Good point above about flying in different conditions. I always said "in order to learn to fly in wind, one must fly in wind". I don't think that's an ancient Chinese secret but I know it's 100% true.

Absolutely go get your pilot's license if it's something you've been yearning to do, flying opens up a whole new world.

But as a career...? I've told many the same thing, do it as a hobby (which was your original question).

There are a lot of guys on this board that have much more flying experience than I do, so all of their input is very useful for you...so it's hard for me to improve on any of their advice.

If I were to give you one piece of advice that I think is worthwhile I would say to find an old-timer instructor. Someone who learned to fly long ago; someone who learned/taught in a conventional gear airplane and who knows the old regs and flies by feel.

There are a few reasons I say this:
1: As important as the book knowledge is to remaining safe and passing your check-ride, young instructors with only several hundred hours (trying to build time for the airlines) tend to follow a formula these days and won't deviate from it. Sometimes an FBO's insurance drives an instructor's lesson plans (no spins!!!), but sometimes as technically proficient as these instructors are...they just don't have the experience I would want to have if I were starting over.
2: Find an instructor who will do spins. Power-on/Power-off, clean/dirty. There is an infinite amount of feedback you get from an airplane doing this that will help accelerate your ability to feel the airplane and give you better control of the airplane. FYI: spins are no longer required per FARs (sad)
3: Some of the younger instructors are just too clinical. Learn all of the book stuff front to back, and learn the airplane top to bottom. You'll be a great student if you do...but that won't make you a good pilot. What makes a good pilot is often times feel and intuition.

That would be my $.02. I'm a bit biased though because I learned to fly out of a grass field (for my private) in T-Craft, Cubs, a Champ, and occasionally in a 152 aerobat that my instructor owned. I almost went the airline route after getting about a thousand hours and all the add on ratings and certs but I'm glad I didn't. I still love to fly and can't wait to finish building my Lancair IV-P in the next 6 months.

Hope some of this helps! Fly safe and have fun!

Know your stuff cold! Over prepare: get good computer software and simulations to help visualize what you need to learn. Pretend to talk on the radio when you drive you car. (Ask the "tower" permission to taxi out of your driveway., etc.) Ask to sit in the plane when it is not being used and learn your scan and switchology.

I could go on.

The absolute key though, the most important thing, is to have fun...you are learning to FLY...how cool is that!

Every once in a while, relax, turn off the sweat pumps and enjoy the view.

Weather is most likely what will KILL you.....Well all of the stalls at low altitude or some other pilot error or a mechanical issue. That being said never let someone talk you into flying if you have second thoughts about the weather. It is never a good feeling to be at 3500 AGL and you wish you were on the ground. Good Luck

Like some others have said, an older instructor can be a great resource. I learned from the same instructor that taught my Dad. Old salty instructor who sat stone faced while I tried to wrestle out of a spin or figure out that he turned the fuel off. Years after I trained with him he still came out on the tarmac to give chit about using the brakes to steer on the ground.

Make sure you have enough money to finish. I cant tell you how many times people dont finish because they run out of money.

You have been out a while. 172s around here now rent for @ $175 an hour.

Just wanted to say Thank You for all the words of wisdom from the Pelican aviators. You may not remember (or perhaps you do...), but it's quite daunting to sit here and pour over all the books and manuals and realize the huge expanse that must be crossed in order to become a licensed and capable pilot (emphasis on capable). Your input is greatly appreciated and I feel more motivated than ever just reading your posts.

Both King Schools and Sportys have online training materials--each a bit different. I used both to supplement my flying time.

When I used them, King Schools was essentially ground school. (I used them instead of a regular ground school & got a perfect score on my written....a lot more convenient for me than going to a class. Easier to review what I wanted later on.)

Sportys materials helped the viewer prepare for what would happen during a flying lesson. This made the time in the air more effective.