I finally made it, too!

[[email protected]]

First of all, congratulations to John (BucFan), whose posting of a
successful checkride prompted me to write.

I've rarely posted here, but I've been consistently lurking, and I have
learned a lot from the group in the last year-and-a-half. Thanks to
all of you for that.

I passed my PPL-ASEL checkride yesterday, out of Morristown, NJ (KMMU).
It's a great feeling!

My stats, for those who might be interested:

Started, August, 2005
First Solo, December 2005 at 18 hours
Completed, November 2006
Primary training aircraft, C172 (with a couple of hours in a 182, and a
Piper Archer II on vacation trips back to my native Idaho)
83 hours total logged at time of checkride, about 70 of that dual
instruction in 46 lessons.

I averaged just over 3 lessons a month, despite all efforts to do two a
week. I endured lots of cancellations due to weather, or rarely,
aircraft or instructor availability.

I don't feel too bad about the total hours. I'm based just 15 miles
from Manhattan, and 12 from Newark International...I knew that learning
at a busy, towered airport with lots of bizjet traffic would add time,
and while I'd love to have bragging rights to earning the cert at, or
just over, the minimum require time, I know I feel more comfortable in
this environment having the extra time under my belt.

Total cost (I should have known better than to keep records...) was
just a hair under $10,000. I did get a lot of hours for that, and the
figure includes my buy-in for a local flying club. I've not only got
my ticket to show for the investment, I've got a small equity stake in
two Cessnas and I pay hourly rates significantly lower than those
offered by any of the local flight schools or FBOs. I picked up a nice
handheld nav/com radio and a couple of DC headsets, too, which are
included in the total cost. The only bit of bad luck was that I
started lessons about a week before Hurricane Katrina struck, and the
subsequent rise in fuel prices drove up the hourly wet rate on the
plane by nearly 40% over the course of my training. It's only now
starting to come back down.

I did ground school on my own, using the Gleim books, Jeppson CD, and
"Stick and Rudder" and "Say Again, Please" as additional references.
Passed the knowledge test with a 97%.

My favorite part of the whole process: My first short solo CC to a
nearby airport. I took off from MMU between a Gulfstream and a
Citation, I passed a Pitts biplane over Somerset (SMQ), and I entered
the landing pattern at Solberg (N51) behind the Metlife blimp! It
felt like I'd flown through the entire history of aviation, in just 20
NM.

Now the real learning starts...

Gary

[Jim Burns[_1_]]

Congrats Gary! and thanks for sharing.
Keep it safe and fly often!
Jim

[Mark Hansen]

On 11/06/06 13:22, wrote:
> First of all, congratulations to John (BucFan), whose posting of a
> successful checkride prompted me to write.

Congratulations, Gary.

I hope you don't think you need more experience before your posts will
be beneficial to others - you should feel encouraged to post any time ;-)

>
> I've rarely posted here, but I've been consistently lurking, and I have
> learned a lot from the group in the last year-and-a-half. Thanks to
> all of you for that.
>
> I passed my PPL-ASEL checkride yesterday, out of Morristown, NJ (KMMU).
> It's a great feeling!
>
> My stats, for those who might be interested:
>
> Started, August, 2005
> First Solo, December 2005 at 18 hours
> Completed, November 2006
> Primary training aircraft, C172 (with a couple of hours in a 182, and a
> Piper Archer II on vacation trips back to my native Idaho)
> 83 hours total logged at time of checkride, about 70 of that dual
> instruction in 46 lessons.
>
> I averaged just over 3 lessons a month, despite all efforts to do two a
> week. I endured lots of cancellations due to weather, or rarely,
> aircraft or instructor availability.
>
> I don't feel too bad about the total hours. I'm based just 15 miles
> from Manhattan, and 12 from Newark International...I knew that learning
> at a busy, towered airport with lots of bizjet traffic would add time,
> and while I'd love to have bragging rights to earning the cert at, or
> just over, the minimum require time, I know I feel more comfortable in
> this environment having the extra time under my belt.

