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Private Pilot's License

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currentwestman
Posts: 3292 - Karma: 330

does anyone have one of these (meaning u can fly a single engine plane)????

If you do:

How old were u when u got it?

How much did the WHOLE process cost?

How often did u fly?

Was it worth the money?

How far did u fly?

What types of things did u fly to (events, vacations, mtns)?

my uncle got his license like a year ago and i went up with him once, it was so sick and he let me fly it a little bit, it was a great time.  i was reading up on it a bit, i just want some thoughts on people who actually have experience with it.....

Gracias

Oct 18 2007 4:04PM
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french_fry
Posts: 4698 - Karma: 53
A good friend of mine just got his this past weekend. Did not take long, he started ground and flying school back in april or may, worked two jobs, and managed it all. In fact, he was able to go for his test a while ago but weather delays put it off a few times. Cost him about 12,000 dollars total (canadian, not that it matters anymore), but it's his passion and he got help from his parents. He wants to be a commercial pilot too, so it's not wasted money at all. And seriously man, you can freakin FLY once you've got it! That justifies the price enough for me. I will definitely do this at some point in my life.
Oct 18 2007 4:13PM
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french_fry
Posts: 4698 - Karma: 53
He's 20 by the way, I'm sure you can do it at 18 though. He flew above the lower mainland, so I'd say within a 50k radius of the airport. I think he had 3 or 4 hours of ground school a week, and 2 of flying. I can ask him more info if you want
Oct 18 2007 4:15PM
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STREETS
Posts: 1443 - Karma: 15
I am 17  and I am almost done with it, im writing my test on Monday and doing my flight test soon I hope! I think the whole process was about 12000 bucks. Iit took me a year to do because I had school and weather wasn't always the best for me + I sorta took my time you learn more this way I find. I definatly think its worth the money because I want it to become my career  and because I love flying.  So far the farthest flight I have done was 3 hours total time. Once I have my License I plan on flying to some fly in breakfasts and just doing random trips to airports around me, and just taking my friends up to do some sightseeing around the city.  I hope I answered all your questions.
Oct 18 2007 4:31PM
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quixotic
Posts: 6937 - Karma: 2,978
My friend got his pilots license at 15.  That's about all I know.
Oct 18 2007 5:17PM
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currentwestman
Posts: 3292 - Karma: 330
Wow. 12 GRAND? i read from multiple websites that the cost would be between like 3-4 thousand...so 12 grand sounds like a lot.  what kind of license do u guys (or ur friend) have? is it just for a single engine plane or is it for a bigger plane?
Oct 18 2007 5:18PM
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currentwestman
Posts: 3292 - Karma: 330
15 years old? i read 16 years old is the youngest u can be to fly solo, and u have to be 17 in order to take other people up.....do u live in the US?
Oct 18 2007 5:19PM
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STREETS
Posts: 1443 - Karma: 15
Well at my airport the youngest was 15 and I think the kid started at 14  and im in Canada so yeah.  And 2-4 grand is incredibly cheap, I think the cheapest realistically would be 9 to 10 grand. Cause you have to factor in ground school and all the books etc.. The type of license that I get allows me to fly light single engine airplanes in day VFR weather conditions.
Oct 18 2007 5:33PM
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quixotic
Posts: 6937 - Karma: 2,978

Yeah, US.  He got it before his drivers license.

Oct 18 2007 5:36PM
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currentwestman
Posts: 3292 - Karma: 330
maybe the prices are a little different in canada but it cant be that much different. guess i should do a little more research........10 grand? damn
Oct 18 2007 6:04PM
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currentwestman
Posts: 3292 - Karma: 330
now i see where i went wrong with my costs, it said about $3000 NOT including the cost for minimum required flight hours (renting the plane).........well there goes some hope
Oct 18 2007 6:17PM
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Itsbackfliptime
Posts: 18901 - Karma: 75
I feel like it would only be worth it if you owned a plane. Is renting a plane reasonably priced? (by reasonable I mean cheaper than buying your own ticket.
Oct 18 2007 8:14PM
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currentwestman
Posts: 3292 - Karma: 330
no its not cheaper but say u live in CT and u want to fly to north VT, no one would ever fly in a regular big ol' airplane, but if u have ur pilot license u can fly there in half the time. plus YOU are the one flying the plane which is insane
Oct 18 2007 8:18PM
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Microcosm
Posts: 4765 - Karma: 153
one day in my life I'd love to add this to my list of things I can do. I love flying in airplanes, since I was little the whole process has fascinated me. good luck, it must be a thrill to fly.
Oct 18 2007 8:21PM
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STREETS
Posts: 1443 - Karma: 15
At my flying club its 95 dollars per hour with fuel in our 2 seater and I believe 110 with fuel for the four seater.  If you take a couple friends you can split the costs so its cheaper than buying plane tickets +you avoid all the hassles of airport travel.
Oct 18 2007 8:28PM
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GreekAR6
Posts: 527 - Karma: 11
My dad has been a pilot for since his college days (he's 53 now).  He just got his IFR license and is going to work on commercial next.  I love it, and I think it's well worth it.  It cost somewhere around $80 an hour to rent at our airport.  But it's amazing and oh so much fun.  It's incredibly convient too.  Take for example how I was able to do a college visit at UVM in one day (I live Philly suburbs).  What is normally about an eight hour drive turned into about a two hour flight.  He's making a 'ski tube' so we can go to mountains and stuff and it's really just incredibly fun.  If you have the time and money I'd say go for it, you won't regret it.  PM me if you have any questions, and I'll ask my dad.
Oct 18 2007 10:24PM
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