Flight Training at 15?

I wouldn't worry at all about how the timing might affect his enthusiasm.
It's more important that he be able to follow what he wants to do. If
training now turns into a bust because he gets distracted by other things
before he can take the checkride, so be it.

Philosophically, I agree. However, finances must also come into play here.
Joe knows that we will help him with flight training expenses. He also
knows that he must kick in a fair share of the cost.

Mary and I are firm believers in training as fast and as hard as you can, in
order to minimize the time spent. We both treated flight training like
just another semester of college, flying Mon/Wed/Fri, and studying Tue/Thu.
By doing so, we kept the cost of flight training to a minimum, and finished
up in about four months.

If he can't do that (due to his age), he will end up spending a great deal
more money (both his and ours) to get his ticket. With college looming on
the horizon (and a daughter coming up not far behind), stretching out his
flight training is not a good option, financially.

But, as you may have read in another part of this thread, Joe has already
decided to wait another year before he starts his "real" training. In the
meantime, he will continue to learn all of our bad habits by flying
"unofficially"...

:-)
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

Jay Honeck schrieb:

the horizon (and a daughter coming up not far behind), stretching out his
flight training is not a good option, financially.

There are many commercial glider operations which I'm sure would be glad
to accept him for a three week (or so) full time arrangement during
holidays (http://www.ssa org). This would give him a new perspective to
flying and a license. Besides, it's my strong believe that starting in
gliders makes you a better stick and rudder pilot, but this is just my
opinion.

You'd run the risk, though, that he'll loose interest in powered flight
and decides to stay with gliders.

Stefan

On 2006-06-12, Stefan wrote:
You'd run the risk, though, that he'll loose interest in powered flight
and decides to stay with gliders.

I dunno, powered flight means you can fly the tow plane too!

--
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Oolite-Linux: an Elite tribute: http://oolite-linux.berlios.de

I started flying lessons at age 16 and finished my private at 17. It took me
the full year. I only flew about one per week and though about it most of
the time. That worked well for me. I took my checkride with just barely 40
hours (and passsed). Spreading out the training may end up requiring more
hours but that doesn't seem like a bad thing to me. If there is enough money
for 60 hours in a year, is it better to get the license in 40 hours in the
first two months and then spread the next 20 over the remaining 10 months. I
would rather spread the 60 more evenly over the full year, even if the
license comes at the end.

I was the first person in my family to take an interest in flying. My
brother and I had each saved up enough for a car by the time we were 16. He
bought a car. I got my private and drove the family car. The money even let
me fly a few hours after my license before it ran out.

I gave up flying for 12 years starting in college. I stopped because I
didn't have enough money. I didn't start again until I felt I had enough
income to sustain it. (My wife doesn't necessarily agree that we have enough
income for flying, but that is a difference of priorities.) Something
similar is likely to happen with your son at some point.