Soloed in 2018 (at almost 62 years of age), in 18.4 hours (over about 3-1/2 months), in my 1964 Piper PA28-180 purchased for the purpose, with two instructors (one primary and another backup - whom I still talk to/work with) at Corona Airport (AJO) non-towered, though most training was based out of Chino (CNO) which is Class D, and located under the shelf for Ontario (ONT) which is Class C. Both intructors are independent, and I used Gleim for ground school prep.
I soloed in April of 2019 at 23 hours & got my certificate in October at 62 hours. I was 50 years old. I had two instructors, both of whom were WONDERFUL but had very different styles. We used a 172 with a few hours in a Warrior. Initially I had a female in her late 20s who had received her training at a 141 program in a class B area. She was very precise with her instruction, amazing on the radios & had a finesse to how she controlling the plane. I was about a month from being ready for my check ride when she got a job flying professionally & moved away. My second instructor was a male in his 80s. He had begun flying in his 60s. He was equally as wonderful but was very “matter of fact” in his approach. If he told you to give an input… give the input! This helped me so much because I was able to see that the “gracefulness” she used wasn’t because the plane would break if I was somewhat forceful on the controls, it was just her way. I learned a great deal from them both & am still in contact with them today. I might have finished in less time had I been able to fly more frequently but my schedule had a lot to do with that.
@@MyTimeToFly Thank you! Looking back I wouldn’t change anything. I’ve been very fortunate with all my instructors from tail wheel to instrument & commercial. I’ve rarely flew with someone new, instructor or not, that I didn’t feel I had learned something.
I soloed at 8hrs (C-150 Michigan State Flying Club), ran out of money at 20hrs, graduated college and got taken to the cleaners by the next instructor who basically made me start from scratch (didn't tell his plan) realized I was being ripped off and moved to another school/instructor and passed my check ride at 65hrs. Be careful with instructors and schools, they have their agenda and it may not be in your best interest, don't be afraid to switch. With that said, my instrument/commercial/multi engine instructor was the best and I got my tickets at min time (he also set me up with a great DP which did really short check rides).
I soloed at 24 hours. It was in a tailwheel C-170A. That was over nine months with some long breaks back in 2006. I used one instructor who I'm still using today. It was in Oregon at a small airport - 7S3. I'm actually a fan of taking more time if you are doing it for fun. Getting a license is fun. It should not be thought of as a task that needs to be completed before the fun starts. By taking time and spreading out the learning experience, a student is exposed to more types of weather. It is also easier to pay for one lesson at a time. And, once you get a license and take up friends and family, you end up flying alone most of the time anyway. Having someone to fly with as you learn is fun. I think too much focus is put on the cost of getting a license. It takes years to learn to play golf or snow ski along with a lot of money. I wish the fun of learning to fly was promoted in the same way learning to ski or golf was.
While I attended the New Life Christian academy, we have a flight club, retired Air Force Colonel Larry Roth was our instructor. We were training in a 172 after high school was over I went into the u.s. Navy where I became a submariner, submarine warfare, where I learned how to fly a fast-attack submarine in the Pacific Ocean😅, I have always meant to get back into flying but just never had the time, or when I had the time I didn't have the money, I'm now 54 years and I'm wanting to start over again, I think it's funny to see so many people and their fifties and above or actually just getting with general aviation, so I watch the youtube videos so they can start to enjoy the process and see what I can learn!
I did my first solo at 47 hours, at Wings Field (KLOM) in 2020, just before the bottom fell out of the world. I had two instructors, but my second instructor was the one I had throughout until getting my cert. I was 53 at the time and did all of my training in a Cessna 172.
My instructor said I was ready to solo on my last flight before I took a break from training at 12 hrs. I'm currently sitting in FAA purgatory waiting on my medical, but I was training in a Piper Pa28 161. Had the same instructor the whole time and even flew with him on my discovery flight. I was training out of Robbinsville Airport in Central NJ, N87. Love your content man, hope you keep it up after selling your Mooney!
Thanks so much for the kinds words and the details. I'm sorry to hear about the medical issues, that seems to be a common thread here! I hope you can persevere through it.
Had to check in my logbook to be sure. Soloed at 11.5 hours of training (11.5 prior to the day I soloed.) Was at MPV (Edward F Knapp State Airport, Barre, VT) on June 19, 1995. Aircraft was a 1966 C150 with call letters 59Juilet. The cost then was $55/hr wet. I was not at all nervous as I was well trained by a 22-year veteran pilot/CFI out of Haverhill, NH. He was operating as a private CFI with no particular flight school affiliation (thus the low training costs). Wonderful fellow, Steve M., likeable and very supportive. After successful completion of solo flight Steve even ripped off the lower back part of my white tee shirt that I was wearing as a traditional ritual, something about 'flying by your shirt-tales' He signed and dated the torn off part the shirt and wrote 'first solo' on it and handed it to me. I could never say enough good things about Steve. (Unfortunately, a house fire in 2004 took that memento from me.) Absolutely looked forward to doing this solo, AND I LOVED EVERY SECOND OF IT!!!
Very awesome story, but I'm sorry to hear about the fire! It's instructors like Steve (Tom for me) who make flying the perfect mix of fun and adventure. Thanks so much for sharing!
I did my training for my PPL at KLXT in the mid-1980s. Only had one instructor; a crusty old Korean War bomber pilot. Soloed at hour #7, took my checkride with 42 hours in my logbook. Did all my training and checkride in a C172. Did not go through a formal training program. I just thoroughly read the Cessna flight manual, got a test prep book and passed the written with no formal ground school. My instructor just happened to be giving lessons at the FBO when I walked in.
I soloed at 5.5 hours at VNY on May 31, 1973 in a C150. All my instruction emanated from VNY. My instructor was Pat McCarty all the way until my check ride at 48.8 hours on Aug 15, 1973. In the 2.5 months I had the opportunity to fly many different airplanes from the right seat with other pilots, Rockwell 112, C182, Piper Cherokee 180 (left seat), C172, C177RG. But all my instruction was in a C150 except for a X-country night flight of about 2 hours in that Piper Cherokee 180. I started my official flight training at 29.
I soloed at 10 hours out of klru, las cruces, NM. I was flying a piper warrior ii. I got my license at 55 hours BUT i was switched 4 times and had to do orientation flights with each one. Plus a 3 month wait for a dpe. I was 39 at solo October 2022 and 40 at check ride April 2023. A week later, i picked up my mooney, a 75 M20F, and did 20 hours with an instructor for insurance.
2021 Cessna 172 at KBVS, one instructor who was really good. I'm military and he was also military (NFO). Soloed at 10 hours and passed my checkride at 41 hours. I have been a flight sim junky since I was a kid and continue to practice on it. I would say using the simulator saved me tons of time. Deliberate practice with procedures and maneuvers.
