Awesome post Alex, I certainly appreciate the feedback!!
--- In Sport_Aircraft@yahoogroups.com, "Alex" <acensor@...> wrote:
>
> Just a couple of tips and throughts from a student pilot (25+
> hours dual time 25+ hours of solo time and about to take his
> final flight test for Sport Pilot):
>
> The sport pilot license is for many a great license and the
> restrictions compared to private pilot for many people of no
> significance and it is less costly to get usually.
> But be cautious of this: Before going sport pilot license route
> make sure that either there are FBOs or flying clubs near you
> where Light Sport Aircraft (LSAs) are actually available to rent
> OR that you're prepared to go out and buy your own sport pilot
> legal aircraft (LSA). Otherwise you could find yourself with a
> useless license. In my area there is no sport pilot legal
> aircraft for rent within 150 miles. I had to either go for full
> private pilot or wait until I could afford my own LSA. Actuallly
> I purchased an LSA jointly with another pilot.
>
> Several pilots buying/sharing one aircraft is often a great
> option. It can easily make the difference between being able to
> afford to fly or not. If two of you share an aircraft there are
> many expenses (hanger, maintainance, repairs, etc) that are thus
> "half price" to you. And make no mistake, owning an aircraft has
> many expenses. If purchasing is even a consideration for you, you
> might post an ad on Barnstormers or on the bulletin boards at
> nearest airports and spread the word around that you're
> interested in sharing -- either buying into share of an existing
> owner's plane or shopping together.
> Look for flying clubs. There are basically two kinds: There are
> what I call commercial flying clubs. Those are really an aircraft
> rental business set up a "club". Basically, they're giving you
> certain priority on the aircraft access and a modest but
> signficant discount on the rental rate in exchange for you
> joining and or buying a block of time in advance or paying a one
> time joining-the-club membership fee. These are worth
> considering. What I think of as real flying clubs are really
> joint ownership of one aircraft by two, three, four, or more
> people. These will in the long run likely be the least costly way
> to fly but you'd have to find or create one and come up with
> enough cash to buy half (or a third, or quarter, or whatever) of
> an aircraft.
>
> This is, if you have the resources, a very good time to buy a
> plane. With many older pilots retiring and the economy depressed
> there are some great buys out there. (The flip side is it's a
> lousy time to sell a plane.)
>
> If you are are now, or after you get a few flights, seriously
> able to consider buying an aircraft (whether by yourself or
> jointly with others), consider buying it before or early in your
> training: You would save a very large amount of money in rental
> fees during your dual time and even more in your solo time. You
> could think of the rental money you save as a significant
> discount on the price of the plane you purchase or big discount
> on the cost of your training.
> And you will have the additional advantage of learning in you OWN
> aircraft. You'd get to know it quite well. If going for sport
> pilot you'll likely spend at least 30 hours in it before getting
> your license. If private likely over 50 hours.
> If you, for example, do all your training and get your license in
> a Cessna 172 and then go out later and buy a Kitfox or rent a
> Skycatcher you'd have to pay an instructor or somehow get quite a
> bit of familiarization before you could fly it. There's quite a
> difference in the way they handle.
> I'm very glad I was able to do all my training in the aircraft I
> own half of.
>
> Almost all places that offer training offer intro flights of
> about half an hour. Often at a bit lower rate than their
> normal rental plus instructor rate. Go around and do that at any
> close enough airports and training businesses.
> That'll get you a taste of what you're getting into AND a chance
> to see if you and each instructor are a good match.
> Shop around. Where I am instructor's fees (not counting aircraft
> rental) vary from a low of $25 per hour to a high of $55.
> And the $25 instructor is just as good.... It's just that she's
> at a rural airport an hour away from the population center.
> And Consider this:
> You can get a student license without having ANY flight training.
> For a prospective sport pilot you don't even have to get medical
> (you can add a medical exam later if during your training you
> change your mind and want to go for full private.) A designated
> flight examiner who is familiar with sport pilot rules should
> issue you a student license and charge maybe $40 to do so. I you
> have an FAA office near enough they will issue one free if you
> come in with proper ID.
> If you get your student license immeaditly and take a logbook
> with you to several intro flights with instructors they should be
> willing to enter that half-hour or more in your logbook. If
> you're getting a bit of experience and paying for it might as
> well log it.
>
> Finally: Be realistic about what it will cost in time and money
> to get you license.
> The 20 hour sport pilot and 40 hour for private are usually
> exceeded by quite a bit.
> About 80% of those who start their private pilot training never
> finish.
> In most cases it's because it's costing more than they were
> expecting/prepared for and/or taking more time and dedication
> than they were expecting and prepared for.
>
>
> My two cents.
> Alex
>
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