What percentage have a power pilot license?

Ever try flying a helicopter? I truly have not had the fun meter
pegged as far to the right by anything else, including gliders!
Imagine lanidng on a rock in a river as that is the only landing spot
and stopping for a skinny dip : )

On Oct 31, 1:34 pm, "fcnorton" wrote:
Hi Victor,

Power Pilot since Dec-1976 (ASEL/Ins)
Glider Pilot since May-2006
VERY Happy 304CZ Owner since July-2006

Nothing has ever pegged my "fun meter" like soaring. It is honestly
the most challenging flying that I have ever done....and the most
rewarding.

IMHO: Get your glider license first and then power - I believe you will
be a better over all pilot.

Just my 2 cents.

FC Norton

wrote:
Hi all, I decided to take the plunge (no pun intended) and start
flying. I thought about going straight for a private glider license.
But, I do have the option of going for the powered pilot license first
- then the glider license second. Any thoughts? How many here have
both? Did you get your powered pilot license first?

cheers, Victor

Helicopter, military definition: A mass of fatigued metal, rotating around
an oil leak.

bumper

"Roger" wrote in message
oups.com...

Ever try flying a helicopter? I truly have not had the fun meter
pegged as far to the right by anything else, including gliders!
Imagine lanidng on a rock in a river as that is the only landing spot
and stopping for a skinny dip : )

On Oct 31, 1:34 pm, "fcnorton" wrote:
Hi Victor,

Power Pilot since Dec-1976 (ASEL/Ins)
Glider Pilot since May-2006
VERY Happy 304CZ Owner since July-2006

Nothing has ever pegged my "fun meter" like soaring. It is honestly
the most challenging flying that I have ever done....and the most
rewarding.

IMHO: Get your glider license first and then power - I believe you will
be a better over all pilot.

Just my 2 cents.

FC Norton

wrote:
Hi all, I decided to take the plunge (no pun intended) and start
flying. I thought about going straight for a private glider license.
But, I do have the option of going for the powered pilot license first
- then the glider license second. Any thoughts? How many here have
both? Did you get your powered pilot license first?

cheers, Victor

Roger wrote:
Ever try flying a helicopter? I truly have not had the fun meter
pegged as far to the right by anything else, including gliders!
Imagine lanidng on a rock in a river as that is the only landing spot
and stopping for a skinny dip : )


Definitely a entertaining and challenging experience! Enjoyed the heck
out of my first lesson, but at almost $400 an hour for an R-22, it's
damn expensive. That's 16 tows per hour.

Gary Emerson schrieb:

Definitely a entertaining and challenging experience! Enjoyed the heck
out of my first lesson, but at almost $400 an hour for an R-22, it's
damn expensive. That's 16 tows per hour.

Regarding cost, there's a simple equation: One year of soaring equals
one day in a power plane equals one hour in a helicopter.

Roger wrote:
Ever try flying a helicopter? I truly have not had the fun meter
pegged as far to the right by anything else, including gliders!
Imagine lanidng on a rock in a river as that is the only landing spot
and stopping for a skinny dip : )


I'm told the most appropriate use for a helicopter is scouting out
remote landing places for a glider, and retrieving a glider when it uses
one of those remote fields. That requires a larger, more expensive one
than the one used for field scouting, as it must safely lift a loaded
trailer.

I do know of a couple glider pilots that also own a helicopter. Not a
common combination.

--
Eric Greenwell - Washington State, USA
Change "netto" to "net" to email me directly

"Transponders in Sailplanes" on the Soaring Safety Foundation website
www.soaringsafety.org/prevention/articles.html

"A Guide to Self-launching Sailplane Operation" at www.motorglider.org

Victor,

I hope this discussion helps, but fear its heavily weighted towards
getting the glider rating first, then the powered rating. All I can
share is my experience, do with it as please. I would encourage you to
pick either avenue, flying is the most satisfying activity I do.

My experience: I am a glider pilot with my powered add ons.
Commercial Glider, Commercial SE Land, ATP ME Land, Instrument
Airplane, CFI, CFII, CFIG - 1900 hours (200 in gliders.) I started
flying gliders the summer after high school, then added my powered
ratings in college. I fly for a career - so I am a little more willing
to spend the money to gain hours and experience.

Couple of things I learned along the way: 1. The glider first,
followed by the powered rating means you'll have to take two FAA
written exams - that's an extra $75-$100 depending on the testing
center. Second - although you piloting skills will be better, you will
still probably spend the minimum 40 hrs in a powered airplane to get
the rating - you probaby won't see the benefit of the glider experience
translate to lowered costs for the powered.

I fly powered aircraft for my career, and I use GA airplanes to travel
across the country. I fly 200+ hours a year, mostly all powered. I am
finnally able to afford a sailplane of my own and am shopping for one
right now. I plan to fly more gliders in the coming years, contests
and XC, but I will still fly powered airplanes as an instructor,
professional pilot, and to travel.

I think one aspect that has been overlooked is ths soaring season.
Your are at the end of it, which means lots of sled rides with very
little opportunity to SOAR! That's the biggest factor in hooking
pilots to gliders - the 1, 2, 3 hour soaring flights that are possible
May through September in most of the country. That being said, night
arrives sooner and this can limit the amount of time available for the
powered training. But, I beleive that the powered flying will
progress more quickly than the glider flying, unless you fly at a
commercial glider operation that runs year round.

Don't forget to find an instructor that fits your personality and can
adapt to your learning style. That relationship is the single most
important to completing your ratings, no matter which you choose first.


Good luck and Happy Landings,
Andrew