I completed my training at CYXU, a controlled airport in 1991 at age 25 in a C152. I soloed at 16 hrs and had the same instructor throughout. Transport Canada minimim is 45 hrs which it still is and i finished in 69. The national average at that time was 60 to 75 hrs. Overall it was a great experience and am still in touch with that instructor to this day.
Very awesome, thanks so much for sharing. It's great to hear the connections to instructors that last the test of time. I'm still in touch with my first instructor 20+ years later.
2023 D10 9.6 hours Factory built zenith 601xl 1 flight instructor I’m also currently 34 Still currently in flight training with about 28 hours and mainly doing prep for the checkride. I also bought a SLSA zenith to make it affordable since it’s just a hobby for me.
1. What year you completed your solo: 2022 2. What airport you trained at: KEAU (Class D) / KLUM (Uncontrolled) 3. How many hours did it take you to solo: 22.5 (-7 hours because I don't really count the C172 hours) 4. What airplane you did your training in: 7 hours C172 in 2021, took 10 months off to get my medical and then plane shopped for a few months to fill my hangar. The rest of my hours is in a PA-28-180 I bought starting June/July 2022. 5. How many instructors you had before achieving your PPL: 2.5 (Only did 1 lesson with 1 of them) 60.2 hours atm, checkride in Oct. Would've had the checkride done at 40 last fall, but a lot of delays, annual, and rescheduling pushed it back..
Started flying June 2022, at age 43, (1) Instructor throughout training, Cessna 172 (Primarily N80238) @ $170/hr Wet, out of KFUL (Towered Class D) Solo Endorsement Achieved on 9/17/2022 @ 34.3 Hrs., Flight #31 Initial Check Ride Day Scheduled 12/23/2022 (Cancelled/Postponed) and had 79.2 Hrs., and 58 Flights Logged. Final Check Ride and PP-ASEL Achieved on 2/16/2023 @ 96.2 Hrs., Flight #69 NOTE: Was rescheduled approx. 8 times due to DPE Issues, Weather, and other Delays. Also had a handful of flights that were "for Fun" and not necessarily training oriented. YMMV.
@MyTimeToFly Yep. I achieved my Complex Endorsement on 5/11/23 @ 117 hrs. My goals are obtain Tail Wheel, Multi, High Performance, Instrument, Commercial and Seaplane. On the fence about ATP at the moment. Current employment is serving me well. I've recorded and published all of my flights since Flight #25. They are all assembled with background music but virtually uncropped and full length. They are Unlisted on CZcams. I didn't feel comfortable with the potential critics out there...
I completed my solo in 2022 @ 44 years old at KMNM in a c172. My solo was at 18.3 hours, however I had to take a 4 month hiatus waiting for the FAA to approve my medical (cardiologist and 2 doctors forwarded information but the FAA still took their time) I was ready for solo at 11.4 hours and stopped training until my medical was approved. Completed my check ride at 52.8 hours with 2 instructors and 6 months of training. My first 3 flights were with 1 instructor, and the rest were with another instructor who got me through my check ride. Flew one - two times a week after work(4pm or after) or on a weekend. Both CFI now work for the airlines, however great flight school that was very organized and very meticulous. Currently they do not have an instructor at KMNM however they do still teach at KGRB.
Solo at KRMY. 2 instructors and at 28 hrs. All time was in a Mooney. It took an instructor to just explain the landings in a different way for it to click !! People learn and teach differently. I just needed that different type or style to get it lol.
5-2-87 Solo 6 hours PA-22-150 tripacer Lake Norman Airport, North Carolina. Was Flying from 2000 ft grass strip. PPL 10-31-88 49.9 hours with check ride time. From Romeo, Mi PPL from Flint, Mi. FNT. Without night endorsement. Never got the hours. Planes flew. PA-22-150, Cessna 177 Cardinal- no official training Only flew with father, Cessna 150, Cessna 152, Cessna 172-Sp And Beech 23
2014 GOK Solo @ 12 hours; PPL @ 43 hours C-172 2 instructors to PPL - first instructor, the owner of the flight school, handed me off to the second shortly after solo.
I have also noticed that is seems to take forever to get students to their solo and check-ride and I believe you have instructors out there that are padding their own flight hours for getting to the airlines...at Student expense! I did all my Private Pilot training at the University of Dubuque (Aviation Program) at DBQ. This airport is/was a Towered Airport and is now a Class D. 1. What year you completed your solo: Started training in September 1980, First Solo - October 1980 (14 hours). Age - 19. 2. What airport you trained at: Dubuque, IA (DBQ) 3. How many hours did it take you to solo: 14 hours 4. What airplane you did your training in: C-150 and C-152 5. How many instructors you had before achieving your PPL: Two that were school CFI's. * I received my Private Certificate on January 8th, 1981 at 45 hours Dual and Solo time. If I remember correctly airplane costs wet were $25/hour solo and $35/hour dual.
February 7, 2022, PA28 Archer2. One instructor at the time and I soloed at KEKN at 9.5 hours. Passed my checkride in July 2022 at 62 total hours. I purposely chose not to push for a 40ish hour check-ride and just enjoy the process. I did all my training during my 54 year.
Hey, Corey! I just found your channel from a CZcams suggestion about your cost of operating your Mooney. When I watched, I was surprised to see you fly out of Sparta! I was just up there to look into getting back into flying after 30+ years of not flying other than as a passenger on commercial flights. I live in Grand Rapids and decided to look into it once again. I trained at Jackson (JXN) in 1986, my first solo was in the same year, after about 15.5 hours. I finished my training in Alpena (APN). less than a year after my first flight but in 1987, I took my checkride at APN and got my license at the age of 30 after about 40.2 hours. All my training was in a Cessna 152. I've since flown a Beechcraft Sundowner at Oshkosh when I lived there for about a year. Late in 1987 was my last flight as PIC because career and life, among other things wound up taking precedence. Now I'm nearing retirement and, call me crazy, but I want to get flying again. I have many hurdles to jump prior to even beginning any kind of training but, barring any that are too high, I'm bound and determined to get current again. Best of luck with your research and, since we're nearly neighbors, of course I'm subscribing. I know it's been quite a while since you uploaded this and it all might be done but I thought I'd share anyway.
It's 2023. I have yet to solo. I have 36 hours. I've been through 4 instructors, the first one was a "screamer," which is to say that he yelled at me when I didn't do things up to spec. I spent most of the time flying Cessna 172s, and I was not far from solo on that at about 25 hours, but I bought an RV-6A and switched to flying that in flight lessons (much cheaper, $120 lessons vs $300 lessons) but this set me back a lot. Along the way, though, I had to take a few months off due to business, and that, I'm sure, hurt my proficiency. Since I bought that plane, 6 "training" hours were spent with the "screamer" CFI and I ferrying the plane from SoCal to Vancouver WA. This plane is a bit more wild on the stick, so I am probably not so good of an example as it has greatly delayed my time-to-first-solo.
