So, student pilots.. Who are we and where do we stand?

Student for 31 years... gosh... can't believe it's been that long.
 
Just finished doing some hoodwork. I really enjoy wearing those stylish goggles!
Im now at 1hr simulated instrument. Worked on gps tracking and vor tracking. Felt i did really well with maintaining my heading and altitude. Never felt off. Maybe i feel good about it because of all the videogames i have played. Wrapped up the day with a softfield landing, then a softfield takeoff, ride around the pattern then another softfield landing.
It wasnt the dual long xc i had planned for because of high winds at the two airports i was headed to. Rescheduled that for next week.
 
Passed the written maybe two weeks ago, passed my oral last week then T-storms rolled in and I had to postpone the checkride. Passed the checkride on Monday for PPL. Going to start instrument rating studying, take the written while waiting for flight school to get fully opened back up.
 
JulietSierraBravo79 said:
Passed the written maybe two weeks ago, passed my oral last week then T-storms rolled in and I had to postpone the checkride. Passed the checkride on Monday for PPL. Going to start instrument rating studying, take the written while waiting for flight school to get fully opened back up.
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Congrats on passing your checkride!
 
Did my first solo XC yesterday. KLVK to O69 and back. Had a few butterflies during pre-flight but it was all good once in the air. No issues talking to NorCal App or Oakland Ctr. Radio communication used to make me nervous but feeling more comfortable with it now.
 
SC777 said:
Did my first solo XC yesterday. KLVK to O69 and back. Had a few butterflies during pre-flight but it was all good once in the air. No issues talking to NorCal App or Oakland Ctr. Radio communication used to make me nervous but feeling more comfortable with it now.
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Nice!! That’s a scenic flight for sure. I’m based out of Napa and o69 is one of my favorite spots. Congrats on the cc solo!


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Peter Anderson said:
Nice!! That’s a scenic flight for sure. I’m based out of Napa and o69 is one of my favorite spots. Congrats on the cc solo!


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Scenic for sure. Can just see the city way off in the distance.
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Happy to report that I passed my PPL check ride this past Monday! I wasted no time and flew with my middle son on Tuesday!! Flying some XC’s next week weather permitting. I can tell you it wasn’t easy, but don’t give up because it’s definitely worth it!
 
Texan Pilot said:
Happy to report that I passed my PPL check ride this past Monday! I wasted no time and flew with my middle son on Tuesday!! Flying some XC’s next week weather permitting. I can tell you it wasn’t easy, but don’t give up because it’s definitely worth it!
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Congrats!
 
One thing that has been on my list of things to do for awhile has been to earn my Commercial certificate. I finally have the finances and time to be able to get it done! I recently passed the written and I will get to start the flying portion in August. I am very excited to be able to do this.
 
Texan Pilot said:
Happy to report that I passed my PPL check ride this past Monday! I wasted no time and flew with my middle son on Tuesday!! Flying some XC’s next week weather permitting. I can tell you it wasn’t easy, but don’t give up because it’s definitely worth it!
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Congrats!
 
Am at about 28 hours or so, and still can't seem to land a Cherokee 150 well enough - consistently - to get signed off for solo. Some of my earlier hours were in 'wings on top' ships. Guess it takes longer to teach an old dog a new trick - but maybe also a Cherokee is not the easiest ship to 'grease in'. Going back at it this week. Instructor says I'm progressing, but it must be slowly!
 
40YearDream said:
Am at about 28 hours or so, and still can't seem to land a Cherokee 150 well enough - consistently - to get signed off for solo. Some of my earlier hours were in 'wings on top' ships. Guess it takes longer to teach an old dog a new trick - but maybe also a Cherokee is not the easiest ship to 'grease in'. Going back at it this week. Instructor says I'm progressing, but it must be slowly!
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Cherokees are the 1960s version of auto-landing aircraft. But adapting from a high wing is a learning curve. When a low wing airplane goes into ground effect, the wheels are much higher off the runway than a similar high wing plane. This takes some adjustment.

Be patient. You’ll get there.
 
