What percentage have a power pilot license?

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

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

Power flying will require more attention to aircraft management. Engine
management, radio/VOR management, etc.

Soaring first will eliminate the "management" aspect and let you focus
on perhaps the most important thing which is flying skills.

Without looking at accident statistics and then back tracking to find
whether a pilot was "glider then power" or "power then glider", I don't
think you can say one way is better than the other.

My personal opinion would be to start with soaring first, then
transition to power. You will get to learn formation flying (with the
added bonus of having a rope tied between you). Learning how to land
when you only have one shot at it will force you to excel at energy
management. Rope break training at 200' might come in handy if you ever
lose power on departure later in power flying.

Once you master the flying part, if you're drawn to power flying, then
add the other aircraft management items into the mix and enjoy.

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

I soloed in gliders first (and flew locally for a season) ... then got
a power ticket ... then came back to soaring and immediately started
going XC. Glider instruction focuses on energy management and
coordination (i.e. pure flying) ... and skills and a decision making
process that is specific to flying an engineless airplane. (I loved it
when my power instructor did simulated engine failures). Power involves
more training in airplane systems, airspace/airports, navigation and
ATC (all good knowledge)... but is particularly great for getting you
accustomed to going places, with emphasis on navigating by dead
reckoning, which makes the transition to Soaring XC easy. The cheapest
way is probably power first ... however, some might argue that your
will have to unlearn some things to become a glider pilot ... (-8

"KK"
Ken Kochanski

Learning to fly in either a powered aircraft or a glider is equally exciting
and rewarding. Asking the question in a glider forum may yield a different
answer than in a powered aircraft forum. Skills learned in one can be used
in the other.

Learning to fly in a high density, tower controlled environment can be more
demanding than flying in the country, often with minimal radio.

There are other factors to consider, aside from which aircraft to use.
Glider instruction may be more distant than a powered aircraft, and may have
more limited operation hours. Also, in some areas, glider operations shuts
down in the winter. But, you can fly a powered heater all winter long.

Glider clubs can be more demanding. Often, you must spend time working at
the field. With a powered aircraft, however, you generally pay your money
and go flying.

If you have enough money, do both.

Even helicopters are fun to fly.

One problem with a power plane rating is that the glider club will try to
suck you into being a tow pilot.

Colin