Learning to fly in a club environment is
cheaper in dollars, but more expensive in terms of time.

I differ with you there. Let's look at some financials:

Average number of flights to solo: 40 (real range is low of 30, high of 100,
mean about 45)
Cost per flight: $25
Total flight expense to solo: $1,000
Entrance Fee: $500
Annual membership fees: $675
Total expense to solo, if solo in 1 year: $2,175
Total expense to solo, if solo in 2 years: $2,850

40 flights to solo is the absolute minimum at my club, I think reality is
closer to 60. They also take two seasons to solo for most students. So, the
cost for 2 years is far more realistic.

Add in three mandatory duty days per year, waiting around for up to three hours
per day that you have scheduled flight instruction, decrease those by 30% for
not being able to fly due to underscheduling tow pilots...pretty high
intangible costs.

Oh, Tom throws in the books you need, so there is about another $100
difference.

Of course, I am only talking about my club as an example, I can't speak for
MASA or any other regional club.

Never mind that at Ridge Soaring, they will follow a syllabus, you won't get
bounced around to ten different instructors, and once it is time to get your
license, Tom is a designated examiner who will know you by then (that could be
good or bad). In addition, there will be no holes in your knowledge base and
you will progress far, far faster. You will be safe.





Jim Vincent
N483SZ
illspam