Posted: 1/31/2008 9:37:40 PM EDT
|
Well, I've got an apptmnt set up for the 16th with an instructor to fill out the paperwork and go for an intro ride. I've wanted to be a pilot since I was a little kid. I'm finally financially secure enough to do it and figure I better get it out of the way before I get a family/have kids and can't afford it. I'm STOKED.  Any words of advice? |
Fixed wing or rotary wing? Congrats on starting up, either way. |
"There are old pilots, and bold pilots, but no old bold pilots"-----anonymous
|
I think the biggest one would be relax and enjoy the ride. If a person isn't used to the bumps and feel of a light plane they tend to stress over unfamiliar sensations. If your pilot isn't sweating bullets, everything is probably normal. Also, ask questions. As many as pop into your head. About a month ago a friend let me fly his 172 for almost an hour. It's addictive. I just got my student license. Don't forget to take along one of these: ------->
|
Fixed wing, If the wings are moving faster than the fuselage it is probably a helicopter, and therefore unsafe. |
Yep, I already knew that one. 
|
| Take a couple of small plastic bags. I had one student that barfed more than 20 different flights. I had a stage check for one student and he barfed on T/O. He is now flying a 757 for United. Just stay with it if you do. It will get better. If you just have fun prepare to spend a lot of money. |
I don't really think I will have a problem with that. I have flown commercial a couple times and I've taken a short hop in a small private plane a while back and absolutely no queasy ness at all... Thanks for the info though. |
I didn't particularly mean study for my intro flight...I meant study in general to get a leg up for the training. |
Find out what your ground school uses for a training package and buy the 'kit'... Read the textbook... Most of the actual flying is more learned skills than it is memorizing from a book... To a non-pilot on their first tale-off, a 70kt climb out seems 'steep' - at least it did for me..... |
|
figure out what the radio frequencies for your area are, starting with ground control for your airport, tower's frequency (ground and tower may share a freq, or if there's no tower, than there will be no freq). once you're airborne you'll want approach/departure control and center. Depending on where in WI you are, you'll either be Minneapolis Center or Chicago Center. Jot all of these frequencies down on the inside cover of your notebook. fumbling for frequencies is a pain in the ass. Remember, 90% of being a pilot is sounding cool on the radio. Once you get into big boy flying in controlled airspace, the cooler and more competent you sound on the radio, the better off you'll be, because the controller on the other side of the radio will hear that you sound cool and will be reasonably confident you are not going to fuck up his airspace if he clears you to do something. Aside from that, bring a good pair of shades and a bottle of water and you'll be in good shape for an intro flight. Keep your head outside. It'll be tempting to fly instruments in order to maintain altitude and such, but realize that holding an altitude doesn't really matter all that much in the bug smasher world plus or minus a few hundred feet. Enjoy yourself! |
I'm in Western WI so I'm sure it's going to be MNPLS Center. Talking on the radio shouldn't be to much of an issue for me...I do it for a living. Thanks for all the advice. |
You could order the Sporty's Ground Training videos. Might make sense, since like every other student pilot out there you'll order all kinds of useless shit from them and carry a suitcase-sized flightbag the first few hours. Then you'll calm down and start carrying a reasonable amount of stuff. Hell, I had like 4 different fancy kneeboards, all kind of stupid slide rule calculators, you name it. It all sits in my basement closet now. You could get yourself a nice headset, that's always a long evaluation process but money well spent. Also, check out The Studentpilot.com message boards. Not just for students, they are chock full of useful information. |