Passed my PPL Checkride!

[dangerboy]

Congrats!! I got my license when I was 17 as well. My buddy and I took our senior prom dates to a town about 80 miles away from home for dinner. Flew there and flew back. I'm pleading the 5th on the rest of it...

[Sukhoikid]

Congrats!!! Ill be there in April I hope!!! I should start solo flying in a couple of weeks then I am off!!! Keep it up.

[hpapilot]

	Quote: Originally Posted by "X" Rated
	Great job!!!! Now all the little hotties will think your the shizzy!!!! 5,280 ft. Ups, did I say that?

I guess the real question is, does that have to be 5280 AGL or MSL to qualify...

Thanks everyone! It's been a great ride. In the near future I plan to get my tailwheel endorsement so I can start flying some fun airplanes. At some point soon I'd like to find a Super Decathlon to get some aerobatic training in... the 172 doesnt KE all that well...

RJ

[Absolut Yak]

Congratulations! I got my PPL later in life, but grew up around airplanes. My buddy got his PPL before his parents would let him borrow the car. They would drive us to the airport so we could fly across the state to see our girlfriends. He got his CFI before he finished High School! He taught me to fly RC's between freshman and sophmore years of high school and we have been life long friends ever since. Aviation and RC's make for good friends.

Doug

[rob_k]

	Quote: Originally Posted by hpapilot
	At some point soon I'd like to find a Super Decathlon to get some aerobatic training in... the 172 doesnt KE all that well... RJ

Neither does a Decathlon! They're called Decathlons because, they do 10 things bad.

Congrats on the PPL. A little acro experience is good idea for everyone. I never solo'ed a student without basic spin\unusual attitude training.

[Kiwi]

I have to absolutely agree with Rob_K on the unusual and semi aerobatics experience. It does a million wonders to your confidence when the going gets tough, and it will one day.

That basic aerobatics training makes a big difference in what you consider tough and whats well within your capabilities.

Even if you can only find an old 152 aerobat to go have some fun in do it do it do it. You will PM me one day saying thanks for kicking my butt to do it.

[jack01]

Congrats on the PPL man! You'll enjoy it!

BIG thumbs up on the tailwheel too! My tailwheel is the most rewarding add-on I've ever gotten. It opens up an entirely new world of airplanes, and makes you a much better pilot.

I got my instruction from a 75 year old CFI who's been instructing since he was 18. He probably flies 4 or 5 hours a day. He's also been flying airshows for years, and used to own a TBM Avenger. Now he's got a Super Decathalon, T-6, and a Stearman. He's got alot of time in P-51's, Sea Furies, Yaks, a Dauntless, TBM, and a bunch of other stuff.

I guess my point is that you should find a tailwheel instructor who has been around tailwheel flying a long time. Any CFI with a tailwheel endorsement can give you the signoff, but you'll really benefit from someone who has flown alot of different airplanes.

The same is true about aerobatic training. Even though you'll never go do aerobatics in a 172, getting over the fear of doing them is invaluable. It's pretty scary to find out how few pilots have ever been past 30/60....

[Road Builder]

Congrats on the license and happy B-day! Got mine about 15 years ago. Did my check ride in a nasty thunderstorm. Luckily I've been flying in thunderstorms since I was about 5 (dad flies too) so no big deal.

Jay

[hpapilot]

Thanks again everyone! I'd love to even just find a 152 Aerobat to play around with. The only aerobatics I've done are some full and 2-point rolls in the Questair Venture but those are so easy they don't even count. I believe there's an instructor locally with a Super Decathlon and I'll probably get some time in that.

At the moment I'm most frustrated by what has always made me mad- the amount of people who think flying in small airplanes is dangerous. This has always irritated me, but now its personally effecting me- some of the people I really want to take flying can't come with me, due to their parents' fear, or in one case won't because she just seems to think I'm going to crash. Obviously anything can happen at any time but come on... this is just stupid. How do you convince people what we do is safe? I am well aware flying is safer than driving or many other activities but actually convincing people how safe it is is really difficult...

Ok... rant over.

RJ

[jack01]

	Quote: Originally Posted by hpapilot
	How do you convince people what we do is safe? I am well aware flying is safer than driving or many other activities but actually convincing people how safe it is is really difficult... RJ

Been in that boat before... When I was in high school I ran into that all of the time.

If the people are rational, but misinformed, then you can usually reason with them. Don't just tell them some figures, but ask them some questions that make them think. When you're in an arguement like this, don't put the burden of proof on yourself. Put the other person on the defensive and shoot some holes in their arguement, respectfully of course.

For example, you might want to point out how difficult it actually is to get a pilots liscense. Then, if they try to tell you how often they crash, ask them to name someone they know that's been in a small airplane crash. Then ask them to name someone who's been in a car wreck. Basically, if they try to make a statement about something, you want to call them out on it and make them prove it. Then, once you've shot down their arguement, point out some statistics of your own. Since you are probably far more informed about general aviation than they are, they don't really have any way to prove you wrong like what you did to them. Just make sure you are respectful. If you aren't the parent might realize they are wrong, but they still won't give in because you pissed them off.

Another thing that works pretty well is to offer to take your friend's parent flying with you. Sometimes adults just have a hard time of realizing that there are some teenagers out there with enough maturity to handle an airplane. If you can prove it to them firsthand, they will likely be much more receptive.

Unfortunately, there are those who are so ignorant that they are simply beyond reasoning with. Ignorance can get to the point where a person can be so ignorant, they start thinking they are right. Ever heard the phrase, "It's not that ______ is stupid, it's just that he knows so much that simply isn't so."

[captain ducman]

	Quote:
	How do you convince people what we do is safe?

I tell people the most dangerous and stressful part of flying is the drive to the airport. People drive every day within inches of other cars coming right at them with closure rates over 100mph with no knowledge of the training or abilities of the other drivers. The idea of taking the parents flying works well to. I convinced 5 sets of parents (6 including mine) to let me take two buddies and our dates to Nassau Bahamas for the weekend in a CE-310 after Sr Prom by taking them on nice romantic sunset flights down the beaches (the dads really thanked me later if ya know what I mean). As a father of 2 girls looking back, I can't believe they let us take their 17-18yo daughters out of the country for the weekend . God help the kid that comes to my house with that request. Just don't use any of the aerobatic training while convincing them how safe flying is .

I'm glad to see you want the TW endorsement its becoming a lost aspect of flying. I flew freight in BE-18s (radial engine and tailwheel, no turbine or training wheel versions ) for 4 years, 1 in the Caribbean and 3 of them out of MEM, and it completely changes the way you fly an airplane. You can always tell when you fly with someone who has flown conventional gear airplanes, they know those pedals are more than a fancy place to mount the brakes.

	Quote:
	you might want to point out how difficult it actually is to get a pilots liscense

Or even how difficult it is to spell license. Sorry Jakc0, dude it was too good to pass

Steve

[Hector]

	Quote: Originally Posted by captain ducman
	I flew freight in BE-18s (radial engine and tailwheel, no turbine or training wheel versions ) for 4 years, 1 in the Caribbean Steve

I have a question, were you base at SJU while you were in the Carribbean? If so, the twin Beechs are still flying for 4 Star Cargo.

Regards,

Hector