On Sat, 1 Mar 2008 02:42:21 -0500, WJRFlyBoy
wrote:

snip fro brevity

"This is one of the funny things about flight training. Here is
something every pilot needs to know, but it is not in the PTS and most
instructors don't cover it. You get your certificate and they turn you
loose and you have absolutely no concept of how to turn flying into a
practical tool. And then people wonder why so many pilots quit flying
right after they get their certificate."

I've never looked at it this way. My cross country, long cross
country and visiting controlled airports taught me how to flight plan,
fly long distances, and into strange airports of the different
classes. Checking the AFD, calling ahead to check for fuel, ground
transportation, fees, and security now days just came natural.

Another line item entry in a lengthening list of "The Differences Between
PPLicensing And Learning"

I travel frequently (one reason I am learning to fly) and planning ahead is
not only 2nd nature, my wife does it.

These are the reasons "I think" made traveling in the airplane so
natural for me. Shortly after getting my PPL I was making trips to
Georgia, Florida, Colorado and points in between. Traveling up to
several days just didn't seem like any big thing. To me it's no
different that a long trip in a car as far as preperation except it's
a lot more fun and relaxing. I will admit weather had caused me to
make a couple of trips exceptions to that statement.

However I will add (which I've said before) my ground school was a
very thorough 4 Credit hour college course. That course was offered
every term and it was always full. OTOH had all of them received
their pilot's license no airport around here would have any parking
space left for cars.

Roger Halstead (K8RI & ARRL life member)
(N833R, S# CD-2 Worlds oldest Debonair)
www.rogerhalstead.com