Is it a good idea to learn how to fly an airplane?

Question

i am very interested in learning how to fly an arplane (small - single engine)! However im not so sure if i'd like to spend the money on lessons and a plane. I'd prefor answers from pilots, but either or is fine.

Answer 1

Get a introductory flight :/

only cost about $70

and if you want get the microsoft flight simulator :]

Answer 2

Sorry but the last book I'd recommend for hooking a want-to-be pilot would be the FAR/AIM.   Talk about a mind-numbing stack of largely unrelated information for a student pilot!

Try some Richard Bach, Stephen Coonts, Antoine de Saint Exupery... what those books lack in technical terminology they make up for ten fold by exposing the art and romance of flying.  Too few pilots read these it seems, most just want the stripes.

Answer 3

Sure it is. You'll learn a lot about yourself, your fears, your limitations, personal responsibility, and your true abilities to learn, conquer and enjoy. Getting your license is a huge confidence builder and ego boost, plus it's a lot of fun, and you'll meet lots of very interesting and friendly people.  If every kid could learn to fly, we'd have a much wiser, saner, well adjusted, happy, responsible and intelligent population. Hang the expense and GO FOR IT!!!

Answer 4

I think it is good to learn if you can afford the expense.  I would if I have the money.

Answer 5

Yeah it's a good idea to learn to fly planes, think of all the things you can do....

Meet gorgeous women , take em for rides.

Travel wherever you want to go at a fraction of the price of an airline

Go be part of the few the brave

Fly at 2.5 times the speed of sound

And when all the jobs are scares they will always need barnstorming pilots to spray the fields with pesticide.

Above all can you afford it? If you can go for it.

Answer 6

You'll never spend more money to scare yourself silly.

Take an introductory flight and find out if you're cut out to have the airplane be a living, breathing machine that responds to your every input. If you can handle the instructor telling you "smoothly apply full power and hold the centerline, rotate at 60 knots," the first time out, you could probably handle being a pilot.

The next thing, is to get a good idea of how much it will cost to become a pilot and decide if you can afford it or if you need to wait until you can afford it. Take what the flight school quotes you, round up a few thousand dollars, and you'll have a good idea of what the cost is going to be.

As to the cost of the plane, until you've got some time, experience and money isn't a factor, renting is the way to go. If you can find a school that rents "wet" aircraft that's the way to go, unless you happen to know of an FBO where you can get a better deal on fuel than they can.

Fly the Friendly Skies!

JT

Answer 7

Yes. If you plan on doing it for a living.

Answer 8

Depends.......most who start never finish.It takes a special desire and skill to become a good pilot and  stay one.Maybe you can tag along at a flight school or civil air patrol and see for yourself.

Answer 9

Yeah, good times. Do it as young as you can. I would recommend investing in the Microsoft Flight Simulator. It is worth it's weight in gold. Study it before you go to ground school and you will be above average, in your class.

Answer 10

It's tons of fun, and there is no better exercise in self-reliance and self-confidence.  It is a spiritual process.

As others have said, you should try an introductory flight to see how it feels.  There are some daunting aspects to the process, and some people find it to be more fun than they wanted.  But you will soon find out if it's for you.

Oh, and most pilots never own an airplane.  You can rent one almost anywhere.

And contrary to one answer, stay away from the computer-based flight simulator programs.  They will teach you bad habits, and you can learn much more just by reading the magazines and a couple of good books.  Start by picking up a copy of the FAR/AIM when you go for your first lesson.

Good luck!