I started my flight training on September 27, 1975 in a GA AA1B (2 place Grumman trainer). My "ground school" was self taught using the Jeppesen manual. Over the course of about 1 month I flew 7 times and totaled 6.3 hours. I then went with a flying club and transitioned to a C-150 in April 1976 and after 4 more flights adding 3.9 hours I was signed off by my second instructor to solo at 10.2 hours total dual. All these flights were out of MKG (Muskegon Michigan). I then moved to the Denver area in Colorado and started flying again the next month out of APA (then Arapahoe County Airport), also in a C-150. This instructor didn't sign off on my solo until I had 15 hours total time. Signed off to solo cross country at 25.1 total time 2 months later. In October, 1976 at 48.0 total time I finished my check ride and got my license.
All done at CYKF, a towered airport in Ontario Canada. Started training at age 41, ready for solo at 17.3 hours, but had to reschedule progress rides a number of times and got my actual solo at 25.2 hours. Finished my license in 64.8 hours over 8 months, all of it in a C172S. One instructor through most of my training, but ended up having 3 in total when I completed all the requirements.
I soloed in 2016 at Hanover County Municipal (KOFP). I had 11 hours at the time, check ride was at 43 hours. All my training was in the Tecnam P92, cost less per hour than the 172's. I had 2 instructors, though 1 left for the airlines about 1/3 through. I was 44 while training, finished a week after my 45th birthday.
@@MyTimeToFly Cory, no, I've been flying a Grumman Tiger (AA-5B) the most for the last year or so, while I'm restoring a Rutan VariEze experimental. Thinking about partnering for another something with 4 seats. Still deciding that, though.
I soloed in 2006, I was ready to solo about 15 hours but had to wait for my special issuance medical so by the time I actually soloed I was at about 30 hours, passed my check ride at 55 hours. One instructor
@@MyTimeToFly I did my primary training at U42 in West Jordan Utah. I started in a Cessna 152 and then finished in a piper Cherokee 140. Now I fly a Mooney M20G.
First solo 33.8 hours, however it likely would have been around 25-ish hours but I had to wait for my medical to be approved with an appeal. I have had 2 instructors (first for 4 lessons) in Maryland, 0W3.
I also got my license 20 years ago and I think I solod after maybe 12 or 14 hours and I got my license at like 50 to 60 hours. I have no idea when I see people that talk about 40 or 50 hours or more to solo I just don’t understand that.
oh jeez, I'm going on 91 hours for ppl now and I have still not gone solo. I have done almost all of my training at CYOW, Ottawa international on the C-150L/M but since have moved to Cornwall CYCC and now on the C-172S. I'm on my third instructor now. Could I do it? Yes easy peasy, but it has been 1 and a half years waiting for the medical to come in. I started flying just over a year ago at the time of writing and have done most of everything which took about 4 months and and since it has been review to keep current. For real hurry up TC. I'm sick of waiting and broke. It's kinda embarrassing to see friends getting there ppl in sub 60 when I'm getting close to twice there hours and havent gone up by myself. I worried Ill never get there.
1st solo 2021 KJQF 25 hours Cessna 172 Before my first solo, I had only one instructor. By my checkride, I had 2 instructors. Unasked: I passed my private checkride on the first attempt at 175 hours. I was getting frustrated with my 1st instructor coming up with multiple reasons why he wouldn't sign me off for the checkride, so I got another opinion. After that first flight with the new instructor he said, "I have no idea why you're not signed off for checkride. I have to do a few hours with you to cross all the T's and dot all the I's, but as far as I can tell you're more than checkride ready". In hindsight, I should have fired my first CFI *LONG* before I did.
First, thank you for the details. Secondly, wow! What a crazy story. Good job seeking a 2nd opinion. Hindsight is always 20/20, don't let it get you down!
Soloed @ 32.5 hrs with 1 CFII @ KDWH The school I trained at had a syllabus and all items on that syllabus prior to solo, had to be completed and mastered and obviously verified by senior flight instructor by way of a stage check flight.
Started in 1996 - First solo finished at 9.6 hours (so possibly 9) in a Cessna 150 @26 years old with one instructor. Spirit of St. Louis KSUS. Had 45 landings at a controlled airport at the time.
2022, KAPS, I soloed at 31 hours and passed the checkride at 43, all one instructor in a Grumman Tiger. I was in and out of New Orleans Bravo all the time, too. I feel like a less rigorous instructor flying a beater C-152 would have let me much earlier.
Pierre here , started training on May 2021 at X04 in Florida (non towered) , soloed on Aug 19th 2021 after ~27hrs in a PA28. I had 5 instructors until my solo. My training was not continuous, limited by my availability and summer Florida weather weather. Got my ppl in Nov 21 with ~58hrs
@@MyTimeToFly I had 3 new instructors for my IFR, 2 for my MEL and since I starte my Commercial I'm on instructor #2. I don't mind, each instructor I had taught me a bit differently.
HWO airport started at like 48 yo took me like 3 yrs and 3 instructors. Started 2/10/2017 Soled 6/17/2018. Almost quit about 10 times, mainly do to instructors as i flew once a week most of the time. Plus i told them I was scare to rush. Big mistake. Finished with 200hrs on a C172. A real shame. Now I fly weekly since I own a warrior with my partner.
Soloed in 2022 at close to 40 hours. I had 4 instructors and this place made you do a full test before they would let you solo. Steep turns, stalls, turns on a point etc. If you couldn't pass that you were not going to solo there. They seem to be a bit different as I had almost 80 landings before I soloed. Never finished up but I am doing it this year with a different school and instructor.
@@MyTimeToFly I felt the same way. I was consistently doing engine out landings and nailing them before I soloed. On the bright side I felt very confident :) I told my wife, if there is a field and the airplane is in one piece... it isn't a problem.
Hi I could have done my solo after 11 hours in a PA-28 161 at KBDR but my medical was deferred to the FAA and it took 10 months to get my 3rd class medical. I kept going up with my instructor do di different things like night landings, going to Class C and other fun stuff. I once I got my 3rd class Medical I did my solos and got my license at 42 hours in about 2 months.
I did my solo at 19 hours, about two months. I had the same instructor the whole time. I’ve been flying in St George Utah (KSGU). I fly in a Piper Archer ll.
It's a difficult question to answer without context. I soloed in 7.5 hours at age 18, but that was as a result of an intensive flying training schedule - right from the get go I was flying a couple of sorties each day and qualified in four weeks with the minumim number of hours (+ 2.5) required of an Australian Private Pilot Licence at the time. If I'd flown an hour a week, it would have taken me significantly longer to solo.