Don't feel bad that it is hard to land. For all you guys who think Cherokees are easy to land, I envy you! :) I flew a Skyhawk for the first 10 hours of training, and now trying to train in an Hersey bar Archer. At 9 hours in the Archer, landing is slowly starting to click and to feel almost instinctual instead of intellectual. Touch-n-goes shouldn't be all that weird after the amount of go-arounds I've had to do. :p Right now, I think landing a Skyhawk is about 1000x easier than the Archer. LOL
 
SkyChaser said:
Don't feel bad that it is hard to land. For all you guys who think Cherokees are easy to land, I envy you! :) I flew a Skyhawk for the first 10 hours of training, and now trying to train in an Hersey bar Archer. At 9 hours in the Archer, landing is slowly starting to click and to feel almost instinctual instead of intellectual. Touch-n-goes shouldn't be all that weird after the amount of go-arounds I've had to do. :p Right now, I think landing a Skyhawk is about 1000x easier than the Archer. LOL
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It’s all in what you become accustomed to.

I did all my training in a light sport, then got checked out in a Cherokee after I had my PPL. After learning to land an LSA in gusting x-winds, a Cherokee did indeed seem easy.
 
Half Fast said:
It’s all in what you become accustomed to.

I did all my training in a light sport, then got checked out in a Cherokee after I had my PPL. After learning to land an LSA in gusting x-winds, a Cherokee did indeed seem easy.
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That is what my CFI keeps telling me - you just have to get used to the plane. It is just so weird how different it feels!
 
SkyChaser said:
That is what my CFI keeps telling me - you just have to get used to the plane. It is just so weird how different it feels!
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low wings are cool, and are for cool people. what you have to ask yourself is, are you a cool people? if the answer is 'yes, yes I am a cool people', then I guarantee your next few landings will be greasers. just a nice gentle round-out at the exact right speed and height, followed by a few gentle pulls of the yoke, in the couple of seconds it takes you to think "hhhmmm, did I leave the iron on at the house?" you will be squeaking the mains onto the runway. then as u turn to your instructor with that confident "how 'bout that landing?!?" look on your face, the nose will lightly settle down on the center line. and you will think "dammit, eman was right!". low wing, cool. you, cool. grease that puppy. how I'm not an instructor is beyond me.
 
Took a SW flight from LAX to SFO today. 1st thing I did upon boarding was to let the flight attendant know I have 35 hrs in a 172 so would be available to assist the pilots if needed. I assume that was the correct procedure? She looked duly impressed.
 
No flying since March 9th. Not quite to solo.
Wife had heart surgery June 3rd now into advancing dementia at an alarming rate.
Not sure when we can continue flight training .
My 172 had annual completed June one . The A&E IA kindly picked it up flew it to his shop and returned it.
It's lonely waiting for me in hanger 40 miles away.
Not very encouraged at this point .
Had wanted all this done by October and my 80 th Birthday.
 
Southpaw said:
No flying since March 9th. Not quite to solo.
Wife had heart surgery June 3rd now into advancing dementia at an alarming rate.
Not sure when we can continue flight training .
My 172 had annual completed June one . The A&E IA kindly picked it up flew it to his shop and returned it.
It's lonely waiting for me in hanger 40 miles away.
Not very encouraged at this point .
Had wanted all this done by October and my 80 th Birthday.
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Clicked “like” just to let you know someone read this, sir... but it’s not accurate. Don’t like.

I’m very sorry about your wife and the flying both.

Wish I could offer better than a good prayer for peace and a hopeful message that the airplane will wait for ya.

And of course nobody can steal the memories of the good stuff. Not of your wife nor the flying.

Many never get to experience either a wonderful companion nor flying before circumstance butts in and makes things unreasonably difficult.

One darn day at a time. Hopefully this helps you get through this one. Right there with ya.
 
Student pilot near Wichita, KS here. Did my first 3 lessons in the last week of March. No state mandates to close flight schools, but I made a personal decision to stop temporarily. Started back up on May 19, now at 37 hours, check ride scheduled for week of the 20th of this month. Then it’s on to start working on OCVT and MFT to try and remove my color vision restriction.

Gotta say, 5 years of using VATSIM really gave me a huge head start in my training.
 
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Gino Shtirlits said:
My 87% score is making me disreputable. Passed my written week ago.
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Well, passing score is 70%, so you're more reputable than about 56.7% of the other test takers... :p

Seriously, what do you call a MD that graduated at the top of his class? Answer: Doctor. What do you call a MD that graduated last in his class? Answer: Doctor.

