Fri Sep 21, 2018 12:29 pm
#1639492
I'd echo what everyone else has said. It's important to be keen (I know I was champing at the bit when I first started) but try not to let that turn into frustration.
Learning to fly can be a bumpy ride; exhilarating and totally awe inspiring at points and down right depressing at others. Ride with it and enjoy it, no matter how long it takes (I'm still a student pilot; It's taken me 3 years to do 27 hours but I've not lost the stoke for flying).
In terms of kit, all of the books can be had 2nd hand, except for airlaw; I got mine for a tenner from the forum classifieds and just bought the latest airlaw & meterorology one. Ditto for the nav computer (E6B).
You don't need a headset yet and you don't need a fancy flight bag yet - just something to carry a few bits and bobs.
You'll definitely need a logbook (I got the "standard" Pooley's PPL one) and a kneeboard would help. The "Flyboys" ones are quite nice
I've got 2 more pieces of advice:
1. Find and join your local LAA Strut. It's a fantastic support network of like-minded people. You'll see a different side to flying than your "school stuff" and probably get to go flying in some different machines and to more interesting places in the process, as well as having access to a broad range of knowledge. Being in that environment can also help you decide what your "mission profile" looks like, post PPL (i.e. what am I going to do with my new found skill). You'll also eat a lot of cake.
2. Get a dedicated notepad for debriefing. This has helped me massively through my training. I note the date & time, what a/c I was flying, the weather (wind dir & strength, cloud cover and anecdotal stuff like if it was a bit bumpy), the runway and then some notes on what went well and what didn't go so well. Because I have been averaging 4 weeks between lessons, it's really helped me keep an eye on habits I'm picking up and to address and to "remember" what previous flights were like. I usually fill this in whilst having a coffee straight after the lesson.
Hope that helps.
CJ.
Learning to fly can be a bumpy ride; exhilarating and totally awe inspiring at points and down right depressing at others. Ride with it and enjoy it, no matter how long it takes (I'm still a student pilot; It's taken me 3 years to do 27 hours but I've not lost the stoke for flying).
In terms of kit, all of the books can be had 2nd hand, except for airlaw; I got mine for a tenner from the forum classifieds and just bought the latest airlaw & meterorology one. Ditto for the nav computer (E6B).
You don't need a headset yet and you don't need a fancy flight bag yet - just something to carry a few bits and bobs.
You'll definitely need a logbook (I got the "standard" Pooley's PPL one) and a kneeboard would help. The "Flyboys" ones are quite nice
I've got 2 more pieces of advice:
1. Find and join your local LAA Strut. It's a fantastic support network of like-minded people. You'll see a different side to flying than your "school stuff" and probably get to go flying in some different machines and to more interesting places in the process, as well as having access to a broad range of knowledge. Being in that environment can also help you decide what your "mission profile" looks like, post PPL (i.e. what am I going to do with my new found skill). You'll also eat a lot of cake.
2. Get a dedicated notepad for debriefing. This has helped me massively through my training. I note the date & time, what a/c I was flying, the weather (wind dir & strength, cloud cover and anecdotal stuff like if it was a bit bumpy), the runway and then some notes on what went well and what didn't go so well. Because I have been averaging 4 weeks between lessons, it's really helped me keep an eye on habits I'm picking up and to address and to "remember" what previous flights were like. I usually fill this in whilst having a coffee straight after the lesson.
Hope that helps.
CJ.