Any of you have a pilot's License?

[SWAdude]

Hey btw, out of curiosity, have you ever seen anything weird up in the sky before? I'm not a aliens person but just curious of any crazy/interesting stories or experiences you might of had.

Moat of us have seen weird stuff that may have had little green men in them but likely just some military stuff we don't know about. That happened more in the early 80's and I instructed in the areas of Edwards and Vandenberg which were involved in a ton of testing at the time.

 

[SWAdude]

My Pops is a retired pilot. I'll just say that he got to pretty much the highest level one can go to back when he was in his prime. When he retired from the military... he was a flight instructor for Delta. People always asked him the basic question you're asking.

He would always recommend taking private flight lessons before really committing to it. That is when you will know if it's for you.

I went to Embry Riddle Aeronautical University... but not to become a pilot or a mechanic... there ARE other things taught there but they make you add on extra aeronautical classes to whatever normal degree you are working on. I only bring this up because most of my college friends were going to school there to become pilots. One thing I can tell you that they all had in common was they were all completely addicted to flying. It's almost all they thought about. They loved it so much they would have done it for free as long as they were able to fly. Addicted to it may not even describe it strong enough. They are a breed of their own. You wouldn't believe the sacrifices I watched some of them make just to follow their love.

So when you start getting flight lessons... you'll know if you're one of them pretty damn fast.

Well said.

And important to know.

I had said that flying doesn't feel like a want, it feels like a need.

 

[Selassie I]

Well said.

And important to know.

I had said that flying doesn't feel like a want, it feels like a need.

Yeah... it's got to be something in almost all pilots' DNA.

You said it perfectly... You guys NEED to fly... it's not a want for you, it's so much more than that. I've seen it first hand time after time.

When I say I saw my friends make tremendous sacrifices just to fly, I really believe they would have given ANYTHING. I'll list a couple that come right to mind from my college friends.

One of my best friends in college had to take every other year of school off so that he could work to have enough money for tuition. He would go back to NYC (where he was from) and work 2 full-time jobs as a garbage man. Working 2 full-time jobs doing that wasn't allowed, but he somehow was able to to it without being caught and without killing himself in the process. I don't know how anyone could survive that. It took him an extra 3 years to finish what should have only been 4 years... but he finished somehow.

There was another guy who lived in his car during his entire 4 years of school. He spent everything he had just to stay enrolled... he literally had nothing left for housing. He parked his shitty car in the various parking lots around campus. The Riddle 5-0 (my pet name for the campus cops) even stopped bothering him after his 2nd year of school... and they were normally complete asshats no matter what. Everyone could see that he NEEDED to fly to live... and he suffered every day for 4 years except for each and every minute he was in the air. I heard it from many that he was like a child on Christmas morning every single time he hoped in a plane. I even took an observer flight with him and his instructor one time just so I could see him transform into the happiest person alive with my own eyes. And yep... I was able to hide my misty eyes in the back of the plane.

I swear... many of those guys would rather not live if they couldn't fly.

 

[Corbin]

Moat of us have seen weird stuff that may have had little green men in them but likely just some military stuff we don't know about. That happened more in the early 80's and I instructed in the areas of Edwards and Vandenberg which were involved in a ton of testing at the time.

That’s what I think as well, just curious to hear stories etc. Goonv yo be my favorite thing to ask any pilots who train me.

 

[Corbin]

My Pops is a retired pilot. I'll just say that he got to pretty much the highest level one can go to back when he was in his prime. When he retired from the military... he was a flight instructor for Delta. People always asked him the basic question you're asking.

He would always recommend taking private flight lessons before really committing to it. That is when you will know if it's for you.

I went to Embry Riddle Aeronautical University... but not to become a pilot or a mechanic... there ARE other things taught there but they make you add on extra aeronautical classes to whatever normal degree you are working on. I only bring this up because most of my college friends were going to school there to become pilots. One thing I can tell you that they all had in common was they were all completely addicted to flying. It's almost all they thought about. They loved it so much they would have done it for free as long as they were able to fly. Addicted to it may not even describe it strong enough. They are a breed of their own. You wouldn't believe the sacrifices I watched some of them make just to follow their love.

So when you start getting flight lessons... you'll know if you're one of them pretty damn fast.

Loved the story about your father. Thank you! Makes me reaffirm I’m going to right route now even though I want to get my own private plane I feel giddy asf even being near the airport, and climbing in one on my visit had me on Cloud 9.

Yeah... it's got to be something in almost all pilots' DNA.

You said it perfectly... You guys NEED to fly... it's not a want for you, it's so much more than that. I've seen it first hand time after time.

When I say I saw my friends make tremendous sacrifices just to fly, I really believe they would have given ANYTHING. I'll list a couple that come right to mind from my college friends.

One of my best friends in college had to take every other year of school off so that he could work to have enough money for tuition. He would go back to NYC (where he was from) and work 2 full-time jobs as a garbage man. Working 2 full-time jobs doing that wasn't allowed, but he somehow was able to to it without being caught and without killing himself in the process. I don't know how anyone could survive that. It took him an extra 3 years to finish what should have only been 4 years... but he finished somehow.

There was another guy who lived in his car during his entire 4 years of school. He spent everything he had just to stay enrolled... he literally had nothing left for housing. He parked his shitty car in the various parking lots around campus. The Riddle 5-0 (my pet name for the campus cops) even stopped bothering him after his 2nd year of school... and they were normally complete asshats no matter what. Everyone could see that he NEEDED to fly to live... and he suffered every day for 4 years except for each and every minute he was in the air. I heard it from many that he was like a child on Christmas morning every single time he hoped in a plane. I even took an observer flight with him and his instructor one time just so I could see him transform into the happiest person alive with my own eyes. And yep... I was able to hide my misty eyes in the back of the plane.