I spent 38 hours in Cherokee's with one instructor at one airport, then switched to C172 with different instructor at a different airport because I wanted to solo at an airport with more open space around it. 14 more hours before solo, so a total of 52 before solo. Age ~60.
Soloed at ~40 hours, at 19, uncontrolled airport, had 1 main cfi, “had fun” with 5 more when he wasn’t there. why? International student, had to fly often for visa purposes. Had to finish up with a different one cause the main guy was unavalaible. PPL at 100 hours. Looking back, i see maybe 2 factors. First and foremost, definitely a slower learner than the average. Second, probably not serious enough, although I don’t think there’s much study i could’ve done beforehand. I don’t think people with less hours were putting in that much extra work, but were just naturally better. If it were about not studying enough, i would’ve soloed at 25 at the latest, and got my license at 60. Far from that though, so just a talent issue. Got my instrument a little above the mins, same for cpl and me rating. Only positive outlook is that I have no checkride failures. Debating getting my cfi. Counterintuitively, I think I’d be a good teacher bc I know where students get stuck. But the idea of going thru flight training again isn’t appealing given my very slow track record.
Instructor #1 - 2010. Starting training (age 22). Flight Design CT... (CFI abandoned me😥to take job at airline) Instructor #2 - 2010. Solo after 10 hrs. Flight Design CT... ( CFI abandoned me😥to take job at airline) Instructor #3 - 2010. Couldn't work together after a few lessons... The guy was a jerk. Instructor #4 - 2011. 2nd solo at 22.5 hrs. 2014. Flight Design CTLS.. (CFI retired after nearly crashing us while demonstrating an emergency landing.) Instructor #5 - 2013. 3rd solo at 35.1 hrs. Super Cub Sport. I quit at 38 hrs. Never attained license. I just lost interest in flying. I work in the G.A. industry and occasionally fly but have no interest in getting license even though my employer would pay for it. I feel like I can check "fly a plane" off my bucket list and leave it at that.
Solo at 18 hours at KOKK in 2019 in a C172. Had 8 hours in a champ before transitioning to the Skyhawk. Got my PPL at about 55 hrs. I had only one instructor though solo and most of my training except for 1 lesson.
Added info: Started training in late 2022 at 57 years old. Did not use a flight school. My instructor is a professional corporate pilot with 20K+ hours who teaches a few students as a side gig. I got my private a couple of weeks ago at 52 hours.
@@MyTimeToFly Mainly for fun, but with the goals of getting my instrument rating for sure, then maybe commercial and CFI. I think being a CFI would be a good retirement side gig. I don't know if I'll make it there, but I like having the goal.
Year 2022 took me about 35 hours @KFCM. 2 instructors. Had to wait for solo due to FAA medical (ADHD) Probably could have been sooner but had to spend money on those medical test.
I just found out that at flight school I fly at here in Michigan, one student is at 90 hours and another student is at 140 hours! and still have not took their private pilot check ride! That was worrying to me. I soloed at 10 hours and I’m at 35 hours now but starting to feel like my instructor is just hour building. It’s my 3rd instructor for different reasons. None of the instructors use a syllabus and half the time don’t even remember where you are at in your training or what we did the last flight. Absolutely no organization whatsoever. It feels like I just go there to pay money to rent an plane with an instructor sitting next to me what is your recommendation?
Make a list of what you need for your check ride. Complete it, and start your check ride prep. If there's no syllabus, tell them what you need and where you're weak. I wasted about 1-2 hours on orientation with "orientation." (See my other post) About 25 hours in, I got smart and started telling them what we needed to do.
A couple of commenters have mentioned seeking a 2nd opinion, I'd encourage you to do the same. Even if you had to drive an extra hour for training, it could be well worth it! Being from Michigan as well, I know there are some great instructors that execute a great plan with you!
I soloed in 2000 with 12 hours out of KGRR. I flew N64236 a C172. Then I went to college at MSU and resumed training at Lansing Community College, which meant switching to a part 141 program. I flew a variety of Cessnas and Pipers there, and got my private ticket with 91 hours. I had one part 61 instructor in at KGRR (Rapid Air back then) and 2 regular instructors at LCC. Incidentally, I live just below a long final for 24 at Sparta. Small world!
Soloed in 2018 (at almost 62 years of age), in 18.4 hours (over about 3-1/2 months), in my 1964 Piper PA28-180 purchased for the purpose, with two instructors (one primary and another backup - whom I still talk to/work with) at Corona Airport (AJO) non-towered, though most training was based out of Chino (CNO) which is Class D, and located under the shelf for Ontario (ONT) which is Class C. Both intructors are independent, and I used Gleim for ground school prep.
I soloed in April of 2019 at 23 hours & got my certificate in October at 62 hours. I was 50 years old. I had two instructors, both of whom were WONDERFUL but had very different styles. We used a 172 with a few hours in a Warrior.
Initially I had a female in her late 20s who had received her training at a 141 program in a class B area. She was very precise with her instruction, amazing on the radios & had a finesse to how she controlling the plane. I was about a month from being ready for my check ride when she got a job flying professionally & moved away.
My second instructor was a male in his 80s. He had begun flying in his 60s. He was equally as wonderful but was very “matter of fact” in his approach. If he told you to give an input… give the input! This helped me so much because I was able to see that the “gracefulness” she used wasn’t because the plane would break if I was somewhat forceful on the controls, it was just her way.
I learned a great deal from them both & am still in contact with them today. I might have finished in less time had I been able to fly more frequently but my schedule had a lot to do with that.
Such a great story Mike, I appreciate you sharing those details. It seems like you had the perfect mix of instruction.
@@MyTimeToFly Thank you! Looking back I wouldn’t change anything. I’ve been very fortunate with all my instructors from tail wheel to instrument & commercial. I’ve rarely flew with someone new, instructor or not, that I didn’t feel I had learned something.
I hope to get my PPL by 50
Yaaaaaay for the 50 plus crowd !!!
I soloed at 8hrs (C-150 Michigan State Flying Club), ran out of money at 20hrs, graduated college and got taken to the cleaners by the next instructor who basically made me start from scratch (didn't tell his plan) realized I was being ripped off and moved to another school/instructor and passed my check ride at 65hrs. Be careful with instructors and schools, they have their agenda and it may not be in your best interest, don't be afraid to switch. With that said, my instrument/commercial/multi engine instructor was the best and I got my tickets at min time (he also set me up with a great DP which did really short check rides).
Thanks for the inspiration to pivot, people need to hear these success stories!
