The Warrior is a good trainer.

There are two different type flight schools; Part 61 and Part 141. One of them is just going through with an individual instructor and the other is a more formal school with a set curriculum and so forth. There are advantages and disadvantages to both.

The difference in helicopters and fixed wing will be cost. Helicopter flight time is EXPEN$IVE!!!!!!!!!!!

If you wanted to learn in a taildragger there are probably some individual instructors around your area that have an old plane and will teach in it. It might be less expensive than a more formal school.

You should be able to learn to fly for $7K to $10K INCLUDING aircraft rental costs.

Hope this helps.
Larry

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2001 SLK 320 six speed manual
2014 Porsche Cayenne six speed manual

Annoy a Liberal, Read the Constitution

Forget the large "pilot factory" schools. They pretty much exist to fast track people to commercial. (unless that's what you're looking for)

In my case, I found a small grass strip with a two man operation training a few students a week. The Cessna 152 was renting wet, with instructor for $62 and hour. I think it's closer to $100 now.

Last time I did any rotary wing stuff was last year and the cheapest I could get was around $250 an hour.

The fixed vs. rotary wing thing is completely upside down. It takes much more skill and money to become a proficient helicopter pilot, they face the greatest risk and get paid less than their commercial fixed wing counter parts.

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-Evan


Benz Fleet:
1968 UNIMOG 404.114
1998 E300
2008 E63


Non-Benz Fleet:
1992 Aerostar
1993 MR2
2000 F250

Yes, I learned from an individual instructor as well. Unless you have an aggressive time table for reaching ATP status, it's the way to go IMHO. It's less expensive, and you have a better chance of getting an instructor who enjoys instructing and flying. In the "Pilot Factory" as KarTek accurately calls it, most of the instructors are just building needed time for the next rating. It's common for the instructor to move on before you finish up with him.

If you can find an independent instructor who you feel comfortable with and communicate well with, that's the guy/gal that you want to teach you to fly.

As for instructor/rental rates I think KarTek learned to fly some time ago. 20 years ago, it cost me $15 an hour for instructor and $32 an hour for a 150, I think it was $25 an hour for the Champ.

Today, the instructor will cost about $40 and a 150 about $100.

__________________
2001 SLK 320 six speed manual
2014 Porsche Cayenne six speed manual

Annoy a Liberal, Read the Constitution

You can solo with about 12 hours and fly as many hours in your own plane as you like. When the solo ticket expires you get signed off again. Fly indefinitely. Works for a lot of people, I don't really like to fly alone a lot and don't do it. 50 hours wouldn't justify ownership but the sky is the limit.

Ground school is doable with books. A lot of instruction can be gotten from a PC simulator. A license is overrated.

In a lot of people's minds flying is a huge challenge. It really is a lot safer than working with chainsaws or donkeys.

It sounds like this guy wants to go to school and that is fun too. I did that for my USCG license.

Yeah, I suppose if all you want to do is fly around within 25NM of your home airport and have no desire to haul passengers or go further with your flying, cruising on a solo certificate would get the job done.

20 years ago, soloing in 12 hours was much more common than it is today. In today's world, statistically 20 or more hours is typical. It escapes me why this is, but that's what the stats show. I solo'd in 13, 20 years ago, but that was 7 hours in a taildragger before moving to the 150 (easier plane to fly) for six more hours.

Unless you're talking about a more sophisticated simulator than Flight Simulator X, I see very little to gain from learning Flight Simulator. You can learn some real basics, such as what the controls do, not necessarily learn to use them, and you can learn the interaction of the instruments. Beyond that, flying is SO MUCH about practice and feel, that if getting proficient with FS saved someone two hours of actual flight training I would be very surprised. I was told by a high time instructor that there was an FS Ace that kept telling him that he could fly and land a real airplane in the first try. They argued for awhile before they finally made a substantial bet on the claim. The instructor took the FS Ace up and the guy couldn't even manage to fly straight and level, much less fly an approach.

Yes, passing the written by studying no more than a $20 Gleim or ASA study guide is quite doable, or spending a few hundred for video's will get it done in less time, although you might not actually LEARN as much from the video's you will pass the test. You will have to be signed off in your logbook by a Certified Flight Instructor before you are allowed to take the test.

In my case, I'm less than four years from retirement and plan on getting my Certified Flight Instructor rating and teach flying for a retirement "job." It won't produce much money, but I'm just looking for something enjoyable and worthwhile to fill the time of my Sunset years.

__________________
2001 SLK 320 six speed manual
2014 Porsche Cayenne six speed manual

Annoy a Liberal, Read the Constitution