Young Wanna-do

[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.