My friends and I all did the FIT program while in college as a part of
our impending flight school with the USAF. We flew Cessna 120's and
140's. Flight time to solo averaged about 6-7 hours. Some did it in 3.

I did it in 6.2, 10 years ago. That was considered exceptionally fast,
then. (I think my CFI screwed up, soloing me before he meant to. I really
think he mixed me up with another student -- but he would never admit it.
:-)

When I was your son's age, farm boys like myself could get a drivers
license at 14. We'd all been driving a long time by then. In that part
of the word, it's still true today.

In Iowa it's still possible to get a "farm license" (or whatever they call
it) at age 14. Being city-dwellers, I won't allow my son to do that -- it's
just asking for trouble, in my opinion.

I gather from your letter you are intending to hold him off from solo
until 16 no matter what age he becomes ready.

I would feel more comfortable with him flying anytime, rather than driving
on I-80. But that's just me.

So wait. Let him start his formal lessons no more than 6 weeks before
his birthday.

I hear you. Thanks for chiming in.
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"