Dave,

If $$ are not a problem, then fly at least twice a week. If you go longer than that you forget what you learned the previous lessions, and stay going forwards with the writtens while you fly.

Any help needed let me know...

You should also get your helicopter rating!

http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c3...91/copters.jpg

Goal is to shoot for three days a week, hoping that I'll actually get two.

No way can I compete with the post above but....
new hobbies need new toys so while it's hard for me to not want paper this looks really interesting.

I may have to get an iPad.

ForeFlight: iPhone and iPad software applications for pilots with aviation weather, AFD, flight plan filing, METARs, TAFs and more

Nice picture, but it still does not sway me. I've never been in a helicopter, nor I am really interested in them (sorry helo guys).

I've read articles from my dad's mags regarding the iPhone apps and iPad. Seems like the biggest complaint is the glare and difficulty to read in the air from the sun.

Excellent, Dave. Please don't take this the wrong way, but there is also a tremendous value in all the aviation software programs available...from MS Flight to aviation gaming software.

Back in the old days, late '80's, I remember the first, really rudimentary desktop software programs that mirrored the system(s) I was going to test. What a revelation in learning buttonology, rehearsal and situational awareness.

One of our moderators is really on the leading edge of learning and may have more insight into the latest aps...but learning to learn, prepare for the air, from your computer really shortens the curve.

Best of luck.

All the best things I have seen I've seen from the air.

You should really try jumping out of them then. Nothing like your first "off student status" solo freefall from 14k ft. Lots of pilots out there are current/former skydivers (including Joe).

Blue skies and happy landings!

Jumping out of a perfectly good airplane is something I'd like to do. Yes, for those brief seconds, I would be as close as I could to being a bird.

God luck Dave. Flying is fun.

I have 23 rotorcraft hours, but never finished my lessons( became unafordable.) :(Hopefully one day I'll get back up in the air, but fixed wing this time.

And yeah , you gotta do the skydiving thing, even if oly once.

Sorry guys but I don't think jumping out of a perfectly good airplane is on my list. I prefer to return to the earth with the same equipment I left it.

Helios? I like the idea but honestly too many moving parts going in too many different directions. Engine quits in a copter = autorotate and hope you don't die. Engine quits in a fixed-wing = no biggie, glide to a safe landing somewhere (single) or just start the other one (multi). ;)

...hopefully the other was already going before the 1st quit
;)

Dave,

Its not "brief seconds" my friend! One jump we did years ago was out of Russian military birds and did a HALO jump. Had over 90 seconds of free fall and it was wonderful! Even a good 14,000 jump is 45-60 seconds free fall.

Nothing like it anywhere else on the earth, so give it a try sometime.

Joe

My first autorotation experience was in a Huey when I was in the Army. Wasnt ready for It . Damn near crapped my pants! My first "auto" in a R22 was 5 times worse. That thing drops like a lead weight compared to the UH1.:D The Huey at least has the inertia of those huge rotor blades to keep it going for a while.

I hope this is not considered a hi-jack, but is anyone here soaring? I have some strange attraction to the "idea" of that. I'm guessing it's something harder to find / do in a metropolitan area though!

Paul, I wasn't putting down pc software at all.. When I flip through my dads mags, they obviously like technology and iPads, iPhones... They ave good reviews of the software, it's the devices they are not always thrilled with, screen glare, etc... :)

I fly a R/C glider, has full GPS, live video... That's as close as I am right now... I mentioned that I would consider going for the glider license/rating later. :)

Today was the first day of ground school. Weights and Balance. 2 hours, a little video and then discussion. It was enjoyable. I did not have a chance to read up on the chapter before hand, due to my trip delay and work, but I survived and actually knew a thing or two. ;)

First flight lesson is still hopefully Wednesday. :)

$100.00 an hour wet, for a 172 is a GREAT price in todays market.
also, i HIGHLY recommend getting the KING Schools (john and martha) videos. they are very informative and will greatly help you pass your written. AND save you $$$ because you dont have to pay your instructor for his time. I tried to do it all from my instructor, but some things never quite sank in and i would always have questions in the middle of the night. The videos solved all those problems.

Get this book and go through every question the week before you take the writen tests. You will pass the test even if you did not take an "official" ground school (like me). I got nearly 100% on my test. Did the same for my A&P... piece of cake. I got nearly 100% on all three parts and did very well in my practical/oral tests.

These Gleim books have every question that could possibly come up on the written tests..... study them all and you will pass with flying colors.

Gleim Products: Private Pilot FAA Knowledge Test, 2010 Ed.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1280626379.jpg

Or a rock.