I soloed at 24 hours. It was in a tailwheel C-170A. That was over nine months with some long breaks back in 2006. I used one instructor who I'm still using today. It was in Oregon at a small airport - 7S3. I'm actually a fan of taking more time if you are doing it for fun. Getting a license is fun. It should not be thought of as a task that needs to be completed before the fun starts. By taking time and spreading out the learning experience, a student is exposed to more types of weather. It is also easier to pay for one lesson at a time. And, once you get a license and take up friends and family, you end up flying alone most of the time anyway. Having someone to fly with as you learn is fun. I think too much focus is put on the cost of getting a license. It takes years to learn to play golf or snow ski along with a lot of money. I wish the fun of learning to fly was promoted in the same way learning to ski or golf was.
Those are some powerful words Mark, I appreciate them greatly. Thanks for the details, and keep having fun!
While I attended the New Life Christian academy, we have a flight club, retired Air Force Colonel Larry Roth was our instructor. We were training in a 172 after high school was over I went into the u.s. Navy where I became a submariner, submarine warfare, where I learned how to fly a fast-attack submarine in the Pacific Ocean😅, I have always meant to get back into flying but just never had the time, or when I had the time I didn't have the money, I'm now 54 years and I'm wanting to start over again, I think it's funny to see so many people and their fifties and above or actually just getting with general aviation, so I watch the youtube videos so they can start to enjoy the process and see what I can learn!
We flew out of an airport in Farmville Va in a Cessna.172
You can start over, I believe in you! Thank you so much for your service!
I did my first solo at 47 hours, at Wings Field (KLOM) in 2020, just before the bottom fell out of the world. I had two instructors, but my second instructor was the one I had throughout until getting my cert. I was 53 at the time and did all of my training in a Cessna 172.
Very awesome, and congrats on the channel growth Russ!
My instructor said I was ready to solo on my last flight before I took a break from training at 12 hrs. I'm currently sitting in FAA purgatory waiting on my medical, but I was training in a Piper Pa28 161. Had the same instructor the whole time and even flew with him on my discovery flight. I was training out of Robbinsville Airport in Central NJ, N87.
Love your content man, hope you keep it up after selling your Mooney!
Thanks so much for the kinds words and the details. I'm sorry to hear about the medical issues, that seems to be a common thread here! I hope you can persevere through it.
@MyTimeToFly still in the fight man. Just practicing my patience!
Had to check in my logbook to be sure. Soloed at 11.5 hours of training (11.5 prior to the day I soloed.) Was at MPV (Edward F Knapp State Airport, Barre, VT) on June 19, 1995. Aircraft was a 1966 C150 with call letters 59Juilet. The cost then was $55/hr wet.
I was not at all nervous as I was well trained by a 22-year veteran pilot/CFI out of Haverhill, NH. He was operating as a private CFI with no particular flight school affiliation (thus the low training costs). Wonderful fellow, Steve M., likeable and very supportive. After successful completion of solo flight Steve even ripped off the lower back part of my white tee shirt that I was wearing as a traditional ritual, something about 'flying by your shirt-tales' He signed and dated the torn off part the shirt and wrote 'first solo' on it and handed it to me. I could never say enough good things about Steve. (Unfortunately, a house fire in 2004 took that memento from me.)
Absolutely looked forward to doing this solo, AND I LOVED EVERY SECOND OF IT!!!
Very awesome story, but I'm sorry to hear about the fire! It's instructors like Steve (Tom for me) who make flying the perfect mix of fun and adventure. Thanks so much for sharing!
I did my training for my PPL at KLXT in the mid-1980s. Only had one instructor; a crusty old Korean War bomber pilot. Soloed at hour #7, took my checkride with 42 hours in my logbook. Did all my training and checkride in a C172. Did not go through a formal training program. I just thoroughly read the Cessna flight manual, got a test prep book and passed the written with no formal ground school. My instructor just happened to be giving lessons at the FBO when I walked in.
That's some great stuff right there! Thank you so much for sharing.
I soloed at 5.5 hours at VNY on May 31, 1973 in a C150. All my instruction emanated from VNY. My instructor was Pat McCarty all the way until my check ride at 48.8 hours on Aug 15, 1973. In the 2.5 months I had the opportunity to fly many different airplanes from the right seat with other pilots, Rockwell 112, C182, Piper Cherokee 180 (left seat), C172, C177RG. But all my instruction was in a C150 except for a X-country night flight of about 2 hours in that Piper Cherokee 180. I started my official flight training at 29.
Wow, I saw the documentary, one-six right, that must have been amazing seeing vny back then
@@teddyherrera727 Yeah, sometimes 15-20 airplanes in the pattern on weekends. And 16L had at least a dozen. 16L was still pretty long at 4,000.'
Very cool Larry, thank you for sharing. It sounds like you had a great experience!
I soloed at 10 hours out of klru, las cruces, NM. I was flying a piper warrior ii. I got my license at 55 hours BUT i was switched 4 times and had to do orientation flights with each one. Plus a 3 month wait for a dpe.
I was 39 at solo October 2022 and 40 at check ride April 2023.
A week later, i picked up my mooney, a 75 M20F, and did 20 hours with an instructor for insurance.
Awesome man, thank you for the details. I'm sure your loving that Mooney!
@@MyTimeToFly I am. I'm also kinda bummed you got rid of yours. Are you looking at anything else?
@teddyherrera727 I’m sure I’m time I will find another airplane, until then I’ll be patiently waiting!
2021 Cessna 172 at KBVS, one instructor who was really good. I'm military and he was also military (NFO). Soloed at 10 hours and passed my checkride at 41 hours. I have been a flight sim junky since I was a kid and continue to practice on it. I would say using the simulator saved me tons of time. Deliberate practice with procedures and maneuvers.
I completed my training at CYXU, a controlled airport in 1991 at age 25 in a C152. I soloed at 16 hrs and had the same instructor throughout. Transport Canada minimim is 45 hrs which it still is and i finished in 69. The national average at that time was 60 to 75 hrs. Overall it was a great experience and am still in touch with that instructor to this day.
Very awesome, thanks so much for sharing. It's great to hear the connections to instructors that last the test of time. I'm still in touch with my first instructor 20+ years later.
2023
D10
9.6 hours
Factory built zenith 601xl
1 flight instructor
I’m also currently 34
Still currently in flight training with about 28 hours and mainly doing prep for the checkride. I also bought a SLSA zenith to make it affordable since it’s just a hobby for me.
Very cool Brent, thanks for sharing. I do like the value of the Zenith, the seem like a good bang for the buck!
1. What year you completed your solo: 2022
2. What airport you trained at: KEAU (Class D) / KLUM (Uncontrolled)
3. How many hours did it take you to solo: 22.5 (-7 hours because I don't really count the C172 hours)
4. What airplane you did your training in: 7 hours C172 in 2021, took 10 months off to get my medical and then plane shopped for a few months to fill my hangar. The rest of my hours is in a PA-28-180 I bought starting June/July 2022.
5. How many instructors you had before achieving your PPL: 2.5 (Only did 1 lesson with 1 of them)
60.2 hours atm, checkride in Oct. Would've had the checkride done at 40 last fall, but a lot of delays, annual, and rescheduling pushed it back..
