Learning to Fly
I gotta jump in on this, but to start I have to say that everything written so far has been great.
I go through the mental exercise periodically of how I'd teach someone to fly, or want to be taught if I were to do it over again. When I learned I had access to a VERY inexpensive Cessna 172 (like $10 per tach hour plus gas, which at the time was well under $2/gal) and I had a free instructor. I think I was his first and only PPL student - he mostly did training for type certs in big stuff (e.g. he once got me 15 min. stick time during a 2 hour ride in a Lockheed Super-Constellation he was teaching in). Bottom line, he was and is my hero for the lessons, but I've had cause to wonder how PPL training could be done better. Here are a few thoughts:
1. I may get flamed for this, but START in an ultralight IF you can find an instructor with a good reputation and good equipment. If you were in Southern AZ I'd introduce you to H.L. Cooper. He gave me transition training to ultralights and I found them to be:
a. inexpensive to fly,
b. very responsive (you will build extraordinary stick-and-rudder skills),
c. very fun (think motorcycle with wheels),
d. easy to fly safe, but take real effort to fly well/precisely,
e. free of the distractions of radio(s) and the need to navigate, and
f. generally flown where there is little or no traffic.
I would do 10-15 hours or so until you both solo it and your stick-and-rudder skills are very good. Among other things, you should aim to be able to spot land on an 18" strip across the runway (one of HL's requirements).
2. I would then transition to a Citabria, again provided you can get a good instructor. I would fly this at least up through solo because:
a. it's probably cheaper than a 172,
b. you'll get your tail-wheel stuff done early and keep your feet smart,
c. it's very good airplane to fly pre-solo as you'll feel like you're flying solo most of the time anyway (tandem seating),
d. they're more fun than a 172 (I own a Decathalon and can't imagine a more fun plane to fly, other than the RV-7 I'm building
),
e. you can do spin-training, and some mild aerobatics. Stalls will be less scary for you this way, and once you're use to 60 degree banks, the 45 degree ones for your check ride will be easy.
During this phase, since you'll already have good stick-and-rudder skills, you'll be spending more time and attention on navigation and communication, which are MUCH easier if you are confident about the aviation.
3. Along the way I'd get some glider/sailplane time, provided you have access to a qualified instructor. I'd get enough to solo (perhaps as little as 4-6 hours by now), if for no other reasons than:
a. It's really fun,
b. it's not too expensive,
c. you'll feel much more confident about making an engine out landing if you ever have to, and
d. you'll learn more about air movement and using it to your advantage than you ever would in a powered plane.
4. Before check ride I'd PROBABLY transition to a 172 because:
a. Your check ride will be easier in one unless you are fortunate enough to have an examiner that is a tailwheel person (rarer than you might think), and
b. you'll make yourself look great in a nose-dragger having all that tailwheel and ultralight time.
Do all of this in 40-60 flight hours and you'll have more fun than doing it all in one plane, you'll learn to aviate before you learn to navigate and communicate, and you may even save a few bucks over doing it all in a 172. Most importantly, in my opinion, you'll be a much better new pilot.
Then, when your RV is done, do like I plan to do, and get transition training before you fly it.
Just my 2 cents. I am not a flight instructor, though one day maybe, but I have been teaching SCUBA for nearly 19 years and I do know a thing or two about teaching and learning.
George
