"Jim Logajan" wrote in message
.. .
Dallas wrote:
On Fri, 26 Jun 2009 03:38:46 +0100, majortom546 wrote:

I just graduated from high school and my dream job is to become a pilot.

I think you might find this article very interesting:

SO, YOU WANT TO BE AN AIRPLANE PILOT.....
by Hal Stoen

http://stoenworks.com/So%2C%20you%20...a%20pilot.html

Too bad he doesn't mention starting with glider training - even though he
says one should probably start with aircraft the most difficult to fly.
Nothing like training on a plane with no motor, one wheel, every takeoff
requiring formation flight (for aerotows), and no allowance for go-arounds
on landings!


IMHE, I learned a great deal flying gliders and consider glider training and
experience very helpful for any pilot, however, I would NOT advise students
to spend energy or money pursuing a glider pilot certificate (or licence)
before obtaining a powered pilot cert/lic.

IN GENERAL (there are exceptions) and IMHE,
-Powered schools and instructors are better qualified and trained as
instructors, teach to a more structured curriculum, and are more motivated
to train new pilots to the level of both solo and flight test standards.
-IMHE, Cert/Lic pilots will solo gliders very quickly but ab-initio glider
student pilots seldom ever do.
-Cert/Lic glider pilots get very little credit (5hrs?) towards power
training requirements and non cert/lic students get no credit for glider
training.
-IIRC, Cert/Lic pilots do not require either glider ground school or
written test to add the glider class to their Cert/Lic.
-Gliders are affectively taildraggers and will teach good landing skills but
they are not very good at touch and go and it is difficult to get much
landing practice unless you can find a club with a winch. Similarly
towplanes are expensive and landing training is much cheaper using a winch
or a powered aircraft..
-IMHO the best and most cost effective flight training will be found at a
school using taildraggers (IMHO the best is a Citabria 7ECA) for training,
It will take a few hours longer to solo but IMHE the instructors will be
better and you will learn to use your feet properly and will have little
trouble transitioning to tricycle or glider aircraft. (Few taildraggers
have the full instruments best for use during Commercial training.)
-IMHO, glider training is very helpful after Private Pilot Cert/Lic and
enroute to Commercial Pilot Cert/Lic. IIRC, A Cert/Lic pilot can claim
their glider solo flying as both PIC and total time. Commercial students
often find themselves short on PIC time after they have completed all the
other requirements. Many people also recommend float training as part of
Commercial Pilot training as this can make it easier to get a first flying
job.

Happy landings, YMMV