Licensing order

On Mar 15, 11:54*pm, JS wrote:
Similar to Guy:
Glider at least to solo. Learn what the wings do.
ASEL to Private. Learn the additional bits. (take a written test)
Glider add-on. (no second written test) Enjoy.
Jim

I went in that order, but before the sport ratings were around.
All the glider flying counted towards the airplane rating hourly
requirements, and I was able to fly the entire flight (with guidance)
from the first time I got in the airplane. However, I had to train
the instructor in where the holes were in my education, so it took
him 20 hours to solo me. Solo work was primarily to get the
required cross country time.

Once I had the airplane rating, I actually used it a couple of times
on business trips. Then, my company changed its policy so that
you couldn't fly yourself on trips anymore. I have flown gliders
exclusively since then. The cost to get the hours the insurance
company wants for me to be able to tow is much too high for
me to bother.

I did learn some important things in the airplane -- how to deal
with complexity, how to navigate, how to deal with ATC. All
those are useful in the glider.

-- Matt

My opinion is it depends on you situtation. I think usually it cheaper
and perhaps faster to get the power rating and then and the glider
rating. The exception is if you have a good soaring/gliding club
nearby where you can exchange your time for cost. It may take longer
learning to fly at a club but the cost for getting the glider rating
may be very low.

If you are going to do it strictly through commecial operations then
learning to fly power 1st usually makes the most econmic sense. After
you have your power rating you can add the glider rating in probably
less than a week.

Brian

On Mar 16, 4:04*pm, Brian wrote:
My opinion is it depends on you situtation. I think usually it cheaper
and perhaps faster to get the power rating and then and the glider
rating. The exception is if you have a good soaring/gliding club
nearby where you can exchange your time for cost. It may take longer
learning to fly at a club but the cost for getting the glider rating
may be very low.

If you are going to do it strictly through commecial operations then
learning to fly power 1st *usually makes the most econmic sense. After
you have your power rating you can add the glider rating in probably
less than a week.

Brian

As long as you don't care about learning to do it right.
I've spent years finishing up what the one weekers don't do.
UH

On Mar 16, 3:03*pm, wrote:
On Mar 16, 4:04*pm, Brian wrote:

My opinion is it depends on you situtation. I think usually it cheaper
and perhaps faster to get the power rating and then and the glider
rating. The exception is if you have a good soaring/gliding club
nearby where you can exchange your time for cost. It may take longer
learning to fly at a club but the cost for getting the glider rating
may be very low.

If you are going to do it strictly through commecial operations then
learning to fly power 1st *usually makes the most econmic sense. After
you have your power rating you can add the glider rating in probably
less than a week.

Brian

As long as you don't care about learning to do it right.
I've spent years finishing up what the one weekers don't do.
UH

No Argument there, One week will only teach you how to tow and land
safely. If one is lucky they might get some soaring experience out of
it but perhaps not. One would however meet the PTS requirements and
have a glider rating. Even more than power flying this is just a
license to learn. And there is a lot of learning to be had.

In my situation I am forced to take the path of least financial
resistance or at least the the path with the best cost/benefit ratio.
Typically the problem with learning glider (in the US) 1st is you have
to pay for two pilost and two airplanes while training as opposed
power where you only pay for one airplane and one pilot (flight
instructor) while training.

As mentioned in my post, Gliding Clubs and can skew the economics of
it in favor learning glider 1st. But there are only a limited number
of locations where this is available.

Brian