Spreading out a PPL

at 16st, it would depend on the weight of your instructor and how much fuel.

I started on the pa38, me and instructor about similar weights, with fuel to tabs we were about the limit.

I just booked a trial flight and mentioned my weight and they said that they would try and manage the ´situation´for me so its a waiting game i guess, a week on monday and we will just see what happens when i turn up :s

Do you think i would be ok in a PA38?

Also i checked weight limits, i am 16st (0.5 st lighter than this time last week! and dropping lol) LFS were like “ooh thats about the limit, we have had ppl of 16st, but it depends if you will fit in the plane” I am actually not that big for 16st and have fit in a vigilant so i think the PA38 will be no prob, i called ravenair and they said that it would be fine.
James

James,
I did my PPL through an RAF Scholarship in 5 weeks flat on C150s, and I weighed a strapping 10.5 stone then.
After a 17 year gap I have decided to regain my currency, and when I went to book a test flight on a C152, they suggested that people of my ‘height’ would be more comfortable in a PA28-160, it is probably more to do with my Lithe 15.5 stone 😉
They said that I could fly the C152, but not with full fuel and an instructor, but there would be no such issues in the PA28.
I tried both, and found that it was the width at shoulder height that would limit the Cessna, the PA28 is a much more comfortable aircraft in that respect.
In terms of the increased cost over a C152, my aim was to convert to it after currency anyway to fly the family, so that would negate any savings made by doing my re-currency on the C152.

Ah right, i understand. I was thinking of circuit as in going round the rectangle, but no T&G.
So Yes the circuit fee is same as landing at LFS, so I think ill go with Ravenair.

A circuit typically consists of

– a takeoff
– turning crosswind perpendincular to the runway axis
– establishing a height in the circuit, typically 1000 feet above ground level
– turning downwind, parallel to the runway
– at the end of the downwind leg, turning base, slowing down and applying flap
– turn final with runway dead ahead
– descent to runway, rounding out, flare, clean up and taking off

The last point is called a “touch and go”.

A full landing fee, i.e. you are only doing one full-stop, is often more expensive than a fee for repeated T+Gs.

i just spoke to LFS and they charge full landing fee 7.90 for T+Gs although i am not sure about circuits

I think it is 2.70 or something for a circuit

Pratt (AFE) and Thom are a matter of choice, Pratt is quite illustrative in places but at the time I felt there was some thign slacking in the depth of knowledge. I used these books. Thom is drier, not so many photos but you should get on okay with them (I have book 5 here).

Paying for additional T+Gs can put the price up, when pre-solo you will be doing something like 6 per hour. At Coventry I think that is something like £3 or £4, so your hourly rate would jump by approximately £20. How much per T+G at Liverpool? Ravenair might be amienable to flying over to Barton for circuits, epsecially if Liverpool are busy with traffic. In some cases at smaller airfields, you can shove them a 20 note and get on with as many T+Gs as you like for the day.

Sounds like you are learning at more or less the rate i will be.
Well i decided the best way to do this is to take a trial flight. I am thinking of ravenair over Liverpool Flying School because they seem to be more organised and positive.

From the conversations ive had, LFS were very negative about spreading lessons out, Ravenair were more like “It will take longer but thats ok”. Also i checked weight limits, i am 16st (0.5 st lighter than this time last week! and dropping lol) LFS were like “ooh thats about the limit, we have had ppl of 16st, but it depends if you will fit in the plane” I am actually not that big for 16st and have fit in a vigilant so i think the PA38 will be no prob, i called ravenair and they said that it would be fine. When LFS answer the phone they always sound rushed and a bit disorganised altough they always know what i ask them. Ravenair dont always know but there is always the info to hand or an instructor nearbye to ask.

Also for anyone who is interested LFS use Trevor Thom and Ravenair reccomend AFE(i think thats it) but say its up to students disgression.

The only thing is, i asked LFS for an hour price and they said 111 including landing fee, with Ravenair it was nearer 115 but they also mentioned prices for touch and go´s or circuits. When i am practicing circuits will that be expencive?

