Learning to fly for real

[decapod]

I've always been keen to get a PPL but never got around to it.
I owned a hang glider when I was young and foolish and did hot air ballooning as part of a team but never tried powered flight.
I really should have a go before I get too old.

The question is where do I start?

I live is SW London so I guess Biggin Hill is probably a good place to start, though Redhill is probably the closest for me.

The other half of the equation is how much time and effort is involved in getting a PPL and keeping it current?

[decapod]

p.s. I'm reading a few of the "Start to fly" websites, I was just interested in any opinions and recommendations the members here might have.

[Nigel H-J]

Hi Paul, try this link, in it you will also find questions for ground exams which you can take to see how you fare.

http://www.pplmania.com/ppltrainer/flight_schools.htm

Regards
Nigel.

[decapod]

Thanks Nigel - the quiz is very informative as it gives me a better idea of what effort is involved than just reading the blub on websites.

There's a school at Redhill offering a PPL course for £6500 which gives me a rough idea of the price.

[Prop Jockey]

Hey Paul,

Sounds like a good idea to me For prices etc you should be all set on the web. Then you can always search the Flyer and Pprune forums for any 'dirt' on the schools you're thinking of. Although the cheapest way is commit the max amount up front for the course - there are cautionary tales about this given the current financial climate, some of which I've read on here.

The other half of the equation is how much time and effort is involved in getting a PPL and keeping it current?

You'll find the whole thing easier if you can do it intensively. If you fly every day for a week you really pick things up - if you fly one weekend, miss the next for your wifes-sisters-cousins wedding, miss the next weekend through crap weather etc etc . . . . . . . . . . . .you get the picture. Intensive flying training means you need to hit the books fairly intensively too - but getting those out of the way means you can focus on the fun side in the actual flying.

Keeping it ? Well you'll be able to team up with other students and fly together once you're qualified. You can fly every week for half the cost. Where you take it from there is up to you - different types, Complex, IMC, IR, Multi, Taildragger, Aeros, Formation - or you might be happy sat in the sun at Comptom Abbas every weekend with you hundred pound tea and burger.

Don't **** about - get on with it !

Cheers

Rich