donc7

Great job!

Congratulations on your solo Donc7

Nice landing! Looked a lot better than my first solo landing. Good to hear your making such good progress.

Well friends, I just did my first solo. It was exciting and fun. I guess I am about halfway there! I think I was more nervous communicating to ATC all alone then the actual pattern!

Thank you all for your encouragement thus far. I will report back when I do my cross country!

https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=10204690989697915

hey donc7 i hav only just started as well. im 48 but was 47 when i started but am still loving it and i reckon thats the secret u hav got to do it cause u want to. i fly fortnightly but i reckon 1 a week would b better , however money does rule at the moment.no flying advice from me as im still just starting out, except stick at it and enjoy it and yeah u will never stop learning but its all fun

Forced landings early on springs to mind and getting things in the right order in the circuit.

I was trying to remember what the issues were for me when I started the learning process and the main thing as I recall was not the checklists, radio or the rudder or the ailerons, engine or the instruments or any other single factor, it was that I was incredibly busy with so much to think about and do and learn all at once. I wondered if I would ever understand it all and if I would ever be able to do all the things I was being taught and in the correct order and accurately and safely, look at what was going on inside & outside, listen & understand the stuff coming over the radio, do what my instructor asked & try to make sense out of it all.I averaged 1 lesson a week & had my PPL in just over a year. Somewhere along the journey, there was a tipping point, like a critical mass where everything gelled. I then didn't have to think about everything every time, it became a process, a routine as it were & all the steps were performed & it worked.

 

A good headset is what I would get but not straight away. Talk to others, ask opinions & find out what you like or dislike about the trainer supplied headsets.

 

I'd also get a good training manual (your school may supply one or be able to suggest a good one) an E6B, protractor & ruler ( for navigation & map reading) & a flight bag to keep everything in.

 

Kevin

Thank you all for your input. I am off for vacation then when I am back we start patterns and landings. I have done 3 so far, about to do many.

This is awesome information everyone, thanks for sharing with us newbs!

Well I had my first lesson today. Pretty much another ITF with some more info thrown in as I did my first ITF about 8 weeks ago. I have 3 more lessons scheduled over the next 7 days.

It sure was fun, great, great fun...we went up to 5500 ft and shot through some cloud gaps. Mostly worked on straight and level flight through turns etc and working through checklists etc. Tomorrow my FI tells me I am starting landings and from now on I will be doing them all. Gulp... Sure does seem like that little plane is hanging out there in a a giant sky of vastness and that runway looks so small from up high! All the radio stuff gives you alot to think about while trying to actually figure out how to fly, so not thrilled to tackle that at the same time, he tells me he will give me a couple of lessons before I have to. It does seem like a lot of info to process but I know from reading all the threads here, you take it one lesson at a time.

I think I did pretty well keeping my eyes out the window and worked on listening the engine to know when I was dropping the nose, I can definitely feel when I am slipping around by the weight changes and equilibrium change. I found not watching the glass/gauges and instead listening to motor pitch change when I descended or climbed and trying feel the changes rather than "screen stare" to be fun and challenging.

Jeff- Sun n Fun down here in Florida would be a fun one to visit as well!

As a brand new student starting out, is there anything you guys think you could have done to lessen these early challenges?

Congratulations Beefy! I am a brand new student, so one day...

Jeff - I hear you. It is not cheap, but I have a strong desire to do this. Did you get your cert yet mate?

Hey Matty, Thank you for the tip. I am learning in a Czech Sportcruiser. Nice little plane with great visibility.

Thanks for the welcome and advice fellas. I start this Sunday, so excited! I did my ITF to a few weeks ago and knew that this was for me. What a feeling the first time you hold the stick in your hands in a small craft. Feeling every bit of turbulent air around you!

The sense of excitement, challenge, freedom and wanderlust is consuming.

I have lurked here a while and since I am about to get started, I thought I would share my experience with you all. I have appreciated the threads and helpfulness of the members here.

Flying is something I always wanted to do, but due to some minor health challenges, I had to give it up 20 years ago, I was told a medical would be a challenge and require many hoops. I had sort of lost track of flying regs etc over the years, and only about a year ago learned of the Sport category. I was immediately intrigued and spent the last several months getting my wife and kids on board. I am 45 years old and stoked to get started. The added advantage to waiting until now is that when I do get my cert, I could probably afford a plane (maybe on my own, an older plane or fractionally at least) whereas in my twenties I would have struggled to cover the cost of the lessons.

I will be learning here in Stuart (South Florida) in a Czech Sport. I had an introductory flight already and was immediately hooked. Flying in a small plane when you have the stick is an amazing feeling. Yes, it is better than any video game or tv show!

I would appreciate any advice from any of you seasoned folks.

Like... what do you wish someone had told you before you got started?

Is there any gear I should buy for myself, from the start?

What do you think is the optimum frequency I should fly to get the most of the lessons and reduce stress?

Any advice for this newbie?

Thank you all so much and I will keep you posted!

Don