Regardless of where you train, you should worry about the time it takes
you to get your certificate. It took you the exact amount of time that
was necessary ;-)

It's great that you got to train in such a busy area, though. I trained
in a less busy area, although I did get a lot of Tower communication
practice.

>
> Total cost (I should have known better than to keep records...) was
> just a hair under $10,000. I did get a lot of hours for that, and the
> figure includes my buy-in for a local flying club. I've not only got
> my ticket to show for the investment, I've got a small equity stake in
> two Cessnas and I pay hourly rates significantly lower than those
> offered by any of the local flight schools or FBOs. I picked up a nice
> handheld nav/com radio and a couple of DC headsets, too, which are
> included in the total cost. The only bit of bad luck was that I
> started lessons about a week before Hurricane Katrina struck, and the
> subsequent rise in fuel prices drove up the hourly wet rate on the
> plane by nearly 40% over the course of my training. It's only now
> starting to come back down.

That's great about the flying club. What do you have to pay for an
hour on the 172/wet?

Around here, the FBOs are renting an IFR-certified 172 for just over
$100, while I can get the same thing in my club for $76/hr wet.

>
> I did ground school on my own, using the Gleim books, Jeppson CD, and
> "Stick and Rudder" and "Say Again, Please" as additional references.
> Passed the knowledge test with a 97%.

Great. How did the oral portion of your practical test go?
I was really nervous when I did mine. In fact, I was asked what type
of special-use airspace was designated with an 'A' (as in 'A-2047')
and I couldn't get the word 'alert' out of my mouth to save my life!
I finally had to look it up ;-\

>
> My favorite part of the whole process: My first short solo CC to a
> nearby airport. I took off from MMU between a Gulfstream and a
> Citation, I passed a Pitts biplane over Somerset (SMQ), and I entered
> the landing pattern at Solberg (N51) behind the Metlife blimp! It
> felt like I'd flown through the entire history of aviation, in just 20
> NM.

Wow!, That does sound like fun.

>
> Now the real learning starts...

Yes, it all begins now. Do you have any plans for your initial aviation
excursion?

>
> Gary
>

Hey, you need a new signature ;-)

Congratulations again, and best of luck in your flying career.


--
Mark Hansen, PP-ASEL, Instrument Airplane
Cal Aggie Flying Farmers
Sacramento, CA

[Jay Honeck]

> I passed my PPL-ASEL checkride yesterday, out of Morristown, NJ (KMMU).
> It's a great feeling!

Way to go, Gary -- congrats!

I started visiting these groups when I started looking for my first
plane, back in '97 - '98, and I can testify to the fact that there is a
wealth of knowledge here . Visit often, ask questions, and you will
learn more here than you would at any ten airports.

Fly safe!
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

[.Blueskies.]

> wrote in message ps.com...
Passed the knowledge test with a 97%.
:
: My favorite part of the whole process: My first short solo CC to a
: nearby airport. I took off from MMU between a Gulfstream and a
: Citation, I passed a Pitts biplane over Somerset (SMQ), and I entered
: the landing pattern at Solberg (N51) behind the Metlife blimp! It
: felt like I'd flown through the entire history of aviation, in just 20
: NM.
:
: Now the real learning starts...
:
: Gary
:

Congratulations! There is a lot of traffic in that area, good place to learn...

[Marc Adler]

wrote:

> My stats, for those who might be interested:

I guess that would be me ...

> I averaged just over 3 lessons a month, despite all efforts to do two a
> week. I endured lots of cancellations due to weather, or rarely,
> aircraft or instructor availability.

"Instructor availability"? Are they that thin on the ground there?

> figure includes my buy-in for a local flying club. I've not only got

Do you mean fractional ownership? (Yes, another stupid question from
the newbie...)

How does that work? If you have to pay your share of monthly expenses
(in addition to the buy-in fee), doesn't it wind up costing more than
renting if you don't fly that often?

