Beginning Flying Questions

[[email protected]]

Is there a FAQ that covers all beginning questions?

I need one answer that will require someone just being honest with me.
I am 6 foot and weigh about 260 pounds. I play raquetball and tennis
weekly and coach two softball teams so I am not worried about the
physical aspects but wonder if a cessna 172 trainer will be to tight to
be comfortable in. Are there other 45 year old guys who are overweight
who fly? If the answer is you are too cubby to fly I totally
understand.

Also, what is the first step? How do I find a good flight school that I
can trust if I know no other pilots? What if the local school at the
olathe kansas airport are bad and I don;t know enough to know it.

Thanks for any help!!

[FLAV8R]

rec.aviation.student

[karl gruber]

A 172 will be fine and there are no physical aspects to flying, unless you
plan on flying a hang glider.

Karl


> wrote in message
oups.com...
> Is there a FAQ that covers all beginning questions?
>
> I need one answer that will require someone just being honest with me.
> I am 6 foot and weigh about 260 pounds. I play raquetball and tennis
> weekly and coach two softball teams so I am not worried about the
> physical aspects but wonder if a cessna 172 trainer will be to tight to
> be comfortable in. Are there other 45 year old guys who are overweight
> who fly? If the answer is you are too cubby to fly I totally
> understand.
>
> Also, what is the first step? How do I find a good flight school that I
> can trust if I know no other pilots? What if the local school at the
> olathe kansas airport are bad and I don;t know enough to know it.
>
> Thanks for any help!!
>

[Al]

> wrote in message
oups.com...
> Is there a FAQ that covers all beginning questions?
>
> I need one answer that will require someone just being honest with me.
> I am 6 foot and weigh about 260 pounds. I play raquetball and tennis
> weekly and coach two softball teams so I am not worried about the
> physical aspects but wonder if a cessna 172 trainer will be to tight to
> be comfortable in. Are there other 45 year old guys who are overweight
> who fly? If the answer is you are too cubby to fly I totally
> understand.

yes, there are. 172 will work fine. I'm "over 200", and have flown with a
295lb flight instructor.

>
> Also, what is the first step?

Find a school / instructor and take an "introductory flight" You'll have a
ball.

> How do I find a good flight school that I
> can trust if I know no other pilots? What if the local school at the
> olathe kansas airport are bad and I don;t know enough to know it.
>
> Thanks for any help!!
>

Google NAFI, National Association of Flight Instructors

see rec.aviation.student, and you'll find someone from your area

Please be advised: Flying is addictive.

Welcome Aboard.

Al CFIAMI (Certified Flight Instructor, Airplane, Multi, Instrument)

[gatt]

> wrote in message
oups.com...
> Is there a FAQ that covers all beginning questions?
>
> I need one answer that will require someone just being honest with me.
> I am 6 foot and weigh about 260 pounds.

A 152 is out of the question. A 172 would do fine, but a good
instructor/operator will let you sit in the airplane just to see. You'll
only have trouble down the road if you try to pack three other guys your
size in the airplane.

> Also, what is the first step? How do I find a good flight school that I
> can trust if I know no other pilots?

Where are you at? Ask here.

-c

[Robert M. Gary]

You'll be fine in the 172. There is a good Q&A section for student
pilots at beapilot.com

-Robert, CFI


wrote:
> Is there a FAQ that covers all beginning questions?
>
> I need one answer that will require someone just being honest with me.
> I am 6 foot and weigh about 260 pounds. I play raquetball and tennis
> weekly and coach two softball teams so I am not worried about the
> physical aspects but wonder if a cessna 172 trainer will be to tight to
> be comfortable in. Are there other 45 year old guys who are overweight
> who fly? If the answer is you are too cubby to fly I totally
> understand.
>
> Also, what is the first step? How do I find a good flight school that I
> can trust if I know no other pilots? What if the local school at the
> olathe kansas airport are bad and I don;t know enough to know it.
>
> Thanks for any help!!

[[email protected]]

Thanks everyone! Wow, quick responses and I really appreciae it. I live
in olathe kansas. There is a Air Associates of Kansas that has a $59
discovery flight that I think i will try. Thanks!!