I swear... many of those guys would rather not live if they couldn't fly.

Those are some interesting ass stories and thank you for sharing Selassie! Man, I love hearing stories like that and true grit which makes me realize my path is a lot easier and to push through.

My dream since watching Top Gun and growing up around Air Force bases my whole life was to fly.

I originally joined the Marine Corps in 99’ to realize this dream. Not the Navy and not the Air Force like a smart guy would’ve, I wanted to go ground pounder and apply for OCS to become a pilot. Why you might ask? I wanted camo on my helmet Anyways, 9/11 happened with my app in to transfer and that put that to a rest.

It makes me feel very good at least reading stories between you and @SWAdude that I’m at least going to right route and have every bit of excitement about it as I always have.

 

[Corbin]

@SWAdude do you own a private plane by chance? Looking for guidance on a good used one, prices etc?

 

[SWAdude]

@SWAdude do you own a private plane by chance? Looking for guidance on a good used one, prices etc?

Use to own one about 15 years ago. A 1979 Cessna 172N on leaseback at a flight school. Great airplane to learn in.

As for types and prices that is beyond me now. Haven't looked in a long time. Some quick google searches will answer many of those questions.

You will get much out of your Discovery flight. A good time to ask those in the school their thoughts on these questions. I have a current CFIIMEI rating but there is no way I would try and teach anyone in GA (General Aviation). There are many pilots who are currently teaching and they are deep into the area you are interested in. My flight instruction days are over 40 years old now. So different today than what it was. Like anything, technology has changed many things.

 

[dieterbrock]

"They mention that it's a nonstop flight. Well, I must say I don't care for that sort of thing. Call me old fashioned, but I insist that my flight stop.
Preferably at an airport."

- George Carlin

 

[SWAdude]

Yeah... it's got to be something in almost all pilots' DNA.

You said it perfectly... You guys NEED to fly... it's not a want for you, it's so much more than that. I've seen it first hand time after time.

When I say I saw my friends make tremendous sacrifices just to fly, I really believe they would have given ANYTHING. I'll list a couple that come right to mind from my college friends.

One of my best friends in college had to take every other year of school off so that he could work to have enough money for tuition. He would go back to NYC (where he was from) and work 2 full-time jobs as a garbage man. Working 2 full-time jobs doing that wasn't allowed, but he somehow was able to to it without being caught and without killing himself in the process. I don't know how anyone could survive that. It took him an extra 3 years to finish what should have only been 4 years... but he finished somehow.

There was another guy who lived in his car during his entire 4 years of school. He spent everything he had just to stay enrolled... he literally had nothing left for housing. He parked his shitty car in the various parking lots around campus. The Riddle 5-0 (my pet name for the campus cops) even stopped bothering him after his 2nd year of school... and they were normally complete asshats no matter what. Everyone could see that he NEEDED to fly to live... and he suffered every day for 4 years except for each and every minute he was in the air. I heard it from many that he was like a child on Christmas morning every single time he hoped in a plane. I even took an observer flight with him and his instructor one time just so I could see him transform into the happiest person alive with my own eyes. And yep... I was able to hide my misty eyes in the back of the plane.

I swear... many of those guys would rather not live if they couldn't fly.

Good lord do I love these stories. Most all of us have them.

When I got my first airline job in 1987 I thought I missed the golden age.

Fact is we are all living our own golden age.

Wouldn't change a thing. Including those shittiest of times. There was a time in 1991 I wasn't sure if I would have a flying job again. So naive.

I have found I have become the old guy that has too many stories. Point is we all will. But damn have I become wise. Yet never wise enough. The journey continues......

 

[Corbin]

Use to own one about 15 years ago. A 1979 Cessna 172N on leaseback at a flight school. Great airplane to learn in.

As for types and prices that is beyond me now. Haven't looked in a long time. Some quick google searches will answer many of those questions.

You will get much out of your Discovery flight. A good time to ask those in the school their thoughts on these questions. I have a current CFIIMEI rating but there is no way I would try and teach anyone in GA (General Aviation). There are many pilots who are currently teaching and they are deep into the area you are interested in. My flight instruction days are over 40 years old now. So different today than what it was. Like anything, technology has changed many things.

Yeah i find alot of sites but it’s like looking at a used car lot and not knowing the car business! Lol

I was hoping for some insights, but id assume it’s a bit more unique and changed world as you’ve said. I been following with with used listing etc and see what people are selling some for.

 

[FaulkSF]

Yes I have a pilot's license. And I'm none too proud of what I did to that pilot to get it. - @Loyal

 

[Corbin]

So took my Discovery flight on Saturday.
My instructor was a 23 year old and he said he started when he was 18! Lol He stated he was going to call me Friday to cancel for the weather outlook and glad he didn’t, it was majestic with the clouds rolling over the mountains and the sun coming up with all the 4-5 colors and rolling rain storms.

The plane for the day was a Cessna 172 and it was pretty little being up close to it, a lot more than I would have imagined!

As soon as I got up to the plane my adrenaline started kicking in and didn't stop until about 5 hours after my hour and a half flight. We did steep decent and ascent, slight to very tight turns left and right, flying on a pattern, and of course learning gauges and settings the trim wheel to have a relaxing flight, it was pretty damn cool.

Now to see about this 75-80k to get a commercial twin engine instrument rating!