Backcountry Pilot

[Green Hornet offline]

Mark,
I don't think you will be sorry for picking king. If you are a lap top type like myself the CD Rom approach is very friendly. I also got the check ride and other take off courses. I still keep up with the AOPA courses and the FAA FAST program.
Like some others have mentioned this is just the beginning because once you have committed to being a pilot it is a life long quest to learn and enjoy every thing about aviation.
Persistence in your pursuit!
Bill

[Backwoodsman offline]

Skystrider

You are exactly right. It's our judgement that we cultivate that really counts. I'm going to learn and keep on learning throughout my aviation experiences and use good judgement.

Blessings,

Mark

[onthegas offline]

Hey, go for it! No time like the present. By this time next year you could be flying to Oshkosh in your own plane. BTW, it may be tough to find a rental TW airplane which allows solo student pilots. Alot of folks will buy a relatively inexpensive tailwheel airplane in which to learn in and enjoy. Maybe a Cessna 140 or an Aeronca. Don't feel bad about "having" to get your primary instruction in a nosedragger. It's no big deal getting the tailwheel endorsement after your PP rating. Most of all have fun!

[Backwoodsman offline]

onthegas

Yes, I may have to ride in the good ol 172 until I get my PPL. No biggie. I wiil get my TW endorsement and buy my own taildragger all in good time.

Blessings,

Mark

[Zzz]

The King stuff is good, I've watched a few samples videos here and there. I used the Gleim CD-ROM.

Don't discount the official FAA publications though: They have some good books like the Airplane Flying Handbook, The Pilot's Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge, Aviation Weather. They're actually pretty good, and cheap too. They also have the advantage of being "official" sources of information. During my oral exam at the checkride, the DPE chastised me for looking something up in my Jepp manual, saying "that's not an official source."

[Backwoodsman offline]

1SeventyZ,

Those are the 2 FAA books I wanted to make sure and get. The King "Get It All" course includes both of them. I will buy Stick and Rudder too down the road at Spruce Aircraft.

Sorry you got chastised by the FAA examiner. You know what they say at the FAA... "Were not happy until you're not happy."

Blessings,

Mark

[Hawkeyenfo offline]

Hey Mark,

I think you'll like the courses on CD, that said, I did it with the FAR/AIM, Gleim PP test prep and a good instructor and everything was fine. Best advice toward the written was..."if you get more than 80%, you worked too hard!" It really is just an entrance hurdle.

As for tailwheel stuff, I really liked the book by Harvey Plourde, "The Compleat Taildragger Pilot" There is a wealth of knowledge and engineering type explanations that are explained so even people like me can understand them!

Good luck, now go fly!!!

[Benton offline]

You need an instructor endorsement to take the knowledge exam anyway, so you might as well start looking now for a CFI you click with and will be cool with your self-study program.

I did my ground school through PCC (Portland CommCollege). About $75 plus books for the term ten years ago. For me, the class-room situation worked better than self study would have, I think. There was always someone more confused about how to drive an E6-B than me, or ask a question that hadn't occurred to me yet and I had the sign-off for the written issued by the ground-school instructor. I hooked up with a flight instructor a couple weeks before the end of the term, so had written and medical in hand shortly after my first visit to the airport. Either way would be way cheaper than being spoon feed by a CFI at $/hr.

The other advice, to have funds in hand to complete the training before starting is good. I think it is possible to go at it too hard. Someone had advice to go at it seven days a week. I think it may be easy to saturate if you try to go more than 4-5d/w, but see for yourself. For most, I expect a session a week or less frequent would be counterproductive.

Benton 28jul08

[Backwoodsman offline]

I ordered the King Private Get it all package today. I am excited about getting started.

Blessings,

Mark

[WWhunter offline]

Mark,

Congrats on finally getting started. Sometimes taking that first step is the hardest. I have done the ground school thing many different ways. Even though I have my PPL, I still look at the tapes occasionally. I originally took one of those crash weekend courses that gives you the written after a full two days of class. It was great for getting the written passed and out of the way. I them watched the tapes several times over the years since getting my PPL just to refresh my memory. I also sat through another ground school while we were stationed in Hawaii. My son was taking the class and they let me set in while he attended. It was good to refresh this ol' mind of mine.

As for the type of plane....Fly what ever you can afford. I started in a 150, ended up buying it after a couple of hours of instruction. I hated trying to get scheduling and with my own airplane, I could fly anytime. Only flew it for a few hours and traded it for a 172. I've had that same 172 for 21+ years. It is probably one of the most versatile planes out there. Easy on fuel and can haul enough to go someplace. Just got back from a 500 mile flight to Iowa with the wife and son. Burned just over 7 gallons and hour.
I also purchased a Champ for TW and float flying. Great little plane but they sure aren't made for any type of traveling. Guess what I'm trying to say is to not discount the trusty ol' 172 for flying. Sure the tail wheel planes have more "pizazz" but for overall flying comfort and safety the nosedraggers generally win out. JMHO.

Good luck and go flying.

Keith

[cheerios2 offline]

I just posted in this thread about tim preston and his cub at GA2

phpBB2/viewtopic.php?p=34032#34032

I had tons of fun... very fun flying!

[whynotfly offline]

Good luck on your training. Concur with most of what has been said. On the tailwheel verses trike, I dont know. There's different ways to look at it. Old salts will tell you tailwheel is the only way to learn the right way. I fly a trike, and I can tell you that early on after I got my ticket I had to make some landings that I am soooo glad I wasn't in a taildragger. I have a lot more confidence now, and am going to get tailwheel training soon. Fly as often as you can. Every other day if you can. If you have to change instructors that can be a bummer or a blessing. They all have different perspectives. I had different instructors for the private and IFR and feel now that it was a blessing. Ground school first is good idea. I used King DVD's. Like their corniness. ....John

[AKGrouch offline]

I found 3 flight sessions/week just right. Far enough apart to allow me to get my mind wrapped around what I had just learned, yet often enough to keep me from having to relearn everything from the previous session at the start of each new session and often enough that I wasn't rusty and still had the feel I was developing in the bird. Just my 2cts....

pat

[Backwoodsman offline]

UPS delivered my package yesterday and I am eager to start the course. I viewed the takeoffs and landings DVD and was glad to find out that I remember most of what I was taught 20 years ago.

I will keep you guys posted on my progress and after I pass the written, I will get back in the cockpit and finish what I started 20 years ago. Who knows? I probably won't be able to wait until I finish the written to go and fly again.

Mark

[onthegas offline]

Hey, those DVD's are great learning tools. You will, however, be hearing and seeing John and Martha in your sleep!

[Backwoodsman offline]

onthegas,

I'm already hearing John and Martha in my sleep, even his corny jokes.

Blessings,

Mark

[denalipilot offline]

There was a costume party around here a few years back where this couple came as John and Martha

[TrevDog offline]

I used and use now for my Comm. software to practice for the written, and I love the videos they help out mostly because I'm such of visual learner. but like everyone's said the key is set goals and get it done the shortest amount of time. you'll save your money so you'll more to play with.