One other question. Will flying normally invalidate my work based life
insurance? Or does each policy have different options?

gatt wrote:
> > wrote in message
> oups.com...
> > Is there a FAQ that covers all beginning questions?
> >
> > I need one answer that will require someone just being honest with me.
> > I am 6 foot and weigh about 260 pounds.
>
> A 152 is out of the question. A 172 would do fine, but a good
> instructor/operator will let you sit in the airplane just to see. You'll
> only have trouble down the road if you try to pack three other guys your
> size in the airplane.
>
> > Also, what is the first step? How do I find a good flight school that I
> > can trust if I know no other pilots?
>
> Where are you at? Ask here.
>
> -c

[Sylvain]

wrote:
> One other question. Will flying normally invalidate my work based life
> insurance? Or does each policy have different options?

read the fine prints, depends on the insurance policy.

Has anyone suggested that you join AOPA (http://www.aopa.org/) yet?

--Sylvain

[BucFan]

> wrote in message
oups.com...
> Is there a FAQ that covers all beginning questions?
>
> I need one answer that will require someone just being honest with me.
> I am 6 foot and weigh about 260 pounds. I play raquetball and tennis
> weekly and coach two softball teams so I am not worried about the
> physical aspects but wonder if a cessna 172 trainer will be to tight to
> be comfortable in. Are there other 45 year old guys who are overweight
> who fly? If the answer is you are too cubby to fly I totally
> understand.
>
> Also, what is the first step? How do I find a good flight school that I
> can trust if I know no other pilots? What if the local school at the
> olathe kansas airport are bad and I don;t know enough to know it.
>
> Thanks for any help!!
>

172 will work fine. You might could do a 152 if your CFI is TINY! But even
with small flight instructor, you wont be able to get much fuel in the 152.

Do the intro flight, it will give you a better idea of what to except...

Have Fun!

[Peter Duniho]

> wrote in message
oups.com...
> Thanks everyone! Wow, quick responses and I really appreciae it. I live
> in olathe kansas. There is a Air Associates of Kansas that has a $59
> discovery flight that I think i will try. Thanks!!
>
> One other question. Will flying normally invalidate my work based life
> insurance? Or does each policy have different options?

Each policy is different. However, I can't imagine any policy that would be
*invalidated* should you take up flying. The worst you might have to deal
with is the policy not covering death while acting as a crew-member of an
airplane. I suppose a *really* restrictive one might exclude any death
while in an airplane, passenger or otherwise, but I've never heard of
anything like that.

The "while acting as a crew-member" exclusion is reasonably common though,
so you would definitely want to check your own policy to see if you have
that exclusion. If you do, there are alternative life insurance plans that
address that risk.

Not that being a pilot unduly increases your risk of death while acting as a
crew-member, but any wise pilot makes sure that all the bases are covered.

As someone else mentioned, rec.aviation.student is a great place for
beginning pilots. One thing you should keep in mind: you may be a student
pilot, but you are also the customer. If you are not comfortable with your
training, either because of the airplane, the instructor, the way the flight
school is run, whatever, you should feel free to explore alternatives.
There are definitely good schools, instructors, etc. out there. Don't
hesitate to make sure you're using them. :)

Pete

[Chris Colohan]

"Peter Duniho" > writes:

> > wrote in message
> oups.com...
> > Thanks everyone! Wow, quick responses and I really appreciae it. I live
> > in olathe kansas. There is a Air Associates of Kansas that has a $59
> > discovery flight that I think i will try. Thanks!!
> >
> > One other question. Will flying normally invalidate my work based life
> > insurance? Or does each policy have different options?
>
> Each policy is different. However, I can't imagine any policy that would be
> *invalidated* should you take up flying. The worst you might have to deal
> with is the policy not covering death while acting as a crew-member of an
> airplane. I suppose a *really* restrictive one might exclude any death
> while in an airplane, passenger or otherwise, but I've never heard of
> anything like that.

Another thing to check is your health insurance policy. When I was a
student at CMU the health insurance policy provided to students had a
specific exclusion for any injuries or other health problems incurred
while flying in a non-commercial airplane. This meant that to take
flying lessons (or even go for a ride!) you either had to take your
chances or buy a second health insurance policy.