Thanks so much for all of the details! Best of luck on the check ride, just remember to fly the airplane at all times!
Started flying June 2022, at age 43, (1) Instructor throughout training, Cessna 172 (Primarily N80238) @ $170/hr Wet, out of KFUL (Towered Class D)
Solo Endorsement Achieved on 9/17/2022 @ 34.3 Hrs., Flight #31
Initial Check Ride Day Scheduled 12/23/2022 (Cancelled/Postponed) and had 79.2 Hrs., and 58 Flights Logged.
Final Check Ride and PP-ASEL Achieved on 2/16/2023 @ 96.2 Hrs., Flight #69
NOTE: Was rescheduled approx. 8 times due to DPE Issues, Weather, and other Delays. Also had a handful of flights that were "for Fun" and not necessarily training oriented. YMMV.
Thanks so much for the detail, on congrats on achieving your PP-ASEL. Are you planning to pursue more ratings?
@MyTimeToFly Yep. I achieved my Complex Endorsement on 5/11/23 @ 117 hrs. My goals are obtain Tail Wheel, Multi, High Performance, Instrument, Commercial and Seaplane.
On the fence about ATP at the moment. Current employment is serving me well.
I've recorded and published all of my flights since Flight #25. They are all assembled with background music but virtually uncropped and full length. They are Unlisted on CZcams. I didn't feel comfortable with the potential critics out there...
I completed my solo in 2022 @ 44 years old at KMNM in a c172. My solo was at 18.3 hours, however I had to take a 4 month hiatus waiting for the FAA to approve my medical (cardiologist and 2 doctors forwarded information but the FAA still took their time) I was ready for solo at 11.4 hours and stopped training until my medical was approved. Completed my check ride at 52.8 hours with 2 instructors and 6 months of training. My first 3 flights were with 1 instructor, and the rest were with another instructor who got me through my check ride. Flew one - two times a week after work(4pm or after) or on a weekend.
Both CFI now work for the airlines, however great flight school that was very organized and very meticulous. Currently they do not have an instructor at KMNM however they do still teach at KGRB.
Thanks for all of the details, and I'm glad to hear you were able to persevere through the medical challenges!
Solo at KRMY. 2 instructors and at 28 hrs. All time was in a Mooney. It took an instructor to just explain the landings in a different way for it to click !! People learn and teach differently. I just needed that different type or style to get it lol.
So true, having a couple of new perspectives can be a game changer.
5-2-87 Solo 6 hours PA-22-150 tripacer Lake Norman Airport, North Carolina. Was Flying from 2000 ft grass strip. PPL 10-31-88 49.9 hours with check ride time. From Romeo, Mi PPL from Flint, Mi. FNT. Without night endorsement. Never got the hours. Planes flew. PA-22-150, Cessna 177 Cardinal- no official training Only flew with father, Cessna 150, Cessna 152, Cessna 172-Sp And Beech 23
2014
GOK
Solo @ 12 hours; PPL @ 43 hours
C-172
2 instructors to PPL - first instructor, the owner of the flight school, handed me off to the second shortly after solo.
I have also noticed that is seems to take forever to get students to their solo and check-ride and I believe you have instructors out there that are padding their own flight hours for getting to the airlines...at Student expense!
I did all my Private Pilot training at the University of Dubuque (Aviation Program) at DBQ. This airport is/was a Towered Airport and is now a Class D.
1. What year you completed your solo: Started training in September 1980, First Solo - October 1980 (14 hours). Age - 19.
2. What airport you trained at: Dubuque, IA (DBQ)
3. How many hours did it take you to solo: 14 hours
4. What airplane you did your training in: C-150 and C-152
5. How many instructors you had before achieving your PPL: Two that were school CFI's.
* I received my Private Certificate on January 8th, 1981 at 45 hours Dual and Solo time. If I remember correctly airplane costs wet were $25/hour solo and $35/hour dual.
Queue the jaw drop for new student reading this now. Thank you for the details Scott, I appreciate you.
February 7, 2022, PA28 Archer2. One instructor at the time and I soloed at KEKN at 9.5 hours. Passed my checkride in July 2022 at 62 total hours. I purposely chose not to push for a 40ish hour check-ride and just enjoy the process. I did all my training during my 54 year.
So awesome, thanks for sharing all of the details!
Hey, Corey! I just found your channel from a CZcams suggestion about your cost of operating your Mooney. When I watched, I was surprised to see you fly out of Sparta! I was just up there to look into getting back into flying after 30+ years of not flying other than as a passenger on commercial flights. I live in Grand Rapids and decided to look into it once again. I trained at Jackson (JXN) in 1986, my first solo was in the same year, after about 15.5 hours. I finished my training in Alpena (APN). less than a year after my first flight but in 1987, I took my checkride at APN and got my license at the age of 30 after about 40.2 hours. All my training was in a Cessna 152. I've since flown a Beechcraft Sundowner at Oshkosh when I lived there for about a year. Late in 1987 was my last flight as PIC because career and life, among other things wound up taking precedence. Now I'm nearing retirement and, call me crazy, but I want to get flying again. I have many hurdles to jump prior to even beginning any kind of training but, barring any that are too high, I'm bound and determined to get current again. Best of luck with your research and, since we're nearly neighbors, of course I'm subscribing. I know it's been quite a while since you uploaded this and it all might be done but I thought I'd share anyway.
It's 2023. I have yet to solo. I have 36 hours. I've been through 4 instructors, the first one was a "screamer," which is to say that he yelled at me when I didn't do things up to spec. I spent most of the time flying Cessna 172s, and I was not far from solo on that at about 25 hours, but I bought an RV-6A and switched to flying that in flight lessons (much cheaper, $120 lessons vs $300 lessons) but this set me back a lot. Along the way, though, I had to take a few months off due to business, and that, I'm sure, hurt my proficiency. Since I bought that plane, 6 "training" hours were spent with the "screamer" CFI and I ferrying the plane from SoCal to Vancouver WA. This plane is a bit more wild on the stick, so I am probably not so good of an example as it has greatly delayed my time-to-first-solo.
I started my flight training on September 27, 1975 in a GA AA1B (2 place Grumman trainer). My "ground school" was self taught using the Jeppesen manual. Over the course of about 1 month I flew 7 times and totaled 6.3 hours. I then went with a flying club and transitioned to a C-150 in April 1976 and after 4 more flights adding 3.9 hours I was signed off by my second instructor to solo at 10.2 hours total dual. All these flights were out of MKG (Muskegon Michigan). I then moved to the Denver area in Colorado and started flying again the next month out of APA (then Arapahoe County Airport), also in a C-150. This instructor didn't sign off on my solo until I had 15 hours total time. Signed off to solo cross country at 25.1 total time 2 months later. In October, 1976 at 48.0 total time I finished my check ride and got my license.
