A question for pilots?

[WyoCoalMiner]

Nope, not acquainted with Charley ... but please extend my thanks for his service.
It is amazing how many Army aviators were trained by the helicopter pilot "factories" of the Vietnam era. I am acquqainted with many and know of some in and from Montana, but there are many of whom I've never become aware.

Will do! Thank you for your service to our country as well.

 

[schmalts]

I am in my mid fifties. I know my reaction timing to stuff isn't what it was 30 years ago. I am in good shape, I run 20 plus miles a week plus weight training. I do this so I can chase sheep. My question is, I really want to try and learn to fly, and is it realistic. What I mean by that is not just showing up and handing over ten grand for school but is it really doable. I have no problem with the mechanical part or the book learning. I have had the head phones when you guys (being in cessnas and supercubs are talking to the tower) and that seems intimadating. I guess I am asking what makes a good pilot, and is it worth a late life goal? or should I just pay (I am an Alaska resident so everything is cheap to hunt comparably to non residents). And learning to fly is more than hunting, it is something as fifty year old man that makes me still feel like a twenty year old with goals but more experience than a twenty year old. Just using this forum for some intelligent advice that takes all that jumble I just laid into account. (I can I afford the the money to try and get my private) I just asking to make sure I can justify doing it...... and it is worth it.

It is intimidating because you are unfamiliar with what they are saying. As a student pilot it is intimidating at first as well. I trained at an airport that was controlled so I got over it fast. Learning in mid 50's no problem, go for it if you have the $ to burn but keep realistic what it will cost to do and keep current after you get your rating. I did it 28 years ago and bought a share of a 172 and use my own plane to get it done. A lot of clubs or part ownerships will not allow students but it is definitely an option to consider. I am no longer current and sold my share of the plane because interest changes. If you do not fly often the savings is not there because you will be paying hanger and ins fees regardless if you are logging hours or not. I do miss it, but not enough to get current. The other thing to consider is most cases you cannot fly anyplace of distance that would have been cheaper going commercial. Just an FYI because some think they will fly all over to go hunting or vacation and find out it is expensive. Look into the local clubs and see what planes they have. Good luck

 

[xgener]

I appreciate all the responses. In Fairbanks you can go to one of the clubs. They will take you up for around $300 or so and determine if you really want to pursue this adventure before you drop 10 grand. the book work and the flying part do not worry me (I dont mean that to be arrogant, i am just 55 and know who iam as a person), it is the first solo flight to anchorage and the talk in the head phones. I have been watching a lot of pilots who do videos on you tube through emergencies and the talk that goes on between them. I am wanting to learn to fly that has nothing to do with hunting. I already know I can get a transporter, it is maybe an old man crisis (already have the harley for my midlife)

 

[kodiakisland]

I appreciate all the responses. In Fairbanks you can go to one of the clubs. They will take you up for around $300 or so and determine if you really want to pursue this adventure before you drop 10 grand. the book work and the flying part do not worry me (I dont mean that to be arrogant, i am just 55 and know who iam as a person), it is the first solo flight to anchorage and the talk in the head phones. I have been watching a lot of pilots who do videos on you tube through emergencies and the talk that goes on between them. I am wanting to learn to fly that has nothing to do with hunting. I already know I can get a transporter, it is maybe an old man crisis (already have the harley for my midlife)

Honestly the hardest part of flying is the time and money. Anyone can learn to fly. I feel guilty about how much time and money I've spent on just burning avgas. A one hour flight is half a day. Usually by myself. I used to fly several days a week, mostly by myself. Some people like to go a couple of times, but just riding around in the back of the plane gets boring, even when going to cool places. Time spent away from family. Then there's the money. I could have bought 500 acres and had a great hunting preserve. Instead I've got a log book.

I believe in no regrets. If flying fits into where you are in life, do it if you can. You don't want to be 10 years down the road regretting it.

A lot of people start and never see it through. Expect challenges and frustrations. Health, weather, maintenance, instructor schedule, family plans, etc. all work against you. Sometime it stretches out. The longer it takes, the more hours it will take. 60-80 hours is not unreasonable for a private when you have other things going on. Then another 10-15hrs for back country training.

 

[xgener]

I love the response. thank you! For me its not about owning a plane, it is about a late old man crisis! I want to learn to fly. I want something to shoot for. Another goal. And what would of worry me now, never would of thirty years ago. I have got about twenty years left. I love hunting but hate killing. Weird eh? I just want a new challenge and that to me is the talk between the tower and pilot, I am comfortable with else. And I do want to hunt goats on Kodiak now that I am a resident. (side note, but more of an excuse to wander around Kodiak with a rifle in hand)

Honestly the hardest part of flying is the time and money. I feel guilty about how much time and money I've spent on just burning avgas. A one hour flight is half a day. Usually by myself. I used to fly several days a week, mostly by myself. Some people like to go a couple of times, but just riding around in the back of the plane gets boring, even when going to cool places. Time spent away from family. Then there's the money. I could have bought 500 acres and had a great hunting preserve. Instead I've got a log book.

