Any pilots in the house?

PM away old boy, like most pilots I have lots of time on my hands.

Essex of Essex (who replied while I composed this) is also living the dream, I'm sure he wont mind being probed.

And by the way, this...

Originally Posted by plowsie

I want to fly

...is a fantastic start.

Go for it.

[yorkie_chris]

Best fun I saw looked to be guys in Oz flying little single seat helos to herd cattle, slinging them about in between trees and all sorts.

Kit aircraft thing looks fun too, if an expensive hobby but I have a feeling I'd get banned quite quickly. (what's the craic with PPL anyway, do you get points on your license and stuff for misbehaving or what?)

Now I have a degree in flying, I have BA knowledge.

Is microlights a low cost option to start with?

[yorkie_chris]

AFAIK they come under ultralight rules (too light to be a 'proper' plane?) so don't count toward PPL/CPL... but if you just want to get in the air they're probably the cheapest.
Paramotoring looks like a laugh too.

think about this do you really want to be a pilot ?
isnt that a bit like being a lorry driver trunking up and down the motoway except there is nothing to look at out of the windows
at least on the motoway it never ceases to amaze what people get up to in their cars when they think no-one can see them LOL

I always wanted to fly but thought it was an impossible ambition - BUT I'm just getting into this

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vlZtz...eature=channel

Cost about 2.5k for the kit and 1.5k for the training

No licensing or registration required, just set up and go (but do get training)

No GATSO in the sky! It's like 3D motorbiking

This is me on the 4th training day (without the power unit), it doesn't look like it but that's a big drop I'm running off and height was about 300' at highest. The legs keep running while you're in the air cos you can't help it, you're so psyched up about running off the edge your legs just keep going. You're running for your life really haha:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2WKdq8lzAUE

I wanted to learn, but I'm terrible with math and such so that pretty much destroyed that dream.

A guy I knew on another forum, though, was accepted by BA for some sort of scholarship where he'd basically be taken in and trained from a complete n00b up to first officer level. His course was due to start in October 2001.

Gutted!

Thanks for all the help guys, Essex of Essex & Tiger, thanks for handing up, I will be in touch in time.

I want to try and explore other avenues for flying, surely there's got to be ways round for those of us who struggle to string a weeks wages to last

[Littlepeahead]

Anna about summed it up but my ex is 3 years into his training to be a commercial pilot and he sold our former home to pay for his training. He took me on a flight in a little 4 seater as his first passenger after he got his licence.

He's spent a fair bit of time in the USA doing the second stage of training.

If you want more info about the process I'm sure he'd be happy to tell you what you need to do so PM me contact details and I can ask him to get in touch.

[timwilky]

One of the guys who contracts for us flys helicopters for fun. He did try to do it commercially but no work or money in it for a new pilot. He must have spent over 50 grand. So flys in the summer and spends a couple of days a week coding from a distance to subsidise his expentiture