Marc

[[email protected]]

Mark Hansen wrote:
> That's great about the flying club. What do you have to pay for an
> hour on the 172/wet?

The C172 goes for $82/hour wet at the present time; the club also has
a C177 that rents for $90/hour. Rates are for tach time, not Hobbs
time, which represents an extra 20-30% savings.

>
> Great. How did the oral portion of your practical test go?

The oral went great. Not all that many questions, possibly because I
did well on the knowledge test. It was, in large part, a conversation
with the examiner. I learned some new stuff.

> Yes, it all begins now. Do you have any plans for your initial aviation
> excursion?

I'm going to build some more local solo time, then when my Dad comes to
visit at Thanksgiving I'll take him up as my first passenger. He was a
private pilot many years ago, but he had stopped flying and sold his
Luscombe before I was born. This will be his first time in a light
plane in about 50 years.

[Jack Allison[_1_]]

Congratulations Gary! It was a long time coming but you've finally
achieved something very few people on the face of the planet have done.
Nice!


--
Jack Allison
PP-ASEL-Instrument Airplane

"To become a Jedi knight, you must master a single force. To become
a private pilot you must strive to master four of them"
- Rod Machado

(Remove the obvious from address to reply via e-mail)

[[email protected]]

Marc Adler wrote:
> "Instructor availability"? Are they that thin on the ground there?

No, instructor or aircraft availability was very rarely a problem. Not
that many people in the club were flying the Skyhawk, and for most of
the time I was a student, I was the only student in the club--so it
wasn't too hard to book the instructor.

> > figure includes my buy-in for a local flying club. I've not only got
>
> Do you mean fractional ownership? (Yes, another stupid question from
> the newbie...)
>
> How does that work? If you have to pay your share of monthly expenses
> (in addition to the buy-in fee), doesn't it wind up costing more than
> renting if you don't fly that often?

Good questions. I ran the numbers before I started, and figured that
the cost of joining the club would be recovered in my hourly rental
rates well before I finished training--even if I never got a dime of my
equity stake back out (and under most circumstances, the equity stake
is refundable when leaving the club). There are monthly dues ($60) to
cover other expenses like insurance and tie-down fees, but in what I'm
saving relative to renting at the local flight schools, I come out
ahead if I only fly 3 hours a month. And I plan to fly more than
that!

I actually posted an ad for the flying club here, about two weeks ago.
Look for the post with "Morristown, NJ" in the title.

Gary

[Jay Beckman]

Atta Boy Gary...

Congrats on getting it done.

Regards,

Jay Beckman
PP-ASEL
Chandler, AZ

[BucFan]

<snip>
> Now the real learning starts...
>
> Gary
>

Congrats! I thought the handshake from the DE when he said I passed was the
best thing ever!

I did the ground school part on my own as well. My oral was not to bad
either, I did well on an airspace and airport signs test he gave me to do
while he went over my paper work. I think it helped that I had everything
really organized for him so he would not have to look for things. My CFI
had done his checkride with this guy, so he gave me pointers as to how he
liked things presented.

Sounds like you had a good ride and did well.


Have fun! Fly Safe! We just got to join a pretty exclusive club!


John
PP-ASEL

[Dallas]

On 6 Nov 2006 13:22:01 -0800, wrote:

> I passed my PPL-ASEL checkride yesterday, out of Morristown, NJ (KMMU).

Indeed! Congratulations!

--
>>> Dallas <<<

[Robert A. Barker]

> wrote in message
ps.com...

>
> I passed my PPL-ASEL checkride yesterday, out of Morristown, NJ (KMMU).
> It's a great feeling!
>

Gary: Let me add my congratulations to the many others you have recieved.
I also had more than the minimum hrs but all of them were fun since the
whole
object is flying. :-) Enjoyed your write-up keep posting.

