My new hobby. Mixture rich, flaps up...
 

I've been lucky enough to be able to hang around airplanes pretty much all my life and was even given the chance to get a pilots license at 17, but because of my fear of tests, I have never actually went to flight or ground school, thus no ticket. I have been flying for years in the right seat, so this will not be new to me, but I get to start at the beginning and learn what I have taken for granted all these years.

A few months ago, bored, I watched 16R on Hulu again and after getting a little emotional - don't worry, no tissues were needed - I thought about putting my fears aside and going for it. A few weeks ago, one of my friends on Facebook started to post about his first flights. That did it, I watched 16R again - getting a bit emotional again and decided I needed to do this. I have been itching to start, but a work project and leaving for a little R&R tomorrow made me postpone things until the first week of August.

Today, I created an account at the flight school I will be using and also set a tentative date of August 4th to go for my first lesson and first official log book entry.

I hope that one day, I'll be able to fly this plane from the left seat, as PIC.
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1279946753.jpg
Right now (license not withstanding), hours and insurance prevent me.

Since this is the digital age, photos and vids of progress to follow as I progress.

This is going to be fun. I can't wait!

Very cool Dave... kudos and many happy landings.

BTW, when I saw the thread title, I thought you had taken up gas powered R/C's. :D

You need to get your rear over to Arizona and I will give you a flight in a real airplane! You know, one with a tailwheel! :)

A pic where I gave the 10 year old boy in the pic a birthday flight. He flew 45 minutes of the flight!

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1279948018.jpg

John: No way! That was the plan years ago, but I love R/C soaring. I may decide to get my glider rating though.

Joe: I'll be in Page for a few hours tomorrow. ;) Right on! Is the kid going to get a license when he gets older?

Dave,

Yes, the son and Father are now both wanting to get their license and start flying. Mom had a great time but has had enough for now.

Don't stress about the testing parts. The guys who give checkrides are just making sure you'll be a safe pilot. With everything you've seen over the years you'll be way ahead of the game. Plenty to learn still but remember most people don't even know how to read the altimeter when they first get in the seat.

I still love it after 16 years and almost 10,000 hours. Well OK I love flying a plane like Joe's a little more but it's always a thrill.

Very cool Joe!

Jess, it's the written that has been my worry. :) I'm not too worried about the check ride. I'll pass, I can do this!

This is one of my life goals. I'm a big Piper fan.

You are going to build some memories Dave! I remember getting overly excited talking about power on stalls and power off stalls. You will do good on the tests.

I wanna do this at some point too... Have to wait a few years though...

Good luck Dave! I know you can do it!

Me too. I just graduated from college... Now I'm applying to Navy OCS. People have this misconceived notion that you just walk into the recruiters office, sign a piece of paper, and leave the next day. Applying to OCS is way more involved.

Awesome man! Where are you flying out of? I used to teach out of KSMO (CFI/CFII/MEI) and still know a bunch of the people over there. And enjoy the low-wings - I'm very partial to the Pipers versus the Cessna 172s. If I'm ever out that way again let's rent a plane for an hour or two and do a little flying!

Study your emergency procedures until you can do them in your sleep!

Hey Jeff, I'll be flying out of VNY. It's home, I think it's right and if porcupine911 can solo there, I can too. :) The club (not really) I'll be at has a Piper Warrior as well. I'll start on the 172, I'd rather start with the high wing, then move to the low wing as landings become more routine.

Let me know if you do set foot back here again... ;) Flying with you would be great!

Both are excellent trainers but I happened to learn and do all my training (all the way through CFII) in the low wings, so I'm partial to them. They tend to float a lot more which (IMHO) makes you a bit better at landings because you're forced to be more precise with your airspeeds. The Cessnas will float too, but not as much and if you're a couple knots fast on approach won't appreciably give you a different result whereas that'll float you another 100' in the Pipers.

I've done a lot of flying in/out of KVNY - there used to be a place called American Aviation up there (don't know if it's still around) that had an inexpensive Seminole I rented on a x/c trip to Dallas some years ago. Fun airport - and you can fly there at night which is great (unlike KSMO which is saddled with restrictions because of all the rich NIMBYs living around the airport). It does get busy on the weekends but the controllers are great and do a terrific job.

When on 16L (I'm sure you will be a lot) make sure to track the extended centerline to your crosswind turn - I've seen too many guys start "drifting" a bit too close to the departing traffic off the parallel for my liking. Oh and TPA is lower than standard because of the traffic on approach to KBUR, but I'm sure your instructor will go over all that with you.

Make sure you get over to KAVX for lunch!

As for high wing/low wing, I'm going to have to feel this one out. I know what you are talking about, since the last 20 years I have only been in a low wing. We'll see, 172 to start, I can always switch later.

As for KAVX, been there a few times. Fun times! The optical illusion of the landing. You really do deserve the burger - if you make it.

This one also has been keeping the flame alive.
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Pitch, power, trim and have fun! :D

Oh, and real airplanes do have a tailwheel.

Lucky SOB! That's one of my dreams that I'm yet to make a reality (time and money). Enjoy it Dave!

This is one of my eventual goals as well. When I have the time and the money....

Screw the flying part. More impressive is your courage to face your fear of wriiten tests head on. So many people go thru life (me included at times) avoiding challenges that stand in the way of accomplishing goals they aspire to.

Proud of you for taking that step.