All done at CYKF, a towered airport in Ontario Canada. Started training at age 41, ready for solo at 17.3 hours, but had to reschedule progress rides a number of times and got my actual solo at 25.2 hours. Finished my license in 64.8 hours over 8 months, all of it in a C172S. One instructor through most of my training, but ended up having 3 in total when I completed all the requirements.
I soloed in 2016 at Hanover County Municipal (KOFP). I had 11 hours at the time, check ride was at 43 hours. All my training was in the Tecnam P92, cost less per hour than the 172's. I had 2 instructors, though 1 left for the airlines about 1/3 through. I was 44 while training, finished a week after my 45th birthday.
Awesome stuff Tom, thanks so much for sharing. Do you still fly the Tecnam now?
@@MyTimeToFly Cory, no, I've been flying a Grumman Tiger (AA-5B) the most for the last year or so, while I'm restoring a Rutan VariEze experimental. Thinking about partnering for another something with 4 seats. Still deciding that, though.
Soloed in 20.9 hrs at the age of 51 at 8D4 11.9 hrs in a 152, 9 hrs in a 172. Got my license at 72 hrs total time at the age of 52.
Thanks so much for the details dad. It was probably fun digging back through the logbook!
I soloed in 2006, I was ready to solo about 15 hours but had to wait for my special issuance medical so by the time I actually soloed I was at about 30 hours, passed my check ride at 55 hours. One instructor
Thanks for the details. What type of airplane did you fly in and where did you do your training?
@@MyTimeToFly I did my primary training at U42 in West Jordan Utah. I started in a Cessna 152 and then finished in a piper Cherokee 140. Now I fly a Mooney M20G.
Soloed at 24 hours at the age of 41. Passed the check ride at 49.2 hrs. All training was at BIV in a Cessna 152 all with the same CFI
Very cool, sounds like you had a great experience!
Started training Feb 2022 at age of 37, soloed July 2022 at 21hrs at KHFD in a Piper Warrior II, with 1 instructor.
Awesome man, thanks so much for sharing!
60 hours, I took longer than normal mainly due to restrictions due to covid, and delays due to weather during circuits
Roger that, thanks for the details.
First solo 33.8 hours, however it likely would have been around 25-ish hours but I had to wait for my medical to be approved with an appeal. I have had 2 instructors (first for 4 lessons) in Maryland, 0W3.
Thanks for the details, I'm sure glad you made it through the medical ordeal. What type of airplane did you fly mostly?
C172M@@MyTimeToFly
I also got my license 20 years ago and I think I solod after maybe 12 or 14 hours and I got my license at like 50 to 60 hours. I have no idea when I see people that talk about 40 or 50 hours or more to solo I just don’t understand that.
No kidding. Either you're going to take to the air, or you aren't.
I'm sure there are reasons, but I have a hard time believing the reasons are in the best interest of the student at all times.
I know some people like to take it slow, I just hate the idea of bureaucracy holding students back!
oh jeez, I'm going on 91 hours for ppl now and I have still not gone solo. I have done almost all of my training at CYOW, Ottawa international on the C-150L/M but since have moved to Cornwall CYCC and now on the C-172S. I'm on my third instructor now. Could I do it? Yes easy peasy, but it has been 1 and a half years waiting for the medical to come in. I started flying just over a year ago at the time of writing and have done most of everything which took about 4 months and and since it has been review to keep current. For real hurry up TC. I'm sick of waiting and broke. It's kinda embarrassing to see friends getting there ppl in sub 60 when I'm getting close to twice there hours and havent gone up by myself. I worried Ill never get there.
1st solo 2021
KJQF
25 hours
Cessna 172
Before my first solo, I had only one instructor. By my checkride, I had 2 instructors.
Unasked: I passed my private checkride on the first attempt at 175 hours. I was getting frustrated with my 1st instructor coming up with multiple reasons why he wouldn't sign me off for the checkride, so I got another opinion. After that first flight with the new instructor he said, "I have no idea why you're not signed off for checkride. I have to do a few hours with you to cross all the T's and dot all the I's, but as far as I can tell you're more than checkride ready". In hindsight, I should have fired my first CFI *LONG* before I did.
First, thank you for the details. Secondly, wow! What a crazy story. Good job seeking a 2nd opinion. Hindsight is always 20/20, don't let it get you down!
@@MyTimeToFlyThank you!
I soloed around 85 hours. Kind of started over on lessons. Not worried about it.
Right on man, you shouldn't be worried about it. I'm glad to hear you stuck with it!
Soloed @ 32.5 hrs with 1 CFII @ KDWH
The school I trained at had a syllabus and all items on that syllabus prior to solo, had to be completed and mastered and obviously verified by senior flight instructor by way of a stage check flight.
Thank you for the details. Did you fly the same airplane the entire time?
@@MyTimeToFly First 17 hrs in C172 and remaining in PA-28, I like feel and visibility of low wings.
Started in 1996 - First solo finished at 9.6 hours (so possibly 9) in a Cessna 150 @26 years old with one instructor. Spirit of St. Louis KSUS. Had 45 landings at a controlled airport at the time.
2022, KAPS, I soloed at 31 hours and passed the checkride at 43, all one instructor in a Grumman Tiger. I was in and out of New Orleans Bravo all the time, too. I feel like a less rigorous instructor flying a beater C-152 would have let me much earlier.
Sounds like some great experience navigating busy airspace! Thanks so much for sharing.
Pierre here , started training on May 2021 at X04 in Florida (non towered) , soloed on Aug 19th 2021 after ~27hrs in a PA28. I had 5 instructors until my solo. My training was not continuous, limited by my availability and summer Florida weather weather. Got my ppl in Nov 21 with ~58hrs
Right on man, thank you for the details. Did you continue to change instructors after solo, or did the last one stick?
@@MyTimeToFly I had 3 new instructors for my IFR, 2 for my MEL and since I starte my Commercial I'm on instructor #2. I don't mind, each instructor I had taught me a bit differently.
That’s a great perspective to approach the situation with! Thank you kindly!
HWO airport started at like 48 yo took me like 3 yrs and 3 instructors. Started 2/10/2017 Soled 6/17/2018. Almost quit about 10 times, mainly do to instructors as i flew once a week most of the time. Plus i told them I was scare to rush. Big mistake. Finished with 200hrs on a C172. A real shame. Now I fly weekly since I own a warrior with my partner.
Well I'm glad you stuck with it! Thanks for sharing!
Soloed in 2022 at close to 40 hours. I had 4 instructors and this place made you do a full test before they would let you solo. Steep turns, stalls, turns on a point etc. If you couldn't pass that you were not going to solo there. They seem to be a bit different as I had almost 80 landings before I soloed. Never finished up but I am doing it this year with a different school and instructor.