Chris
--
Chris Colohan Email: PGP: finger
Web: www.colohan.com Phone: (412)268-4751

[Thomas Borchert]

> I am 6 foot and weigh about 260 pounds
>

A colleague of mine is about the same. He got his certificate in five
months. No problem at all.

Joining AOPA (www.aopa.org) and tapping into their vast resources for
student pilots and beginners would be a great and cost-effective move -
it's 39 bucks a year including a monthly magazine, and 18 more if you
also subscribe to AOPA Flight Training magazine.

--
Thomas Borchert (EDDH)

[Cub Driver]

>I need one answer that will require someone just being honest with me.
>I am 6 foot and weigh about 260 pounds. I play raquetball and tennis

>Also, what is the first step? How do I find a good flight school that I
>can trust if I know no other pilots? What if the local school at the
>olathe kansas airport are bad and I don;t know enough to know it.

Well, the first thing you must do is take Hampton NH airfield off your
short list! It does primary training in Cubs, and given that most male
instructors these days are north of 180 pounds, the plane just
wouldn't be up to it.

I'll let others deal with the capabilities of the Cessna trainers. A
172 in theory carries four people, though I realize that the two in
the rear ought to be very light weight. Still, the total weight (440
pounds) ought to be well within the plane's capabilities.

Why don't you post the names of the local airports/flight schools, and
see if anyone here has had experience with them?

Learning to fly is a hoot -- a lot more fun, in my opinion, than
actually being a pilot.



-- all the best, Dan Ford

email: usenet AT danford DOT net

Warbird's Forum: www.warbirdforum.com
Piper Cub Forum: www.pipercubforum.com
In Search of Lost Time: www.readingproust.com

[B A R R Y]

Cub Driver wrote:
>
> Learning to fly is a hoot -- a lot more fun, in my opinion, than
> actually being a pilot.

I found leaving each lesson completely mentally drained a great
experience. I'll second the "learning was fun" part, but not more fun
than being PIC. <G>

[Jim Macklin]

see www.aopa.org http://www.aopa.org/learntofly/

Pilot size and weight can be an issue, there are structural
limitations on seats and floor structure, but there is also
the issue of pilot shoulder width and such. Each airplane
can be a little different, depending on the exact model and
how it is equipped. You should sit in the airplane with
your instructor and see how you feel. You should do a
weight and balance calculation to be sure the center of
gravity and weight are within limits. This is a little like
balancing a teeter-totter.

Flying airplanes is not very physical, unless you are doing
air combat or aerobatics. The strength required to move the
controls is measured in ounces or just a few pounds, most of
the time you can do it with one finger.

Olathe, like all airports has choices. How you get along
with the school and instructor is as much personality as it
is skill and knowledge. Look at the school, the business
(FBO-fixed base operator) and talk with the instructor. Do
you see dirty airplanes, is the instructor too busy to talk
with you? Does the instructor explain his answers? Simply,
do you hit it off?


--
James H. Macklin
ATP,CFI,A&P
Wichita
--
The people think the Constitution protects their rights;
But government sees it as an obstacle to be overcome.
some support
http://www.usdoj.gov/olc/secondamendment2.htm
See http://www.fija.org/ more about your rights and duties.


> wrote in message
oups.com...
| Is there a FAQ that covers all beginning questions?
|
| I need one answer that will require someone just being
honest with me.
| I am 6 foot and weigh about 260 pounds. I play raquetball
and tennis
| weekly and coach two softball teams so I am not worried
about the
| physical aspects but wonder if a cessna 172 trainer will
be to tight to
| be comfortable in. Are there other 45 year old guys who
are overweight
| who fly? If the answer is you are too cubby to fly I
totally
| understand.
|
| Also, what is the first step? How do I find a good flight
school that I
| can trust if I know no other pilots? What if the local
school at the
| olathe kansas airport are bad and I don;t know enough to
know it.
|
| Thanks for any help!!
|

[Jim Macklin]

Some insurance may not cover you WHILE you are flying, just
as it won't while you are riding your motorcycle in a race.
Some life and health insurance doesn't care unless you are
a crop-duster or doing something extra hazardous. The
question can best be answered by your insurance agent and/or
HR department. Most aviation organizations offer term
insurance policies.


