Does anyone here fly? I am vaguely considering taking lessons, but have a few questions for anyone in the know. FOrgive me iif these are too simplistic; this is a very recent urge, and I know virtually nothing about it. I have bad eyes. Will this be a deterent? Are you allowed to fly with glasses or contacts? I am past 30...is that too late to really leanr? I know it's technically 'never too late', but is it beyond the point where it could become 'natural'? If you do learn to fly, how restrictive are the rules? Can you just rent a plan and take off, or do you have to apply for a flight plan a long time in advance? Lastly, for those who do it, would you recommend it to someone who has no professional ambitions, but merely wants to know how/experience it? Thanks in advance.
I expected the first shot would be something like " Maybe take up typing first, and work your way up."
if you posted this 6 months ago i could have recommened a great friend of mine. i don't remember the fees or anything but i know he would have taught you at a discount b/c of me. but, now he flies the big boys at Bush.
I have had a couple of lessons, and one of my best friends is a commercial pilot, I've been flying with him quite a bit... Glasses or contacts are fine for flying as a private pilot. I've never heard anyone say that it was 'too late' to learn to fly, but as I'm under 30, I don't know. Basically, you can just rent a plane and take off. A flight plan would be necessary depending on where you wanted to go to, getting landing permission, and so on. Generally, I think you can just get up and go.
My uncle took lessons in the early 90's... he just loved flying small planes. Plus he had a friend that would let him do a little flying without all the hassles of getting a lisence, or so thats what he says... he had perfect eyesight. so i dunnno about that.
Learning to Fly Into the distance, a ribbon of black Stretched to the point of no turning back A flight of fancy on a windswept field Standing alone my senses reeled A fatal attraction holding me fast, how Can I escape this irresistible grasp? Can't keep my eyes from the circling sky Tongue-tied and twisted Just an earth-bound misfit, I Ice is forming on the tips of my wings Unheeded warnings, I thought I thought of everything No navigator to guide my way home Unladened, empty and turned to stone A soul in tension that's learning to fly Condition grounded but determined to try Can't keep my eyes from the circling skies Tongue-tied and twisted just an earth-bound misfit, I Above the planet on a wing and a prayer, My grubby halo, a vapour trail in the empty air, Across the clouds I see my shadow fly Out of the corner of my watering eye A dream unthreatened by the morning light Could blow this soul right through the roof of the night There's no sensation to compare with this Suspended animation, A state of bliss Can't keep my mind from the circling sky Tongue-tied and twisted just an earth-bound misfit, I Music: Gilmour/Ezrin/Moore/Carin
so my uncles flying career puts me on the terrorist watch list... i love it how our homeland security works.
I think he was talking to me. I doubt he was all that serious, but I also doubt that he gets who the basis for his joke is actually aimed at. We could be on terrorist watch lists for arguing against the war, and expressing an interest in flying. While not literally true, the climate that engenders that kind of joke is probably not an issue about us, but rather those T_J supports.
if t_j's post was towards you, my last post still works with you too... " i love it how our homeland security works. "
I wouldn't say you are too old to learn. It's not cheap, but it is rewarding. I just recently found time over last summer to get my instrument rating, but it's taken me years to do it. Take a few check rides and see if you like it first before popping down the cash, McB.
I'm pretty interested in flying small planes too. My grandfather used to take me up and after you get past the whole fear of heights and minimize the possibility of death in your mind, you'll be good. A couple idiots I went to high school with had their pilots license so it can't be that strenuous or expensive. Also a friend told me they offer a course at UT where you just study all semester and get in your flight hours and for the final exam you get your certification. That's a springtime class if ever I've heard of one.
Yep, it never would have come in handy to know who had bad feelings toward American policies and was also taking flying lessons.