Thank you for those details, that seems a little too rigorous to me (just my opinion). I'm glad to hear you're pivoting to a new school!
@@MyTimeToFly I felt the same way. I was consistently doing engine out landings and nailing them before I soloed. On the bright side I felt very confident :) I told my wife, if there is a field and the airplane is in one piece... it isn't a problem.
@@MyTimeToFly on a side note.. sad you were selling the mooney. i bought one (m20c) and enjoyed following you :)
solo'd at 15 hours in a 172 in 2010 at stratford, on.
Thanks so much for the info!
Hi I could have done my solo after 11 hours in a PA-28 161 at KBDR but my medical was deferred to the FAA and it took 10 months to get my 3rd class medical. I kept going up with my instructor do di different things like night landings, going to Class C and other fun stuff. I once I got my 3rd class Medical I did my solos and got my license at 42 hours in about 2 months.
I did my solo at 19 hours, about two months. I had the same instructor the whole time. I’ve been flying in St George Utah (KSGU). I fly in a Piper Archer ll.
It's a difficult question to answer without context. I soloed in 7.5 hours at age 18, but that was as a result of an intensive flying training schedule - right from the get go I was flying a couple of sorties each day and qualified in four weeks with the minumim number of hours (+ 2.5) required of an Australian Private Pilot Licence at the time. If I'd flown an hour a week, it would have taken me significantly longer to solo.
Very true, and that's exactly what I'm trying to discover. What are the biggest components to fast success in flying. I appreciate the information.
I spent 38 hours in Cherokee's with one instructor at one airport, then switched to C172 with different instructor at a different airport because I wanted to solo at an airport with more open space around it. 14 more hours before solo, so a total of 52 before solo. Age ~60.
Soloed at ~40 hours, at 19, uncontrolled airport, had 1 main cfi, “had fun” with 5 more when he wasn’t there. why? International student, had to fly often for visa purposes. Had to finish up with a different one cause the main guy was unavalaible. PPL at 100 hours.
Looking back, i see maybe 2 factors. First and foremost, definitely a slower learner than the average.
Second, probably not serious enough, although I don’t think there’s much study i could’ve done beforehand. I don’t think people with less hours were putting in that much extra work, but were just naturally better.
If it were about not studying enough, i would’ve soloed at 25 at the latest, and got my license at 60. Far from that though, so just a talent issue.
Got my instrument a little above the mins, same for cpl and me rating.
Only positive outlook is that I have no checkride failures.
Debating getting my cfi. Counterintuitively, I think I’d be a good teacher bc I know where students get stuck.
But the idea of going thru flight training again isn’t appealing given my very slow track record.
Instructor #1 - 2010. Starting training (age 22). Flight Design CT... (CFI abandoned me😥to take job at airline)
Instructor #2 - 2010. Solo after 10 hrs. Flight Design CT... ( CFI abandoned me😥to take job at airline)
Instructor #3 - 2010. Couldn't work together after a few lessons... The guy was a jerk.
Instructor #4 - 2011. 2nd solo at 22.5 hrs. 2014. Flight Design CTLS.. (CFI retired after nearly crashing us while demonstrating an emergency landing.)
Instructor #5 - 2013. 3rd solo at 35.1 hrs. Super Cub Sport.
I quit at 38 hrs. Never attained license. I just lost interest in flying. I work in the G.A. industry and occasionally fly but have no interest in getting license even though my employer would pay for it. I feel like I can check "fly a plane" off my bucket list and leave it at that.
Solo at 18 hours at KOKK in 2019 in a C172. Had 8 hours in a champ before transitioning to the Skyhawk. Got my PPL at about 55 hrs. I had only one instructor though solo and most of my training except for 1 lesson.
April 2005 solo after 20 hrs. Started Feb 12th, soloed Apr 29th. 2 instructors. Cessna 150. 4D0.
Did you end up selling your mooney?
Thanks so much for the info
Soloed at 25 hours
KRNP
Cessna 172
2 Instructors
Right on, thanks for the details!
1st solo 2023
KRME
16.2 hours
Piper PA-28-181 (Archer III)
Only 1 instructor all the way to my checkride.
Added info: Started training in late 2022 at 57 years old. Did not use a flight school. My instructor is a professional corporate pilot with 20K+ hours who teaches a few students as a side gig. I got my private a couple of weeks ago at 52 hours.
Thank you!
So awesome! Thanks for sharing all of the details. Do you intend to just fly for fun, or do you have "bigger" plans?
@@MyTimeToFly Mainly for fun, but with the goals of getting my instrument rating for sure, then maybe commercial and CFI. I think being a CFI would be a good retirement side gig. I don't know if I'll make it there, but I like having the goal.
Year 2022 took me about 35 hours @KFCM. 2 instructors. Had to wait for solo due to FAA medical (ADHD) Probably could have been sooner but had to spend money on those medical test.
I think you're the 3rd comment regarding the medical, I'm sorry to hear you had to go through that. What type of airplane did you fly during training?
I just found out that at flight school I fly at here in Michigan, one student is at 90 hours and another student is at 140 hours! and still have not took their private pilot check ride! That was worrying to me. I soloed at 10 hours and I’m at 35 hours now but starting to feel like my instructor is just hour building. It’s my 3rd instructor for different reasons. None of the instructors use a syllabus and half the time don’t even remember where you are at in your training or what we did the last flight. Absolutely no organization whatsoever. It feels like I just go there to pay money to rent an plane with an instructor sitting next to me what is your recommendation?
Make a list of what you need for your check ride. Complete it, and start your check ride prep. If there's no syllabus, tell them what you need and where you're weak. I wasted about 1-2 hours on orientation with "orientation." (See my other post) About 25 hours in, I got smart and started telling them what we needed to do.
Couldn't have said it better!
A couple of commenters have mentioned seeking a 2nd opinion, I'd encourage you to do the same. Even if you had to drive an extra hour for training, it could be well worth it! Being from Michigan as well, I know there are some great instructors that execute a great plan with you!
I soloed in 2000 with 12 hours out of KGRR. I flew N64236 a C172. Then I went to college at MSU and resumed training at Lansing Community College, which meant switching to a part 141 program. I flew a variety of Cessnas and Pipers there, and got my private ticket with 91 hours. I had one part 61 instructor in at KGRR (Rapid Air back then) and 2 regular instructors at LCC. Incidentally, I live just below a long final for 24 at Sparta. Small world!
Do you still fly? Haven't seen a video from you in a while.
Soloed at 11 hours
Thanks for the info. Was it from a controlled airport?
@@MyTimeToFly no, uncontrolled KBIV, Holland Mi
56 hours to achieve ppl
Very cool. What's the legal minimum to get your PPL in Canada?
45 hours I believe.@@MyTimeToFly