--
James H. Macklin
ATP,CFI,A&P

--
The people think the Constitution protects their rights;
But government sees it as an obstacle to be overcome.
some support
http://www.usdoj.gov/olc/secondamendment2.htm
See http://www.fija.org/ more about your rights and duties.


> wrote in message
oups.com...
| Thanks everyone! Wow, quick responses and I really
appreciae it. I live
| in olathe kansas. There is a Air Associates of Kansas that
has a $59
| discovery flight that I think i will try. Thanks!!
|
| One other question. Will flying normally invalidate my
work based life
| insurance? Or does each policy have different options?
|
| gatt wrote:
| > > wrote in message
| >
oups.com...
| > > Is there a FAQ that covers all beginning questions?
| > >
| > > I need one answer that will require someone just being
honest with me.
| > > I am 6 foot and weigh about 260 pounds.
| >
| > A 152 is out of the question. A 172 would do fine, but
a good
| > instructor/operator will let you sit in the airplane
just to see. You'll
| > only have trouble down the road if you try to pack three
other guys your
| > size in the airplane.
| >
| > > Also, what is the first step? How do I find a good
flight school that I
| > > can trust if I know no other pilots?
| >
| > Where are you at? Ask here.
| >
| > -c
|

[Robet Coffey]

I am 6'2' and weigh 270lb. I found the 172 i trained in was definitely
tight and uncomfortable with my 140lb instructor, but not enough so to
keep me from flying every chance I got. The 172 was nice on the ground
because you could open the window and get a few more inches of room. I
switched to a warrior after solo. The warrior seemed to have more room.
I now own 1/2 of a Cherokee six and it has plenty of room.
wrote:
> Is there a FAQ that covers all beginning questions?
>
> I need one answer that will require someone just being honest with me.
> I am 6 foot and weigh about 260 pounds. I play raquetball and tennis
> weekly and coach two softball teams so I am not worried about the
> physical aspects but wonder if a cessna 172 trainer will be to tight to
> be comfortable in. Are there other 45 year old guys who are overweight
> who fly? If the answer is you are too cubby to fly I totally
> understand.
>
> Also, what is the first step? How do I find a good flight school that I
> can trust if I know no other pilots? What if the local school at the
> olathe kansas airport are bad and I don;t know enough to know it.
>
> Thanks for any help!!
>

[Jay Beckman]

"Thomas Borchert" > wrote in message
...
>> I am 6 foot and weigh about 260 pounds
>>
>
> A colleague of mine is about the same. He got his certificate in five
> months. No problem at all.
>
> Joining AOPA (www.aopa.org) and tapping into their vast resources for
> student pilots and beginners would be a great and cost-effective move -
> it's 39 bucks a year including a monthly magazine, and 18 more if you
> also subscribe to AOPA Flight Training magazine.
>
> --
> Thomas Borchert (EDDH)

As a student pilot, you can get six months of AOPA Flight Training for
free...

Jay Beckman
PP-ASEL
Chandler, AZ

[three-eight-hotel]

> One other question. Will flying normally invalidate my work based life
> insurance? Or does each policy have different options?

The insurance plan I participated in, at work, was pretty good, but it
did not cover me for injury or death if I was the pilot (crew member)
of an airplane. I ended up getting a 20 year term plan, outside of
work, that did cover me and was suprisingly a little less expensive
than my work plan.

Congrats on embarking on this wonderful journey of aviation! It's a
great ride!

Best Regards,
Todd

[Ross Richardson]

I got my commerical at KOJC. We called it Johnson County at the time. I
think it is called Executive now. There was the Johnson County Community
College that had a fleet of aircraft and flight school. Only paid tution
and flight hours. Instructors were salaried. I already had my PPSEL and
worked out a deal to complete my commerical. I got my private flying out
of Hillside. You should be familiar with that. I was up there a couple
of years ago with my Cessna and did an approach to Hillside, but didn't
land. Not because it is only 1800', but not sure of the condition of the
runway. All the homes that are now there, were not. How that area of
south Kansas City has changed.

