Student Pilot equipment

David Megginson nobody wrote:

A clipboard that straps to your leg is nice,
since you won't have to worry about dropping
it. I also keep the pencil tied to it with a string,
so that I can just pull it up again if I drop it. You
probably don't have to worry about one of those
fancy, multi-fold boards -- you just want something
with a leg strap and a spring clip at the top to hold
paper.

I think the first things I bought were a sectional, a TAC, and an Airport
Facilities/Directory.

Tying the pen or pencil with a string to your clipboard is one of the best
pieces of advice (having dropped mine when I needed it with an instructor who
was not about to pick it up!!)!! I *do* like the the "fancy, multi-fold board"
though, because in addition to having the paper to write on, you have the two
side pockets to put things in and clip things to, like a chart, checklists,
etc.

Don't buy anything until after you need it. During your initial lessons,
you don't need anything -- not even a pencil. No flight bag. No handheld
radio. No fancy calculator. Maybe a headset, if the flying school FBO
doesn't provide one. And then, don't go overboard -- buy the minimum, you
won't go deaf working on your PPL. Save your $$$ for instruction.

Casey Wilson wrote:

Don't buy anything until after you need it.

If you wait until after you need it, then you won't have it when you need it. Buy it
before you need it.

George Patterson
I childproofed my house, but they *still* get in.