All the best

Bob Barker N8749S

[Terry 56W]

Congratulatins Gary! I enjoyed reading your story and I hope you share
some of your experiences in the future. I'm from your native Idaho
(Post Falls) and my brother and I keep a Piper Cherokee at Spokane WA
(GEG). We love flying all around the northwest and have been to most of
the airports in North Idaho and Eastern Washington. We were able to fly
to Reno NV for the air races this year, our furthest trip to date. We
have flown to Washington's West coast and to Portland OR a few times.
The furthest East has been Missoula MT. You will meet some of the
nicest people in the world in aviation, everywhere you go! I hope you
have a great flight with your dad, I bet he will love it! Best regards,
Terry N8256W

[Mark Hansen]

On 11/06/06 19:47, wrote:
> Marc Adler wrote:
>> "Instructor availability"? Are they that thin on the ground there?
>
> No, instructor or aircraft availability was very rarely a problem. Not
> that many people in the club were flying the Skyhawk, and for most of
> the time I was a student, I was the only student in the club--so it
> wasn't too hard to book the instructor.
>
>> > figure includes my buy-in for a local flying club. I've not only got
>>
>> Do you mean fractional ownership? (Yes, another stupid question from
>> the newbie...)
>>
>> How does that work? If you have to pay your share of monthly expenses
>> (in addition to the buy-in fee), doesn't it wind up costing more than
>> renting if you don't fly that often?
>
> Good questions. I ran the numbers before I started, and figured that
> the cost of joining the club would be recovered in my hourly rental
> rates well before I finished training--even if I never got a dime of my
> equity stake back out (and under most circumstances, the equity stake
> is refundable when leaving the club). There are monthly dues ($60) to
> cover other expenses like insurance and tie-down fees, but in what I'm
> saving relative to renting at the local flight schools, I come out
> ahead if I only fly 3 hours a month. And I plan to fly more than
> that!

Does your club include you as a "named insured" or whatever, on their
insurance policy? This was a big plus for me at the club I joined. It
basically means that I don't need to carry my own Renter's Insurance,
which will save me quite a bit (especially when considering the hull
coverage that I would have to have to fully protect me).

.... That's what 'knocked it out of the park' for me ;-)

>
> I actually posted an ad for the flying club here, about two weeks ago.
> Look for the post with "Morristown, NJ" in the title.
>
> Gary
>



--
Mark Hansen, PP-ASEL, Instrument Airplane
Cal Aggie Flying Farmers
Sacramento, CA

[[email protected]]

Mark Hansen wrote:
> Does your club include you as a "named insured" or whatever, on their
> insurance policy? This was a big plus for me at the club I joined. It
> basically means that I don't need to carry my own Renter's Insurance,
> which will save me quite a bit (especially when considering the hull
> coverage that I would have to have to fully protect me).

I'm not sure, to be honest. I've been assuming they don't, and that I
would have to get my own renters insurance if I ever rented an aircraft
(other than the club aircraft), but I've never bothered to find out for
sure.

[Mark Hansen]

On 11/08/06 11:48, wrote:
> Mark Hansen wrote:
>> Does your club include you as a "named insured" or whatever, on their
>> insurance policy? This was a big plus for me at the club I joined. It
>> basically means that I don't need to carry my own Renter's Insurance,
>> which will save me quite a bit (especially when considering the hull
>> coverage that I would have to have to fully protect me).
>
> I'm not sure, to be honest. I've been assuming they don't, and that I
> would have to get my own renters insurance if I ever rented an aircraft
> (other than the club aircraft), but I've never bothered to find out for
> sure.
>

I'm not talking about renting other airplanes - I'm talking about using
your club airplanes. For example, if you're not a 'named insured', then
the club's insurance policy is meant to protect the club and not you. This
means the insurance company can come back to you to recover their losses.

This is usually what you get renter's insurance for.

Even if you're a named insured, you need to see if the club's policy is
adequate to protect you in the even of a large loss.

I would guess that if you had to 'buy into' the club, such that you are
part owner of all the club assets, then you are probably going to be
a named insured - but you should probably check to be sure.

Best Regards,

--
Mark Hansen, PP-ASEL, Instrument Airplane
Cal Aggie Flying Farmers
Sacramento, CA

[P S]

Congratulations! from another student pilot.

