How do you learn how to fly? (planes, not the green leaf)

[Mucman]

I have always been interested in being pilot and it even said on my career test in high-school that I should be a chief pilot! I am pretty much glued to computers but I still would love to take up flying as a personal hobby. Obviosly this is not something I can jump into, especially at the age of 22... but what I would like to know is what is the average expenditure to get into the hobby? What does it take to get myself a license, a plane and the ability to be able to go the the airport and take out my plane when I feel like going for a joy ride?

 

[calpha]

If I was still in college I'd say flying is easy with some green stuff

 

[Mucman]

LOL, I didn't even think of how my question could be interpreted!

 

[BrunoPuntzJones]

Why wouldn't it be something you could hop into? You couldn't fly commercially at that age, but there are tons of folks a lot younger (I'm talking 14 and 15) that have their pilot's license. If your city has an airport and a college, they may have a course out there. We used to have one and it ran about $7000. Now it's taught at the airport. Unsure what the cost is now. That was just classtime and didn't include flight time.

Ever heard of the $100 hamburger? It's a thing where you take a plane out for a couple of hours and eat at the terminal of another airport. Pretty nifty

Not much help I know, just didn't want you to think you were too young for it.

 

[Aquaman]

When I was taking some accounting courses through the CMA's one of my teachers was the controller of one of the flying schools in abbotsfords. I forget which one but here is a link to one flying school:

Abbotsford Flying School

I hope this helps.

Cheers,
Aquaman

 

[crab]

Goto your local flight school (usually at small airports) and schedule a 30min intro flight to see if it's your thing and go from there.

<---Started lessons at 14

 

[Mucman]

BrunoPuntzJones - Cool! I guess I was implying that I don't have the money to get into it right now . I remember a friend of mine who was in Air Cadets when was a teen and he flew a glider all the time!

Another question I have is; what is the time dedication required, and is MS Flight Sim a realistic enough sim for some basic training (assuming I get decent sticks and rudder stuff to run it)?

 

[crab]

<< I have always been interested in being pilot and it even said on my career test in high-school that I should be a chief pilot! I am pretty much glued to computers but I still would love to take up flying as a personal hobby. Obviosly this is not something I can jump into, especially at the age of 22... but what I would like to know is what is the average expenditure to get into the hobby? What does it take to get myself a license, a plane and the ability to be able to go the the airport and take out my plane when I feel like going for a joy ride? >>



#1- about $75/hr in a 152...
#2- ~55hrs...
#3- You usually need to schedule unless you own or co-own.

 

[Aquaman]

Also look into the boundry bay airpot......... I think there are a lot of flying schools there also.

Cheers,
Aquaman

 

[Mucman]

Aquaman - Thanks for the link!!!! Who knew I could learn how to fly in my own backyard . Is that where you learned? Are you still in Vancouver? Maybe you can take me for a spin sometime

crab453 - Only 55 hours and I can go out on my own? I thought it was more than that... but I am guessing there is a lot of written theory stuff that you have to do too, correct?

 

[crab]

<< Another question I have is; what is the time dedication required, and is MS Flight Sim a realistic enough sim for some basic training (assuming I get decent sticks and rudder stuff to run it)? >>



Usually 1hr/ lesson @ ~$75/hr at the least twice/wk for a total of 50-60 hrs.

MSFS is OK....I gives you basic instincts....such as the plane will try to climb in a turn...you dont want that and FS models it correctly.

 

[crab]

<< crab453 - Only 55 hours and I can go out on my own? I thought it was more than that... but I am guessing there is a lot of written theory stuff that you have to do too, correct? >>



The VFR PPL license does require a written test but its EASY...Now IFR, CPL, ATP gets _alot_ harder.

 

[BrunoPuntzJones]

<< Another question I have is; what is the time dedication required, and is MS Flight Sim a realistic enough sim for some basic training (assuming I get decent sticks and rudder stuff to run it)? >>

The only Naval pilot to score perfect on his flight test never flew before he was in the Navy, he flew on MS Flight Sim at home. I've actually seen videos of training facilities where flight sim is running in the background.

Edit: I can't personally vouch for it, just telling the story

 

[Mucman]

Interesting info on MS. Is the Professional edition better for learning or does it just add more bells, whistles, and planes?

BTW, this thread was created because I am watching Flightpath on the discovery channel and I got inspired

 

[crab]

<< Interesting info on MS. Is the Professional edition better for learning or does it just add more bells, whistles, and planes?

BTW, this thread was created because I am watching Flightpath on the discovery channel and I got inspired >>



More planes, GMAX, etc...
Get FS2002...we'll do a little multiplayer trip

 

[BrunoPuntzJones]

Professional just adds more planes and a more fleshed out flight planning system I think. There is no difference in flight dynamics, only features, I know that for sure. I'd say get the regular version (It cost me $9.95 after rebate when it was in hot deals). By the time you knew enough to use the advanced features, the next version will be out. You can download thousands of planes so the extra ones in the pro version are pretty pointless.

 

[Stiler]

I always wanted to join the air force and fly, but then i found out you can't unless you have 20/20 eyesight. To take flying lessons and maybe get into commerical flying do you have to have 20/20 vision?

 

[crab]

<< I always wanted to join the air force and fly, but then i found out you can't unless you have 20/20 eyesight. To take flying lessons and maybe get into commerical flying do you have to have 20/20 vision? >>



Correctable to 20/20 for civillian.

 

[Mucman]

I have perfect 20/20 vision . I think I will invest in MSFS 2002 sometime this summer then... what's a good mid-range joystick for it? Is Yoke the true term for that?

 

[superfluousmonkeys]

join alqaeda, they'll pay for it

DISCLAIMER: Just a joke people.:Q

 

[crab]

<< I have perfect 20/20 vision . I think I will invest in MSFS 2002 sometime this summer then... what's a good mid-range joystick for it? Is Yoke the true term for that? >>



A yoke is nice, but only with rudder pedals.... Basically anything with rudder control, such as MS' Sidewinders is good. Its mostly a matter of personal preference IMO.

 

[BrunoPuntzJones]

Joysticks are on computer, yoke would be in the aircraft. For combat sims the thrustmaster and ch companies have some wild products. I use a Afterburner Pro from thrustmaster. Joystick on the left, throttle on the right which also has a rudder selector. My little bro has a setup at his house which is an f-15 modeled stick, throttle, and rudder pedals. Really sweet on hardcore sims.

If you really want a realistic joystick for civilian planes, there is a product called the virtual pilot. I'll see if i can find it (it's pretty old). It's the actual push style like you see in cessnas, push it in for down, pull it out for up. turn it left to right for...well left and right. also has a throttle lever that is more realistic than most joysticks.

 

[Mucman]

superfluousmonkeys - I laughed but I doubt the majority of the forums will... just a word of caution.

crab453 - I guess it's not that important as long as you don't buy a cheapy? I have heard from someone that has flown and used a computer joystick found the yoke on a plane a lot stiffer than he had expected. Do any joysticks emulate this? Do you reccomend force feedback?

 

[crab]

I'm going to bed...PM or E-MAIL me for anything... I'm a wealth of info on this subject.

 

[BrunoPuntzJones]

http://www.chproducts.com/index.html
CH makes the one I'm thinking of, and they actually still make it, it's even updated! They have a ton of realistic types for civillian aircraft (well, 2 anyway).