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My secret is I wasn't afraid to WORK to get flight time. I got a job at the FBO (fixed base operator) working the flight line fuelling and hangaring, things like that. In the summer it was HOT out working on the ramp, in the winter I froze my privates off (not literally), but it was fun at times and saved I think it was 20% on everything (ground, dual, and plane rental). I think I was typical, about 65 hrs or so when I got my license, but alot of that was solo time, which was great fun if flying is what you want to do. I did that job for several years after I got my private license. Lots of guys serious about flying would then work on their other endorsements to get the instructor license, and get paid a meager sum to build flight time instructing. I would have been the perfect candidate to do just that since I had my foot in the door on the line, but decided it wasn't something I wanted to persue.
I would disagree that it's better to find a small field to fly from, or if you do, don't get in the rut of always flying from an uncontrolled field, as the small ones are called. I think you get a better experience flying from a controlled field where you have ATIS, grond control, tower, and approach and departure control. If you ever want to do some "real" flying, say a long cross country into a larger airport (say for some big event or large attration) you're gonna feel a whole lot more comfortable in a situation like that if you were exposed to all the extra procedures early on in your flying. I don't know how many guys I've talked to who were uncomfortable flying into controlled airspace because of the extra procedures involved. I'm just the opposite, now I'd RATHER fly into a controlled airport as opposed to a small municipal field, feels alot safer to me.
It is fun going in to a small grass strip though, it is alot more "back to basics" flying and I do/did enjoy that feeling too. You feel like you are really doing something unique when you're the only one using the field, as opposed to being vectored in to land along with a couple 727's, a Gulfstream, a few other small aircraft, etc, you feel more like you are a nuciance than anything else.
Gilly
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