Thanks for sharing your experience and stats.

The number of hours does not really matter. For me, I paid a lot
more attention to the number of hours needed in the beginning
of the training. As I learned more and became more proficient,
I cared less about the license, but more about my own
capabilities to deal with all situations. My CFI emphasized repeatedly
that reaching the PPL checkride standard is just the minium, and not
necessarily good enough. For which I totally agree. E.g. all my
landings
have become practices for power off 180 precision landing exercises.
Without strong cross wind, today I can land the 172 in the first
400-600 ft
of the runway on the center line at will (mostly without need for
power),
with rare exceptions. gentle touch downs. Even a turn from cross-wind
to down-wind needs to be done with precision, and roll out as precisely
as possible to the heading, altitude, and airspeed. All in one shot. No
jerky
re-adjustments in all phases. Simple task, but not as easy as it
sounds,
as I still need minor adjustments after the roll out from time to
time. That 5 degrees of non-precision roll-out should (attempt to) be
fixed
next time I turn in the air. My rudder use has become much better now,
so if a passenger sits in my plane, she will not feel uncomfortable in
steep
turns. I have 50 hours now, and will do my written and plan for the
checkride
in the near future. Still lots of imperpection, like inability to
consistently
reproduce the good home airport landings at remote airports. These can
be
worked out later, say after PPL checkride is done (well, only if I can
pass it :-)).


wrote:
> First of all, congratulations to John (BucFan), whose posting of a
> successful checkride prompted me to write.
>
> I've rarely posted here, but I've been consistently lurking, and I have
> learned a lot from the group in the last year-and-a-half. Thanks to
> all of you for that.
>
> I passed my PPL-ASEL checkride yesterday, out of Morristown, NJ (KMMU).
> It's a great feeling!
>
> My stats, for those who might be interested:
>
> Started, August, 2005
> First Solo, December 2005 at 18 hours
> Completed, November 2006
> Primary training aircraft, C172 (with a couple of hours in a 182, and a
> Piper Archer II on vacation trips back to my native Idaho)
> 83 hours total logged at time of checkride, about 70 of that dual
> instruction in 46 lessons.
>
> I averaged just over 3 lessons a month, despite all efforts to do two a
> week. I endured lots of cancellations due to weather, or rarely,
> aircraft or instructor availability.
>
> I don't feel too bad about the total hours. I'm based just 15 miles
> from Manhattan, and 12 from Newark International...I knew that learning
> at a busy, towered airport with lots of bizjet traffic would add time,
> and while I'd love to have bragging rights to earning the cert at, or
> just over, the minimum require time, I know I feel more comfortable in
> this environment having the extra time under my belt.
>
> Total cost (I should have known better than to keep records...) was
> just a hair under $10,000. I did get a lot of hours for that, and the
> figure includes my buy-in for a local flying club. I've not only got
> my ticket to show for the investment, I've got a small equity stake in
> two Cessnas and I pay hourly rates significantly lower than those
> offered by any of the local flight schools or FBOs. I picked up a nice
> handheld nav/com radio and a couple of DC headsets, too, which are
> included in the total cost. The only bit of bad luck was that I
> started lessons about a week before Hurricane Katrina struck, and the
> subsequent rise in fuel prices drove up the hourly wet rate on the
> plane by nearly 40% over the course of my training. It's only now
> starting to come back down.
>
> I did ground school on my own, using the Gleim books, Jeppson CD, and
> "Stick and Rudder" and "Say Again, Please" as additional references.
> Passed the knowledge test with a 97%.
>
> My favorite part of the whole process: My first short solo CC to a
> nearby airport. I took off from MMU between a Gulfstream and a
> Citation, I passed a Pitts biplane over Somerset (SMQ), and I entered
> the landing pattern at Solberg (N51) behind the Metlife blimp! It
> felt like I'd flown through the entire history of aviation, in just 20
> NM.
>
> Now the real learning starts...
>
> Gary