What are test flights like for a private pilot's license?

Question

I would like to earn a private pilot's license, but due to financial circumstances its not possible right now. However, I would love to fly and have heard of places offering Test Flights or Discovery Flights, where an instructor takes you on a 30-60 min. flight and lets you fly it under his/her guidance. I just had some questions regarding this:

-What is the best way to prepare for this?

-I'm most worried about things like stalls or spins that could cause a plane to crash. But I've heard that during instruction they may do these on purpose and show you how to recover from them. This is the only thing that really scares me about the whole deal. Maybe someone can shed some light on this for me so I won't be as worried when the time comes.

-They said the time on a test flight counts towards future hours, but how is this logged?

Thank you for your help!

Answer 1

If you are looking to fly, a good first step is a "Discovery Flight".  This is usually about 30 minutes in length and is just a way to introduce you to flying.  After takeoff, the instructor will let you fly the aircraft until it is time to land.  You will most likely do some straight and level flying, climbs, descents, turns... and the most important thing... flying over your house for a photograph.

Since you will be flying part of this, it does indeed count for your required time towards becoming a pilot.

In terms of stalls and spins, for the Private spins are not required and you do not have to do them.

If you continue with your lessons, you will have to do stalls as they are required.  First of all, you are not alone in being nervous about them, but it is safe and learning how to recover from them will make you a much safer pilot.  Most people after they do a few learn to enjoy them.  I never did and they still make me nervous.  This is not something to worry about for your Discovery Flight.  This is an into flight and you should enjoy every minute of it.  If the instructor wants to do some (and 99% of the time this will not happen during the Dicovery Flight, but later lessons) just tell them no thanks!  That is completely acceptable.  If you have time and you want the instructor to demonstrate one, ask for the "power off" stall as this is usually more benign.  But, if not... not to worry.

Lastly, as far as logging the flight hours.  Once you get back on the ground, drop $12 for a pilot log at the flight school and have your instructor fill it out for your first flight.  If you continue to fly, this will be your first entry of many.  If you do not, you can look back at your log often as a constant reminder that you did something that most people won't...flew an aircraft!

Go down to your local flight school and take that first flight.  Enjoy!

Answer 2

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Answer 3

A discovery flight is just a takeoff and landing with some very basic flight maneuvers, turns, climbs descents with normal takeoff and landings. There is not much you can do to prepare for them, as the instructor will do the takeoff and landing, and will let you try your hand at very basic flight maneuvers.

The first couple of lessons are basic aircraft control, such as ground reference maneuvers, constant airspeed/rate of climbs and desecnet, coordintated turns, straight and level flight, and slow flight.

Stalls and Emergency Flight lessons dont come in until the student has a understanding of flight controls and manuevers.

Stall entry and recovery are a very imporant lesson to learn, and one that is requried to be mastered to earn your PPC. The FAA wants to make sure you understand what causes and how to recover promptly from a stall for safety reasons.

Spins Maneuvers are usually not taught until the advanced stages of flight such as the CFI, however spin awareness is taught, with some instructors demonstrating them to show a student what they look like, but will be in complete control of the aircraft and show the proper recovery procedures.

All flight time can be logged in a Pilots Logbook that will count towards your total time, and towards a PPC, if you choose to persue your goal of being certified.

Stalls and spins can be a scary expeiernce without any prior explanaiton and studying. But when the outcome is expected, and the procedues learned on how to do them correctly and safely, they are no more scary then flying straight and level.

Answer 4

All of your time flying the airplane with an instructor or by yourself counts.

Stalls or spins don't cause crashes...pilots who can't recover from a stall or spin cause the crash.  That is why they teach stalls.  I know that when I was flight instructing spins were not required to be demonstrated or taught.  

Once you decide to pursue lessons your instructor will help you and show you what to learn and so on.