IFR ticket or aerobatic training???

[Mike D]

Well I must not be the average pilot because I don?t have the unlimited funds that everyone thinks a pilot has. So I need to decide where to spend my very limited ?continued training? dollars.

I will not do either IMC or aerobatics without proper training. (that should be a given)

I have a PPL with the tail wheel endorsement and I am still under 300 hours.
The plane is an RV-6a with GRT EFIS and EIS, 496 w/WM WX, 2-coms (1w/a VOR). Planning on a D6 for an independent backup. AP coming sometime in the future.
Mission = burger runs, stress relief, and X-country.

I think I would use the aerobatics more often than the IFR ticket. Burger runs with a little upside down time would be more fun.
But the IFR ticket could save my bacon someday. Or it might get me through a thin overcast and improve my options. It might make those ?VFR on top? or ?over the top? flights happen. Even with a IFR ticket I don?t think I would ever do more than an overcast layer.

So, what say all you?? Where would you spend your money given my limited experience. IFR or aerobatic training? Is one more important?

[k5wiv]

Acro - because it is FUN.

IFR is probably more usefull, but it is work.

[humptybump]

I did my initial aerobatic training in a Super Decathlon. If you thought the RV grin was addictive, you have a pleasant surprise ahead of you :-)

[Mel]

It's kind of like which RV to build. You won't go wrong either way.
Personally I would do the aerobatic training first.
Learning to fly IFR will not help you fly aerobatics.
Learning to fly aerobatics WILL help you fly IFR.
(MY Opinion!)

[Toobuilder]

No data to back this up, but I think that the aerobatic skills you will get will serve you better on EVERY flight from here on out than the instrument ticket. Not to diminish the instrument rating, but when do you really NEED those skills on your typical mission? Learn the "stick and rudder" flying first, then go for the utility of the instrument ticket.

I'd say the average pilot is more likely to stumble into an unusual attitude upset event than IMC... Play the odds to your favor.

[Jim Kiloh]

That is exacty the question I have been asking myself. I would like to both but like you my funds are limited. I await with interest in seeing the replies. Maybe we could be each others safety pilot since we are at the same airport.

[Phlyan Pan]

If you do a lot of cross country flying and have time crunch type scenarios where you will have "get home-itis"...go for the instrument rating.

If not, definitely aerobatic. I feel like good judgment can keep you from needing an instrument rating, but the control skills you will learn doing acro could be called upon any time.

[Sig600]

Instrument ticket, for more reasons than there is room here to write but a few:

You'll be a better pilot
Statistically you're a MUCH safer pilot
It'll open up the skies when your friends are walking/driving
It'll lower your insurance
Is a must have if you want to enter the pro world and not just the weekend warriors


Aerobatics are fun for about 15 minutes, then you're still stuck without the ability to go XC on less then a VFR day. You can only do so many loops before you just get bored with it... instead look over the horizon and all the places you could be going.

Just reread your quals, PPL and <300 hours... the CFII and years of dual given in me say absolutely get the instrument ticket.

[cbennet1]

Not to diminish the value of recovering from unusual attitudes - which acro training will provide - but an instrument rating can help keep you out of them in the first place.

There are plenty of NTSB reports where the root cause is VFR pilots INADVERTENTLY entering IMC. An instrument rating can save your life in that event.

I personally found training for my instrument rating to be a lot of fun (ok, and work) AND it made blasting in or out of a marine layer a non-event. And for my home airport, that means not having to wait until 2PM (or never) to depart several months of the year.

Craig

[RV-4]

Mike
''I think I would use the aerobatics more often than the IFR ticket''

Either one is a good choice and either one will required that you keep practicing to stay sharp....

Also both are licences to learn...respect your limits and those of your aircraft..

IMHO

Bruno
rv4@videotron.ca