Any licensed pilots here?

XJ&CHZ4ME

NAXJA Forum User
Location
Unionville, MO
Just checking to see if any of you guys were a licensed pilot or had been in the past. Camille's dad is looking into upgrading to a larger plane and is wanting her and I to get our pilots licenses. Just curious as to what the thoughts are of those that have been through it all. I am thinking it is something we will do since we in part would have a "free" plane at our disposal and it would be hangered 10 minutes from our house.

Cheese "Captin Cheese that is" Man
 
Careful, that is a slippery slope. Boats and airplanes are the only bigger money hogs that Jeeps.
 
My dad and I had a plane. He had his license I went through ground school and started flight training but my work schedual prevented me from finising. I do know it is expensive to own and operate a plane. When we bought the plane in the 1980s the gas was expensive, like $1.20/gallon. Now it is ridiculous. It is definitely a rich man's hobby.
We sold it a few years ago because I never got my full license and my dad was getting older. He told me now is a good time to sell it because the landings equal the take offs and that is a good ratio to maintain.
 
Careful, that is a slippery slope. Boats and airplanes are the only bigger money hogs that Jeeps.

I totally understand, and we have all the above :D Her family has owned a plane pretty much since the late 50's and it is almost like a staple of their business. I wont have anything in it except for having a plane at our disposal and the cost of fuel (and my time to obtain a license and keep it up). They also have a 50+ ft Gibosn houseboat that they had to pull out due to a leaky seal this winter...talk about major $$$$ in repairs!!

My dad and I had a plane. He had his license I went through ground school and started flight training but my work schedual prevented me from finising. I do know it is expensive to own and operate a plane. When we bought the plane in the 1980s the gas was expensive, like $1.20/gallon. Now it is ridiculous. It is definitely a rich man's hobby.
We sold it a few years ago because I never got my full license and my dad was getting older. He told me now is a good time to sell it because the landings equal the take offs and that is a good ratio to maintain.

Camilles dad always tells me that there are 2 kinds of pilots...old and bold, but you cant be both.

I am a bit nervous about going into this bc it is not like an accident in a Jeep when you roll it debating over chicken or beef.....and even if I am on a long flight with someone else on the controls, I cant drink bc there is no bathroom on a little 4 seater plane :D

Cheese "use the empty bottles?" Man
 
Been licensed for a while, but the last time I flew was shortly after 9/11.
Some of this may be out of date.

As OM said, it's a slippery slope, and I'm not just talking about airplane upgrades.

There are a couple of ways to go, and each has it's perks.
Sport
Recreational
Private

I would go with the Private Pilots license since you probably want to carry passengers and fly at night over long distances.

There are ratings/endorsments for each additional skill you need... like
Tail dragger
Instrument
Over 200hp
Retractable gear
etc...

If you want drive a plane for money, or to help others make money (LOL!), you need a Comercial license.

Each License, rating, endorcement requires that a certain minimum number of hours of Ground and In-cockpit time be logged. This is a minimum, you continue until you can show minimum proficiency. The test is verbal/practical. You and the tester "chat" for a while. They will ask you questions to find out if you know "WHY" something is, or get you to "THINK THOUGH" a situation. Then you and the tester will climb in a plane and you will demonstrate what you have learned.

You pay for:
Instructor time
Aircraft time
Fuel
Test fees
Materials/books/tools
Anything beyond the Sport license requires a yearly Medical.

I spent around $5,500 in the late 90's to get mine.

Plus:
You get to fly in for $150 pancake breakfasts/burgers.
Your options for taking the Wife out increase exponentially.
Your "reach" for "Day Trips" with the Wife is much further.
A number of Airports have "loaner cars" and all have friendly/helpful people.
You get credit (ground school hours) for attending FAA seminars.
If anyone wonders if there is a Pilot in the room, you will shout "I AM!" :D

-Ron
 
Great info, thanks Ron! Her dad will let us have free use of the plane for testing etc and he wants us to have a license so bad that he said he would cover the fuel costs etc as long as we covered our testing costs. He has a 2 seater Piper right now and is trading it for a Cessna 4 seater is what I am understanding. He was looking at 6 passenger planes as well, but I think the 4 seater is the direction he is leaning right now. They used to have a grass airfield on the farms, but it has since been turned into a feedlot in that area. He just received a permit from the local airport to erect a hanger there, so it will be literally 10 minutes or less from my house. I am a bit nervous about the whole idea, but excited at the same time. If I get into it and it does not feel right, I will rethink things.

Cheese "hot stewardesses" Man
 
Hot rods, jeeps and planes...

shit, i need to get into the mailbox installation field. :D
 
Great info, thanks Ron! Her dad will let us have free use of the plane for testing etc and he wants us to have a license so bad that he said he would cover the fuel costs etc as long as we covered our testing costs. He has a 2 seater Piper right now and is trading it for a Cessna 4 seater is what I am understanding. He was looking at 6 passenger planes as well, but I think the 4 seater is the direction he is leaning right now. They used to have a grass airfield on the farms, but it has since been turned into a feedlot in that area. He just received a permit from the local airport to erect a hanger there, so it will be literally 10 minutes or less from my house. I am a bit nervous about the whole idea, but excited at the same time. If I get into it and it does not feel right, I will rethink things.

Cheese "BIG PIMMMPPPPIIIINNNN" Man

FIFY

Hot rods, jeeps and planes...

shit, i need to get into the mailbox installation field. :D

My thoughts exactly
 
Ha, this is daddy in laws toys, I married for money :D

Cheese "poor, poor farmer :D" Man
 
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