Introduction

Hi guys. I've been lurking for a day or two and I wanted to introduce
myself.

I've wanted to learn how to fly since before I could drive. Unfortunately,
I've never had enough extra money laying around to get me into the air. I
understand the air of flying, but I don't believe in it. All it really takes
to fly is lots and lots of money.

My money has been tied up in raising 4 children, and starting a small
business. I own a tool and die shop that specializes in building plastic
injection molds. After a few years of limping along, I expect to actually
make a little extra money this year. Hopefully, this will be the year that I
can start taking some flying lessons.

When I was a teenager, I had a good fried that was a rather famous captain
for TWA. He took me for a ride in his private plane, and even let me touch
the controls a little. I've been going crazy to get back in a small plane
ever since. He unfortunately died a few years ago, and my father married his
widow (who is also a pilot).

I ordered the private pilot CD's from Sporty's this week. I intend to study
up on them for the next month or two so I can hit the ground running when
I'm ready to start flying. Unfortunately there is only one small plane
(Cessna 150) for rent within 30 minutes of me that I can take my lessons in,
and fly after I get my certificate. I am considering buying a plane to use,
but am afraid of jumping in that deep because of my inexperience, and my
limited funds. Even if I had more experience, I couldn't afford a plane
large enough to haul my family of 6 in. ;( My kids are getting older, so
maybe a 172 will get me by.

I've got a few questions about home builds that your faq generated, but
they'll have to wait for another post. I look forward to getting to know you
guys a little better in the future.

Dave Lyon



--
"Don't be misled, bad company corrupts good character."
www.LCTPaintball.com
www.LCTProducts.com

"LCT Paintball" wrote

I've wanted to learn how to fly since before I could drive.

Right On!

Hopefully, this will be the year that I
can start taking some flying lessons.

Good Luck! Do it, while you can!

Unfortunately there is only one small plane
(Cessna 150) for rent within 30 minutes of me that I can take my lessons
in,
and fly after I get my certificate.

Dave Lyon

That isn't a bad thing. The good 'ole 150 is about the cheapest thing you
can fly, and it has taught millions to fly!

You will find most of the time, you will fly alone, if you are like average.
Take people up one at a time, and have fun. When you want to go cross
country with the family, drive further and get checked out in a bigger
plane. Wait to worry about buying, after you have logged some hours.

Good luck, and have fun!
--
Jim in NC

You will find most of the time, you will fly alone, if you are like
average.
Take people up one at a time, and have fun. When you want to go cross
country with the family, drive further and get checked out in a bigger
plane. Wait to worry about buying, after you have logged some hours.


Yea, I was really hoping I could join a nice club with various types of
planes. That way I could rent whatever plane would fit the current need.
Unfortunately, there isn't one of those close to me.

LCT Paintball wrote:
I've been lurking
I've wanted to learn how to fly since before I could drive.
Unfortunately,
I've never had enough extra money laying around to get me into the
air. I
understand the air of flying, but I don't believe in it. All it
really takes
to fly is lots and lots of money.



Cessna 150 for rent within 30 minutes of me


I have just read my life story. Finally got my license two years ago.
Now there are two kinds of days: I'm flying or I'm thinking about
flying.
Started out in a 150 (rented) Found a 150 that needed some love,
bought it, sold it, found a partnership in an older 172 that also
needed some love, am now buying out my partners one by one. One
partner called me and said he wanted to sell his share and quoted me a
very good price. Seems that he had noticed who had been doing all the
washing and waxing and worrying about oil consumption and like that.
The price was was very good (for me). Keep going, being a student
pilot is one of the great things in the world to be. You can ask any
question and get a good answer (hint: listen to the answers, free
knowledge is good). Get to know the mechanics where you fly (doughnuts
help) and listen to them (hard). there are boneheads in General
Aviation but damn few of them, most people are very nice and willing to
talk to you and explain things and take student pilots for rides to
show them their airplanes. If you were around here we would be
figuring out a time and date that we could go up together. It gives me
a warm fuzzy to take someone up for a ride who really enjoys it.