Point is... good job passing the PPL written. Go out there and get your certificate and we can call you "Pilot."
 
Southpaw said:
No flying since March 9th. Not quite to solo.
Wife had heart surgery June 3rd now into advancing dementia at an alarming rate.
Not sure when we can continue flight training .
My 172 had annual completed June one . The A&E IA kindly picked it up flew it to his shop and returned it.
It's lonely waiting for me in hanger 40 miles away.
Not very encouraged at this point .
Had wanted all this done by October and my 80 th Birthday.
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Incredibly sorry to read this, Southpaw. Family first... always. I wish your wife Godspeed in her recovery from the heart surgery, as well as hope that the dementia will stabilize and not progress, and that you have all to support and patience needed in what is a difficult situation.

In the interim, when you can have a moment, maybe take your 172 and pre-flight it, start it up and taxi around a bit to keep everything running and to keep yourself familiar with the controls. That way when you're able to get a lesson in, things will be familiar at least.
 
Life and aviation is a lesson. you know I'm still learnig from the best
 
I have a question. The FAA prohibits experimental plane flights in high density populated areas. but how could I recognize which one is high and which one is not?
 
Sitting at 35hrs in a 172 and yesterday and me and the step dad hopped into his v35b. Got some hands on time and all i can say is WOW. The difference is night and day... vw bug vs ferrari differences! The difference in power was very noticeable. The planes reaction to my input was much “crisper” feeling. Although once in the air i got comfortable pretty quick and really enjoyed my time. It is way too much plane for me now lol but what a dream machine! I will for sure get my high performance and complex ratings!
Now i want to try out some other planes!
 
crawdaddyjc said:
Sitting at 35hrs in a 172 and yesterday and me and the step dad hopped into his v35b. Got some hands on time and all i can say is WOW. The difference is night and day... vw bug vs ferrari differences! The difference in power was very noticeable. The planes reaction to my input was much “crisper” feeling. Although once in the air i got comfortable pretty quick and really enjoyed my time. It is way too much plane for me now lol but what a dream machine! I will for sure get my high performance and complex ratings!
Now i want to try out some other planes!
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Very cool! I’ve often wondered how other airplanes feel. I too have 35 hours, almost all in a 172, with a few in a 152. Exciting? No, a good way to learn? Yes. I dream of one day owning my own Vans RV (4,6 or 8). Can only imagine how they fly compared to the Cessna.
 
I am now at about 21 hours total time, about 11 in the Archer, and landings are finally starting to click! Did my first touch-n-goes today! That was fun, but I am very glad that I did the whole full stop, taxi back for my first bazillion landings in the Archer because it is way more mentally overwhelming to go straight from landing to take off without a breathing space! I've got everything but the timing of the round out nearly perfect. It's only taken me about 7 hours of landing-related stuff to get here... The good part is, I won't have to worry about flying a sloppy pattern with the amount of practice I am getting with it! ;)
 
eetrojan said:
I've been going at it since January of 2012. Passed the written a while back. Have about 48 hours and just passed my "Stage 2" oral, but the flight portion was delayed due to weather. I have the flight test makeup on Thursday. Hopefully I can nail my soft field takeoffs and shirt field landings.

Then, it's on to "Stage 3" which includes a couple of long XC solos, some night flights, and the practical test.

I have a terrific CFI. feel lucky about that.

Having a great time.
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How are CFI’s dealing with Covid risks?
 
Back to the school house here for IFR. Passed the written with an 87 (Machado and ASA), 3 lessons in and 3 Wx cancels to match.
 
Gino Shtirlits said:
I have a question. The FAA prohibits experimental plane flights in high density populated areas. but how could I recognize which one is high and which one is not?
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On your vfr charts, populated areas are yellow. But, what is the experimental limit you are referring to? If the plane is EAB and flown off it’s 40 hours, you can fly it over cities no problem. On the other hand, if you are referring to test flights, then the restriction makes sense.
 
Gleim will help you to drill and kill but to actually understand the PHAK/AFH are good resources as are a number of online courses out there. I used Gold Seal and was very happy with the content. I highly recommend checking them out.
 
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