Incidentally, unlike in olden times when we had to beg, borrow, steal, or sometimes buy the FAA's publications, they're all available online now at faa.gov. Look under the tab, "Regulations and Policies", then click "Handbooks and Manuals". The information in the Airplane Flying Handbook, the Pilots Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge, and the Student Pilot Guide is invaluable and necessary. You'll also see the AIM (Aeronautical Information Manual, once called and still occasionally called the Airmen Information Manual). There are gobs of other publications there, also, but those I listed will get you started. At some point before you take your checkride, you'll want to carefully review the Private Pilot Standard Test Guide, usually referred to as the PTS--you must be able to do everything in it applicable to a private pilot to the standards described in it.

I suspect you'll also seek advice on which student pilot materials to buy from private vendors. Each pilot tends to gravitate toward the ones he/she used. I like the King Schools materials, although admittedly John and Martha have hokey humor--but they get the job done well. I also like the Kershner manuals--easy reads, and very informative. Rod Machado's materials are good, although his humor while different from the Kings' gets old after awhile.

Other books to consider for your aviation library: Stick & Rudder, by Wolfgang Langwiesche, the single most valuable and understandable book on aerodynamics out there; Instrument Flying by Richard Taylor and Weather Flying by Bob Buck, both valuable for private pilot students and almost necessities for instrument pilot students. There are many others which are useful and helpful, too.

You're embarking on a process that is a lot of work--nobody ever gave away a private certificate. There's a huge amount of information that you must learn. But it's a lot of fun, too.

Cary

What Cary just said will get you the ticket. What I say is mostly gripes about the missed opportunities of the system. I still think learning "Safe Maneuvering Flight Techniques" first is best for those who will engage in maneuvering flight, either for a living or for fun. These techniques will not get you a ticket, no matter how safe.

Cary, good call on the AIM. I goofed on that one!

Thanks! I'll look it up.

Got a chance to meet up with Phil (Barnstormer on here) and Russell from Lonestar Maules this weekend at the Apache Pass fly in and gained some good insight into the kind of flying I want to do. Russell was pretty adamant about learning in a tail dragger (which I personally would prefer) and even got some contact info for a CFI reasonably close that does it. I am going to see if I can swing that somehow.

I totally agree with you, I had to beg to get one of my two instructors to do an actual spin with me... they didn't want to do it, just talk about how to avoid it. Avoidance is great, but I wanted to be able to get my self out of the situation if it arose. Anyway, one finally did a spin for me and I loved it - it was great! - and that lingering fear of not knowing what it felt like and how it recovered disappeared forever instantly....

I also realized at that point, that a good bit of acrobatic flying instruction would be on the wishlist - for me, before an IFR rating in priority.