ENJOY

robert

show them their airplanes. If you were around here we would be
figuring out a time and date that we could go up together. It gives me
a warm fuzzy to take someone up for a ride who really enjoys it.

ENJOY

robert


So, where is "around here"?

LCT Paintball wrote:
So, where is "around here"?

Here is western South Dakota. Another thing that I forgot to mention
is that the EAA (chapters everywhere) is a really good way to get know
aviation minded people in your area. Standard opening (student pilot,
wannabee, etc) also mention that you like (or want to learn how to)
sweeping hangar floors and washing airplanes. Aviation is more fun
than any illegal drug that I have heard of and only slightly more
expensive.

R

Welcome to the club!
If this old beat up poor ex-marine can do it , you can too! Just takes an
understanding and supportive wife!

Patrick
student SPL
aircraft structural mech

On Tue, 15 Feb 2005 22:38:24 GMT, "LCT Paintball"
wrote:

I've wanted to learn how to fly since before I could drive. Unfortunately,
I've never had enough extra money laying around to get me into the air. I
understand the air of flying, but I don't believe in it. All it really takes
to fly is lots and lots of money.

My money has been tied up in raising 4 children, and starting a small
business.

Welcome to the group Dave, lot of good people here. Your story has
similarities to mine. Grew up with a pilot for a father. He took me
flying as a young child and often had me go as passenger when he was
deadheading in the company DC-3. I recall playing in several derelict
B-17's that were sitting out past the last hangar at the North
Philadelphia airport where the DC-3 was based. They both got
refurbished and flew to England to appear in "The War Lover". So I've
been immersed in flying since I can remember. In fact the very
earliest memory I have, in which I was so little I was wrapped in a
blanket and sitting in my mother's lap (I must have been 2) was
watching the props begin to turn and smoke billow back on the
transport that took us from the east coast to Washington state where
my father would fly for the Navy during the Korean war.

I began flying lessons at age 15.5 and accumulated about 25 hours by
the time I graduated from high school. All I had to pay for gas and
oil but even that seemingly piddling amount was tough to come by while
earning it mowing lawns. College was next and no money for flying.
After college, I married and eventually had kids. Living in Vermont
with it's low wages definately ruled out flying lessons, just too
costly.

When both parents died when I was 56, I sat down and thought about
things. I had been building an airplane for ten years by then, for
all the reasons folks do that, except that I still was not a pilot.

I knew it was time to either finish the flight lessons begun so long
ago, or give it up forever. There was just enough in the estate sale
to pay for flying lessons. My wife was enthusiastic about me
following through on my dream although she is not much interested in
flying herself. I was gratified to find that it all came back and I
got my pilots license about 6 months after beginning the lessons
again, for the second time in my life.

My opinion is that those who live and breath flying and have for all
their lives and who are strongly motivated, tend to assimilate the
flying lessons and easily earn their pilots license.

The big point is, if this is something that you've always wanted to
do, and you do not follow through, it may bother you for the rest of
your life. It's really too bad that flying is so costly because it's
intensely satisfying in a way nothing else I've ever done is.

Corky Scott

On Tue, 15 Feb 2005 22:38:24 GMT, "LCT Paintball"
wrote:

I've wanted to learn how to fly since before I could drive. Unfortunately,
I've never had enough extra money laying around to get me into the air. I
understand the air of flying, but I don't believe in it. All it really takes
to fly is lots and lots of money.

My money has been tied up in raising 4 children, and starting a small
business.

Go get some time in a sailplane, even if it is only an hour a year, you
will love it. If you can afford it, try to get in an hour every couple
of months. Then, when you have the time and money to get your license
it will be a lot easier and cheaper.

I know too many people that go out and spend $5-$6,000 on a licence and
then never go flying again Mostly because it is too expensive. Go
flying for the fun of it first.

LG