New Guy in Arizona

K

Kevin Brown

Filing Flight Plan
Joined
Dec 13, 2017
Messages
6
Location
Queen Creek, AZ
Display Name
Display name:
Kayelbe
Hello all!
My name is Kevin and I'm an aspiring pilot. I've wanted to fly since as early as I can remember. Plans early on to be an Astronaut (!), following a career as a Naval Aviator (I was 14 when Top Gun came out).

Those plans derailed when I discovered Calculus (and realized how hard it was)...College took a back seat to bills. Ended up in the Navy, but nowhere near airplanes. Got married, had kids and the mortgage, and figured learning to fly was something only people with more money than me could afford.

I'm now in my mid-forties, and a conversation with a co-worker rekindled the spark!

I've just barely begun my research into programs/schools to get a PPL, but with each new bit of information I've only become more determined (and excited!) to fulfill this dream!

I've joined AOPA, and found this site. Lots and lots of info to pour over!
 
welcome aboard and good luck. read some threads on the medical topics before u try to get a medical.
 
Welcome, Kevin! I was also in my mid-40s when the (full-scale) flying bug bit, having built and flown the rc stuff since my early 20s. When you finally get that little plastic card with Orville and Wilbur on it, a whole new world of freedom and adventure is unlocked. I still pinch myself, like yesterday coming back from Mojave over the San Gabriels, realizing I needed to lose some altitude quickly and putting her in a 1500 fpm dive...big ol' sweeping turn down a canyon. Having your ears pop never felt so good... :D

If you can afford it and have the time, do it!!
 
Welcome aboard Kevin! You'll find the aviators here, and in general, are a good group of people. AZ is a great place to fly, with great weather to facilitate some incredible flying. A lot of pilot 'bucket lists" include places right here in your back yard.
 
Welcome.

As someone mentioned, read up on medical stuff before diving in... doing that wrong can be the one “gotcha” that can stop all flying options, and there’s a LOT of options to fly these days without a medical... so if you have any medical conditions that might trigger problems, figure that out before proceeding too far.

Next step, definitely go do an intro flight. All sorts of flying going on in AZ! Great place to fly and especially now while it’s not 120F in the shade. :)

Don’t rule out sailplanes as a great economical way to fly, too. Just mentioning it because it’s a blast and lots of folks don’t look into it.

AOPA has a mentoring program for aspiring pilots to get paired up with volunteer pilots willing to help them out, but there’s also places like here where there’s tons of moral and technical support.

Meet a few instructors, pick one you like, and go for it. The only part you’ll likely regret is the cost, and I’ve seen people spend as much on golf or boats or sports cars. I’ve even met a few who spend more on divorces. (Haha. You’d think they’d learn...)

So it’s more about how you want to spend your free time. Flying is as good a way to blow cash as anything else I’ve seen. :)

Have fun!
 
FYI, there are two non-profit clubs in the Phoenix area. Arizona Cloudbusters, and Phoenix Flyers.
 
CT4ME said:
AZ is a great place to fly, with great weather to facilitate some incredible flying. A lot of pilot 'bucket lists" include places right here in your back yard.
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So true. My flight to Sedona was really inspirational, and ranks a close second to the OSH odyssey. :)

IMG_2061.jpg
 
Welcome aboard. I too had the flying bug early in life and I took a few lessons. Then as with you, things went a bit askew and I stopped flying. Unlike you, I didn’t start again until I was 50 so you are getting back to it quicker than I did. That’s super. I’m so glad that I finally did it but wish I would have sooner. So good luck. You’ll find lots of support and good advice here as well as some other stuff. Just sort through it the best you can. You will be fine.
 
Let me know if I can be of service, have a few planes available for either rental or instruction over at stellar in chandler.
 
bijanmaleki said:
Let me know if I can be of service, have a few planes available for either rental or instruction over at stellar in chandler.
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I just might take you up on that! Funny story, I always though Stellar Airpark was a private strip. I drove by it for years and years from the back seat to the front and just assumed it was. It wasn't until I was recently messing around with skyvector that I learned it was just an uncontrolled field and not a "country club" spot.
 