I believe in no regrets. If flying fits into where you are in life, do it if you can. You don't want to be 10 years down the road regretting it.

A lot of people start and never see it through. Expect challenges and frustrations. Health, weather, maintenance, instructor schedule, family plans, etc. all work against you. Sometime it stretches out. The longer it takes, the more hours it will take. 60-80 hours is not unreasonable for a private when you have other things going on. Then another 10-15hrs for back country training.

thank you so much for the response. I am not an older gentleman looking to fullfill a dream. I am a guy, who is poor, but has the money to shoot for the stars, no family commitment (regretably) .. I am not worried about the commitment. I am asking for advice how to be more comfortable with atc. And I agree no regrets.

 

[kodiakisland]

thank you so much for the response. I am not an older gentleman looking to fullfill a dream. I am a guy, who is poor, but has the money to shoot for the stars, no family commitment (regretably) .. I am not worried about the commitment. I am asking for advice how to be more comfortable with atc. And I agree no regrets.

If you can talk on a phone, you can talk to ATC. Unless you have severe hearing or speech impediments, and I'm sure there are work arounds for that. After about 10 hrs of flying you figure out the radio thing and never give it a second thought. I mostly fly in uncontrolled space, but ATC or towered airports aren't that big a deal. Most ATC people want to help you get to where you are going. If you don't understand you just let them know. Talking on the radio will be one of your quickest flying skills to learn.

 

[MTTW]

You get familiar with the airport environment and anticipate to an extent what control is going to say. It is not random information.
By the time you solo the radio will be the easy part. By the time you do your first solo cross-country flight the radio won't even be a consideration. There is no reason to be intimidated by the radio.

 

[dexnrex]

Just like your piloting skills, your communication skills will build as you build time. The communication piece is part of the training just as landing the plane is part of the training. By the time your instructor signs you off for that first solo cross country to Anchorage you may be anxious, but you’ll be well prepared.

 

[ChaosOneZero]

I am in my mid fifties. I know my reaction timing to stuff isn't what it was 30 years ago. I am in good shape, I run 20 plus miles a week plus weight training. I do this so I can chase sheep. My question is, I really want to try and learn to fly, and is it realistic. What I mean by that is not just showing up and handing over ten grand for school but is it really doable. I have no problem with the mechanical part or the book learning. I have had the head phones when you guys (being in cessnas and supercubs are talking to the tower) and that seems intimadating. I guess I am asking what makes a good pilot, and is it worth a late life goal? or should I just pay (I am an Alaska resident so everything is cheap to hunt comparably to non residents). And learning to fly is more than hunting, it is something as fifty year old man that makes me still feel like a twenty year old with goals but more experience than a twenty year old. Just using this forum for some intelligent advice that takes all that jumble I just laid into account. (I can I afford the the money to try and get my private) I just asking to make sure I can justify doing it...... and it is worth it.

I did when I was…35, I think…and went from first lesson to certificate in hand in 99 days and about $11k. I had just come back from a deployment overseas and had a ton of leave and comp time, so I basically immersed myself in flying for a few months. Prob would have finished sooner but I started training on 02 January and my wife had our youngest daughter in mid-March so there were a good number of missed or delayed lessons in there.

If you have the time and money, I’d say go for it. There’s absolutely nothing like it. I don’t fly much anymore (see time and money above), but if I had the money I’d be in the sky all the time.

I wouldn’t worry too much about the reactions and your age. There are plenty of folks out there who are/were older when they started. My grandfather started flying at 19 but didn’t get his license until he was like 51 (family and life happens). The instructor will teach you how to stay ahead of the plane, which should reduce the need to have catlike reflexes; though it is important to react immediately when something is happening to the aircraft.

You can always take a few lessons and go from there. You’ll know very quickly whether or not it’s for you.

 

[Straight Arrow]

The instructor will teach you how to stay ahead of the plane, which should reduce the need to have catlike reflexes; though it is important to react immediately when something is happening to the aircraft.

Yes, and you will quickly learn to fly with broad lanes and no double white lines to concern you in mostly carefree flight. However, the aviator skill and experience is in the knowledge and capability to react to emergency situations. They say even moreso for rotary wing flight. Harry Reasoner's take on the difference:

HELICOPTER PILOT​

“The thing is, helicopters are different from airplanes. An airplane by its nature wants to fly. And if not interfered with too strongly by unusual events or by a deliberately incompetent pilot, it will fly.
A helicopter does not want to fly. It is maintained in the air by a variety of forces and controls working in opposition to each other. And if there is any disturbance in this delicate balance, a helicopter stops flying immediately and disastrously. There is no such thing as a gliding helicopter.
This is why being a helicopter pilot is so different from being an airplane pilot. And why, in general, airplane pilots are open, clear-eyed, buoyant extroverts. And helicopter pilots are brooders, introspective anticipators of trouble. They know if something bad has not happened, it is about to.” Harry Reasoner