Ross
KSWI

wrote:

> Thanks everyone! Wow, quick responses and I really appreciae it. I live
> in olathe kansas. There is a Air Associates of Kansas that has a $59
> discovery flight that I think i will try. Thanks!!
>
> One other question. Will flying normally invalidate my work based life
> insurance? Or does each policy have different options?
>
> gatt wrote:
>
> wrote in message
oups.com...
>>
>>>Is there a FAQ that covers all beginning questions?
>>>
>>>I need one answer that will require someone just being honest with me.
>>>I am 6 foot and weigh about 260 pounds.
>>
>>A 152 is out of the question. A 172 would do fine, but a good
>>instructor/operator will let you sit in the airplane just to see. You'll
>>only have trouble down the road if you try to pack three other guys your
>>size in the airplane.
>>
>>
>>>Also, what is the first step? How do I find a good flight school that I
>>>can trust if I know no other pilots?
>>
>>Where are you at? Ask here.
>>
>>-c
>
>

[B A R R Y]

three-eight-hotel wrote:
> I ended up getting a 20 year term plan, outside of
> work, that did cover me and was suprisingly a little less expensive
> than my work plan.

For folks that aren't really fat and don't smoke, term life insurance
can be surprisingly inexpensive.

[Parshooter12]

You might want to consider an hour rental with plane and instructor.

The reason I say that is that last year for my anniversary my wife arranged
through a pilot friend for me to rent an hour with a plane and instructor.
This instructor was my friends IFR instructor. I asked him about the
"discovery" flights. He said that if someone wants the $49 (or $59 now)
discovery flight he just takes them up and around the pattern a couple of
times and it's over.

I had flown with my friend several hours so during my 1.1 hours I flew left
seat and did a stall, steep turns, 3 touch and go's, and the final landing.

It did cost more $85 for the plane (mid 70's 172) and $35 for the
instructor, but I got a lot more out of it. As soon as my kids college is
paid for, I'll spend every spare dollar to "commit aviation".

By the way, I'm 6'2, 280. and the 172 was fine.

Best of luck.

> wrote in message
oups.com...
> Thanks everyone! Wow, quick responses and I really appreciae it. I live
> in olathe kansas. There is a Air Associates of Kansas that has a $59
> discovery flight that I think i will try. Thanks!!
>
> One other question. Will flying normally invalidate my work based life
> insurance? Or does each policy have different options?
>
> gatt wrote:
>> > wrote in message
>> oups.com...
>> > Is there a FAQ that covers all beginning questions?
>> >
>> > I need one answer that will require someone just being honest with me.
>> > I am 6 foot and weigh about 260 pounds.
>>
>> A 152 is out of the question. A 172 would do fine, but a good
>> instructor/operator will let you sit in the airplane just to see. You'll
>> only have trouble down the road if you try to pack three other guys your
>> size in the airplane.
>>
>> > Also, what is the first step? How do I find a good flight school that I
>> > can trust if I know no other pilots?
>>
>> Where are you at? Ask here.
>>
>> -c
>

[Jay Honeck]

> Learning to fly is a hoot -- a lot more fun, in my opinion, than
> actually being a pilot.

???

If that's the case, you are clearly flying the wrong plane.

Nothing against Cubs, but there is NOTHING better than being a pilot,
hopping in the plane -- and landing in Florida/New York/Reno by
suppertime...
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

[Dan]

Air Associates is a good place, I have flown with them. Flying out of
Lee's Summit worked out to be a better place for me, but that may be to
far for you.


wrote:
> Thanks everyone! Wow, quick responses and I really appreciae it. I live
> in olathe kansas. There is a Air Associates of Kansas that has a $59
> discovery flight that I think i will try. Thanks!!
>
> One other question. Will flying normally invalidate my work based life
> insurance? Or does each policy have different options?
>
> gatt wrote:
> > > wrote in message
> > oups.com...
> > > Is there a FAQ that covers all beginning questions?
> > >
> > > I need one answer that will require someone just being honest with me.
> > > I am 6 foot and weigh about 260 pounds.
> >
> > A 152 is out of the question. A 172 would do fine, but a good
> > instructor/operator will let you sit in the airplane just to see. You'll
> > only have trouble down the road if you try to pack three other guys your
> > size in the airplane.
> >
> > > Also, what is the first step? How do I find a good flight school that I
> > > can trust if I know no other pilots?
> >
> > Where are you at? Ask here.
> >
> > -c