Young Wanna-do

[uwochris]

JonKyle,

Something to keep in mind... do not get too hooked on FS. You will be surprised once you start formal flight training about how different the two can be. FS is good for IFR stuff, but you shouldn't even be thinking about flying IFR until you got the VFR stuff down.

I used to play a lot of FS and it almost worked against me for the PPL training. I always had a hard time learning NOT to stare at the instruments, which is vital for your VFR training.

Just keep in mind that FS is a game, and not reality. Flying an airliner on the cp is nothing at all similar to flying one in real life. I am by no means an expert myself, but once you get to the higher levels, you will really have to develop a good understanding of not just procedures, but also systems, CRM, etc. You cannot learn these things in a computer game. And just because you can land a 737 on FS does not mean you can land one in real life I have spoken to people who think they can land a 747 just because they can do it on FS...

I guess what I am trying to say is slow down... do not rush your career, but by all means, do not go at a turtle's pace You are young, very young. Do not treat your youth as a "race" to the airlines. Realize that there is a lot of work involved in getting to the airlines- also realize that many people have fallen on hard times in this industry (very low pay, lay-offs, long periods of unemployment, etc). Keep the passion alive, work hard, and never give up. Try to spend your time away from FS, and put it towards something more useful (I would heavily recommend reading as many books as you can about PPL training... read groundschool books, take practice exams, etc). This will be much more useful than FS, in my opinion.

Good luck with your career, and never try to rush anything, because you will only end up forgetting about all the fun you had climbing the corporate ladder (ie. always take time to smell the roses ).

Chris.

 

[Jon-Kyle Mohr]

I know that FS can not accurately simulate real world flight dynamics, I merely fly in FS for fun. Put me in a 172 now and I could probably land it, but you'll need a new plane by the time I come to a stop

I went up in a 172 with CAP a couple months ago, I got to fly a bit of the time. I noticed that I too was looking down at the panel, but I noticed it and corrected the problem. I found an attitude that kept me at the right altitude and speed, made a reference mark (like the distance from the magnetic compass to the horizon line) to keep that attitude and took in all the scenery.

Even though I would be getting my IFR ticket later, you still should know how to track a VOR, ADF, etc.. I tracked a VOR while we were up and the pilot was rather impressed with my knowledge of IFR training, it was all from flightsim.

I am by no means an expert myself, but once you get to the higher levels, you will really have to develop a good understanding of not just procedures, but also systems, CRM, etc.

Have you by any chance seen the PMDG 737 series? It has all the procedures, FMC, etc.. I have a 125 page manual and thirty page checklist with all procedures explained. If you sat me in a real world 737 now I could more then likely do the whole start up and get you to the runway, but don't expect me to fly it!

I know FlightSim is a game, but it is a very accurate simulation of real life at the same time. It has kept me interested in aviation for a long while, as I've not had access to a plane. When I was 5 my father and I picked up FS, by the time I was 9 I was shooting CATII ILS approaches into ORD. I don't think I'll "give" flightsim up and go only reading about flying, Its a passion of mine and I enjoy doing it.

I also read a lot, AOPA flight training, etc.. I've found a ton of useful info about landing, VFR and IFR flight and more. Great stuff!

I am by no means "racing to the airlines", merely racing to the skies, as I love to fly

 

[de727ups]

You need to meet some people who are sympathetic to your cause. The guys at the avionics shop see you as a stupid kid who might steal their Garmin 430. Or they are just jerks. Might I suggest seeing if there is a local EAA chapter in your area. (www.eaa.org) Go to a meeting, stand up and say "I'm 14 and I'm a computer whiz. I love flying and I'd trade time in your airplane for helping you figure out how to get Service Pack 2 downloaded onto your computer or maybe help you out with a web site....please help me".

Honestly, I think you'll find someone who would help you out.

 

[ILStoMinimums]

You need to meet some people who are sympathetic to your cause. The guys at the avionics shop see you as a stupid kid who might steal their Garmin 430. Or they are just jerks. Might I suggest seeing if there is a local EAA chapter in your area. (www.eaa.org) Go to a meeting, stand up and say "I'm 14 and I'm a computer whiz. I love flying and I'd trade time in your airplane for helping you figure out how to get Service Pack 2 downloaded onto your computer or maybe help you out with a web site....please help me".

Honestly, I think you'll find someone who would help you out.

I like that. Take de727ups's advice and go for it. He always has great advice!

I was about your age when I took my first demo flight, I started flight training when I turned 15 and soloed shortly after my 16th BD following a PPL after 17 and everything else came after that.

Have fun and enjoy flying!

 

[Jon-Kyle Mohr]

Great idea, 727! There are two pretty close near by: http://eaa419.org/ and http://www.eaa162.org/ . I'll try to persuade my father into taking me to a meeting

 

[Jetter2]

I remember the good 'ol days. I'm lucky enough to live 6 miles from a great little unicom airport. I first got into flying out of there when I was a boyscout working on my aviation merrit badge, the FBO had a RV-4 and offered me a ride. We chatted it up, and I met some of his comrades with Archers, Bonanzas, Skylane's cardnials etc. The older guys are the ones that are really neat, don't be afraid to say "I'd be more than happy to was your airplane for ya", man I got so many rides that way. I hate washing my car but I love washing the airplanes! Now that I got my PPL a month ago, I go out there and offer to buy them breakfeast to log some PIC time with em since I am rated in almost all the planes I fly in now.

 

[minty fresh]

Gulfstream is hiring

 

[lawfly]

I took an intro lesson ("demo flight") at age 14 at my then local airport. Actually, the school allowed me to take 2 of them. They were $5 (five bucks) back then. Rental of a new PA-28-140 was $16/hr and instructor was $8/hr. I couldn't stay away, either, and took lessons at irregular intervals, soloing on my 16th b-day (frequency and intervals became more regular as I approached that date). I read everything I could find on aviation, and, yes, I too had what was then an AM-Aviation VHF Band Receiver which drove everyone crazy. (You can learn a lot from listening to it.) I was able to stay with the same instructor through solo and beyond. He did leave for another job before I got my private. I ended up getting a bunch of ratings at that school, and they even extended me a small discount on the hourly rate and also hired me later as a part time CFI at age 19. (I did end up having more than average hours for my private because of stretching out the training to age 16 and then age 17, but I got all subsequent ratings in or very close to miminum time.) As an instructor, I generally recommended 1-2 times a week to most people, but the 14 year old who is "addicted" is a special case. Of course, discuss it with your parents. One thing I don't endorse (but to each his own) is this idea in recent years of pre-solo teenagers and youngsters embarking on "record-setting" and "record-breaking" flights which are essentially very long dual cross-country flights. Best wishes to you!!
Oh, I had checked out the glider/sailplane thing, too, but it was 300 miles away.

 

[Aviator409]

Reading this reminds me of myself at the age of 14. I also was hooked on flight sim (microsoft flight sim) for the majority of my youth. Microsoft flight simulator is not just for IFR flights. It is also VERY helpful for the basics as well. Without my experience on flight simulator, I wouldnt of been able to land the plane by myself on my second try (first lesson) and solo'd at only 10.5 hours. It taught me how to hold altitudes, make great landings, and it puts you in the habit of scanning the instruments. However, flight sim is not 100% accurate. Comparing the sim 172 with the real thing is somewhat comparable, but I can find some big flaws. It wont be detrimental to your PPL, but just dont get too hooked. One word of advise - Dont stretch your private pilot training. I did, and I deeply regret it.