Kevin Brown said:
Hello all!
My name is Kevin and I'm an aspiring pilot. I've wanted to fly since as early as I can remember. Plans early on to be an Astronaut (!), following a career as a Naval Aviator (I was 14 when Top Gun came out).

Those plans derailed when I discovered Calculus (and realized how hard it was)...College took a back seat to bills. Ended up in the Navy, but nowhere near airplanes. Got married, had kids and the mortgage, and figured learning to fly was something only people with more money than me could afford.

I'm now in my mid-forties, and a conversation with a co-worker rekindled the spark!

I've just barely begun my research into programs/schools to get a PPL, but with each new bit of information I've only become more determined (and excited!) to fulfill this dream!

I've joined AOPA, and found this site. Lots and lots of info to pour over!
Click to expand...
Welcome to POA. Believe it or not, this site helped me more than anything. Being new to flying and not knowing anyone or anything about it. You can just pick up so much of the lingo and get real answers to questions pretty much instantly. You'll get some snark and some not so helpful responses sometimes, but as long as your internal ignore filter(in your brain) is working, you'll get a lot out of POA.

I started in my 40's, go for it, keep us posted, we like a good pilot training status thread. Start your own or use the ongoing 'so student pilots...' thread. You'll see it pop up a lot.
 
Kevin Brown said:
I just might take you up on that! Funny story, I always though Stellar Airpark was a private strip. I drove by it for years and years from the back seat to the front and just assumed it was. It wasn't until I was recently messing around with skyvector that I learned it was just an uncontrolled field and not a "country club" spot.
Click to expand...
Yep, and country club spots might be just as welcoming - you never know. Pilots are in this together & need to encourage all comers to give it a go! Tonight I picked up my snow tires that I store in my hangar and even after 15 years of ownership I still stop & marvel that she's all mine, just waiting for me to take her flying! Best of luck.

p.s. if you have medical questions, ask here first. Many here (including a few aviation doc specialists) can point you in the right direction.
 
Welcome,sit back belt in and enjoy the ride.
 
Welcome! Help yourself to a donut, fix yourself a mocha vodka xanax latte, grab a keyboard, and join in.

You'll find some great advice here. Also some advice that will get you killed. Figuring out which is which can be quite the thrill sport. Good luck.
 
Kevin,

Welcome to the POA forum. I finally chased the dream in my late forties, and learned to fly. Wishing you the best of luck on this adventure of obtaining your PPL.
 
As much as I'd like to suggest Tucson and a visit to the air and space museum it's probably better to do an initial fly-in in the Phoenix area since it's more central and we want to encourage a large group of initial participants.
 
tlglenn said:
As much as I'd like to suggest Tucson and a visit to the air and space museum it's probably better to do an initial fly-in in the Phoenix area since it's more central and we want to encourage a large group of initial participants.
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Well, it it’s supposed to be a fly-in, perhaps something a bit outside Phoenix would be good? Otherwise for about half the people on the same side of the city as the target airport, it would make more sense to drive. For example, a hop from KCHD to KFFZ is not really that enjoyable.
 
pmanton said:
Hi from Indian Hills Airpark in Salome, AZ.
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Hey I’m so glad I saw your post. My friend is a highway patrol officer and is stationed in Salome. I’d like to fly there but all the airports are private. Is Indian Hills friendly to folks calling up and seeing if I could fly there?

Thanks
 
User TRocket suggests March as he will be visiting during that timeframe.
 
You should do it April 26-29th to coincide with the Dam Fly-in. Then we can compare turnout of "Westies" vs "Easties"

Loser buys a round for the winners!
 
Welcome aboard!
I too discovered Calculus as a senior in high school. Decided a management college was in my future.
I was an “alternate candidate” for a congressional appointment to the AF Academy, but the primary candidate took the slot. I found an aviation college, paid for my flight lessons and started flying. Went to work for the FAA after college and then had a chance to fly in the AF. 20+ yr AF career, then back as a contractor supporting AF testing. My management degree worked for me. Program Management surrounded by a bunch of engineers.
I’m still flying in the civilian world.
 
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