James

There is much to be said for minimising the gaps between lessons. But don’t worry too much if long gaps creep in for one reason or another. Some advise to book lessons regularly in the expectation that there will be cancelations due to weather, maintenance, illness etc, but that can backfire when you get a clear run of weather/aircraft etc.

I have been learning for 2 years now (32 hours total), and like Deano have had a couple long gaps of 3 months for various reasons, but have quickly caught up. I am in no rush, the main thing for me is that I am flying.

good luck and let us know what you decide.

Ken

Don’t worry “too” much if you can’t fly for a while, whilst it’s good advice to keep on the horse it can work out ok if you can’t, it took me nearly 2 years to obtain my PPL, I did it at Bristol Intl where the weather is known to be pretty crap at times, there were times when I did not fly for 3 months for 1 reason or another, I think I had 2 or 3 of these blocks where I didn’t fly, but I found it ok, I didn’t really feel handicapped by it at all, a couple of times quite the opposite, but I guess it’s all down to the individual, you’ll find out what works best for you and you will adapt.

Keep us informed how it goes

Dean

I think I will use Christmas money and some i have saved to do perhaps 4 lessons after christmas, then wait a while and try to do another block, I just wanna get going, and if it takes longer for me to learn so be it. I just want to work out which air club now!!

James

i was thinking every 3rd or 4th week, what do you rekon? I mean to be honest it isnt that important how long it takes but I guess I do want to progress, also i will try to get groups of lessons if i come into money like on my 21st. I may try for a part time job tho, I think that would be a good idea.

James,
It took me 4 years as I could only fly every other Thursday due to work and family committments. It also meant resitting some exams and repeating some lessons but as has been sail in earlier posts does it matter as long as you are airborne.
I have had my license 6 years now and I have just bought a share in a C150.
I got a part time job to pay for some of the hours, it is really about committment, if you really want to do it you can.

Cheaper flying:

Do not discount 3-axis microlights which are now as good as most 2-seat trainers in the old Group A class.

Excellent advice there.

Moggy

Cheaper flying:

Do not discount 3-axis microlights which are now as good as most 2-seat trainers in the old Group A class. Typically £20-30 cheaer to train (could be cheaper but microlight instructors are on a good wage it seems comparitively)
There’s a list of schools on http://www.bmaa.org/ and WLMS is your closest http://www.wlms.co.uk/index.htm

Gliding – a lot more hanging about helping out but you can easily go flying for under £20/hour and some clubs will have a motor glider you can pootle about in for about £60/hr. http://www.gliding.co.uk/ for a list of clubs.

You do make a very good point any money wise i will be giving up more or less everything for lessons as much as poss, so yeah – i guess when i get the ppl is irrelivent as long as its great fun along the line 🙂

Too many websites have worried me with “a student shouldnt should fly unless he has the money and time available to learn in a year¨ Well if i waited til then, then i may never get round to it! i wanna start realising my dream now!

James

James, you seem to be suffering from a misunderstanding here.

All your post worries about if it is a viable way to get a ppl by spreading out your lessons over years.

Would you care if it wasn’t?

What I’m trying to say is that you take lessons, and from the very first lesson you are handling the controls. Somewhere between lesson 10 and lesson 30 you are sent off solo, you are flying that aircraft by yourself, you are a pilot.

The only difference ‘getting your ppl’ makes is the ability to scare the lives out of a diminishing band of friends by flying them as passengers.

If actually being in the air, flying the aircraft, isn’t reward in itself then maybe what is driving you is not the passion to fly that you will need to sustain your interest after you have your licence.

The very fact that other uni societies take up your time, that you aren’t prepared to drop all the inessentials of life (eating, going out, clothes, etc) in exchange for your dream worries me.

Yes it will take you more hours to get a licence approaching it in a piecemeal way. But they are ‘flying’ hours, not hours spent sitting on the ground.

And make no mistake about it, the instructional course leading to the ppl is some of the most enjoyable flying you will ever do. Fresh, challenging, interesting, shared with a (hopefully) enthusiastic instructor/friend.

Moggy

My main amount of time is taken up with the CU and occasionally the PhotoSoc when I can be bothered, but the amount of Java and Key Skills Assignments I have is crazy!! – any money saving tips for flying, or where to get stuff i may need cheap, also what are the written exams like, how do i train 4 them

James