fly'em, I just build them

 

[ishiboo]

You will have some upfront costs as well. Try www.sporty's.com for gear. You can keep your cost pretty reasonable if you can dedicate the time to start and finish the training. Sustained effort and flying is the key. I'd get 10,15,20 hrs and get weathered 4 or 5 times in a row, get busy, disconnect months go by. It is not exactly starting over, but you do back track, meaning $.

Yeah, and your medical... pretty small change in the scheme of things though.

That's what I worry about - that I am going to put to waste my initial hours if I wait any longer. I'm thinking about going back to an hour or two every week.

 

[mad57]

I have had sessna time and was working towards lisc. When I found the para planes and got hooked on them,its like the harley of the sky,or jet ski of the waters pretty cheap to buy and not thathard to learn to fly,then had kids and quit it all.

 

[joe14580]

I have my SEL PPL, in the market for an LSA to fly under sport pilot regs.

 

[Stargeezer]

.....I am really luck that my father always had the aviation bug and helped me out quite bit. He currently has a really pretty little taildragger. It's a 2006 Scout.

A Bellanca Scout? Those make great towplanes for glider operations. The outfit I worked for for years had a bunch of them. Nice plane for sure.

 

[bczygan]

I put together a free online ground school for Sport Pilots:

http://sptraining.blogspot.com/

Bill

 

[Warrenator]

I currently fly for a living, Canadair Regional Jet. Nice plane. I've owned (in order) a 1974 Piper Cherokee 140, a 1964 Piper Twin Comanche, and a 1957 Piper Tri-Pacer. Next plane obviously is going to have to be a 1940-something Piper.

Actually it just got too expensive to keep an airplane in SoCal. Figure minimum $300 per month just to tie it down outside and keep it insured and inspected. That includes NO flight time. A hangar at my local field is another $415 per month, 5 year waiting list.

I used to do my own maintenance (got the A&P to go with the Cherokee) and found I really liked the fixing aspects of planes probably as much as the flying part, but an old mechanic I really respected said "You can either fly 'em or fix 'em, but you can't be good at both." He's right, too much specialized knowledge and if you don't do it every day you may not know everything you need to know.

 

[Stargeezer]

.....an old mechanic I really respected said "You can either fly 'em or fix 'em, but you can't be good at both." He's right, too much specialized knowledge and if you don't do it every day you may not know everything you need to know.

Amen to that statement. Part time participation in aviation can be a recipe for disaster

 

[Graymills - Craig]

How many of you fly out there? Any light sport licenses?

I had my single engine land rating, but I've let it slide. Ever since Daley plowed Meigs Field in Chicago, it's too hard to get to the airport.

 

[Graymills - Craig]

Currently on the Boeing 767/757. Prior Air Force. I wish I had my own. Someday I hope.

Yeah, but could you handle a Piper Archer???

 

[370z]

airline pilot for the past 4 years. I fly a crj-200 50 seat jet., was an aircraft mechanic for 10 years. Love my current job but i am just about done with my degree and hope to use it to get to a major airline and start getting paid what a cat2 trained, swept wing jet powered, multi-engine pilot is worth. btw i started my first year (4years ago) flying jets making less than $20,000 a year! now 4 years latter making just over $40k.

 

[Hunka-Junka]

Commercial ASEL/AMEL Instrument. Working on CFI.
Wouldn't mind flying professionally full-time, but I can't afford to take the pay cut.
Maybe I'll do it after I retire.

 

[air]

Not Licensed, but I have been flying daily for roughly 10 years...Radio Traffic and News Reporter..,

 

[aandpdan]

Private Pilot/ASEL here. A&P as well for 28 years, most of it in the commuter industry.

 

[tr4a]

B737 currently. MD11, F27, DHC8 in previous lives. I used to have a '59 straight tail C172 and a '55 PA22/20 Pacer. Sadly, both were wrecked by their respective new owners.

I've considered getting back into general aviation, but after a 3 day trip dealing with passengers, TSA, **** check airmen, drama-queen flight attendants, FAA inspectors, etc. I just want to come home and tinker with my cars.