Author Topic: Real life PPL (Read 50647 times)

EHM-2387 Eric-Jan · « **on:** June 05, 2011, 06:32:15 pm »

OK, I have now officially started the route towards my real life PPL by .... opening up a new savings account

A PPL is a costly thing, and I don't want to have to stop half-way through the course, so setting aside a chunk of money before I actually start my flying lessons is a good thing, I think. I'll keep on pouring money into that account even when I'm done training, so I'll be able to actually go fly , once I have the so desired piece of paper.

This whole saving thing will also give me some time (a year at least; I hope to keep it under two years) to look around and see what options I have for taking the course. When it comes to this kind of big decisions, I always like to write down my arguments, so that I can look them up again later, but more to just organize my thought process. I find that if I try to explain my reasonings to a "public", I tend to draw better logical conclusions. It forces me to think it all over again. Anyway, those scribblings have now resulted in a (still) small weblog, that will grow as I discover more. And of cause my blog will continue once I start my training, and hopefully continue with my real life flight experiences...

The original blog is in Dutch, but there's an English translation as well => click on that subtle Brittish flag top right

Have a look:
http://ericje.blogspot.com
and keep coming back for more!

P.S.: Scroll down to the bottom first time you get there. Newest posts are at the top...

You could also go directly to http://ericjesppl.blogspot.com for the English version

EHM-1465 Dominic · « **Reply #1 on:** June 05, 2011, 08:41:39 pm »

Nice to see your thoughts all laid out E-J, it's a big commitment but I'm sure will be fantastic once you get to the end of the course. I've thought about it myself many times but with a young son, this is one of those dreams that I'll have to wait a while longer for

Keep us updated with progress and photos when you can and good luck

EHM-2155 Mariano · « **Reply #2 on:** June 06, 2011, 08:58:25 am »

Coolness E-J, good luck!
I'm following your blog with my alter-ego "Patres"

so I can keep updated with your progress. You're welcome to read my blog too, I'm planning a piece on why I love flight sim so much soon

EHM-2387 Eric-Jan · « **Reply #3 on:** June 06, 2011, 09:15:10 am »

Haha, congratulations on being my first follower, Mariano!

Of cause I will keep you all updated, both here and on my Blog. Be patient, though, I'm not flying very soon yet

I'm just so excited that my wife and I agreed to put the necessary money aside (over time) for me to pursue my childhood dream

EHM-1749 Hector · « **Reply #4 on:** June 14, 2011, 02:23:14 pm »

Good to hear that Eric-Jan and congrats. You are entering a whole new world of fun.
Besides being a pilot in real life I also was ground and flight instructor. quid pro quo.
I will be more than glad to assist you in case you so consider it.
Good luck and remember: " The aircraft can fly but cannot think. The pilot can think but cannot fly. If you place a pilot that can think in a plane that can fly, perfect. But if you place a pilot that cannot fly and cannot think inside an aircraft that can fly but cannot think, disaster is at the turn of the corner"

EHM-2387 Eric-Jan · « **Reply #5 on:** August 24, 2011, 09:25:09 pm »

Ha!

I have logged my first hour already

Not that I plan to start my lessons on a regular basis already, but all in the broader scheme of selecting a flight school and a plane I would like to fly in, etc.
I took my wife along in a C172 in a one hour round trip to see if she would scream flight. Luckily, that was not the case

. Beforehand, she was just talking herself into a fear of flying, and I thought I needed to stop that by having her experience flight in "such a shoe-box" in real life. As a touring flight or an instruction flight are both expensive in the same order of magnitude, I wanted to make this officially my first "Dual" hour. Optimistically, I think that 44 hours is enough for me to get my PPL in

So now I have a logbook, with one official hour recorded already!

I want to buy a share in a plane to save on the hourly rate during the course already, but more importantly, after the course. I figure: the less per hour cost, the more I will actually go fly in the end of this forseen trajectory. And before I do that, I want to have flown in each of these planes. So I already flew in an AT-3, and I have a standing arrangement to fly a DA-20 in October (weather permitting). Then, I'll try to also find an Aquila A210 to fly in to complete the wish-list. Then I hope to have saved up enough to actually buy myself a share of one of those planes.

You can read all about it in my blog, which I have updated now that I'm back from my holiday:
http://ericjesppl.blogspot.com/

EHM-1465 Dominic · « **Reply #6 on:** August 24, 2011, 10:35:03 pm »

Great news E-J, glad the plan is progressing well

EHM-2589 David · « **Reply #7 on:** August 24, 2011, 11:11:54 pm »

Congrats E-J.

for me is a dream

EHM-1997 Alexander · « **Reply #8 on:** August 25, 2011, 11:36:26 am »

Way to go E-J

EHM-2387 Eric-Jan · « **Reply #9 on:** August 25, 2011, 09:50:03 pm »

Thanks guys!

And you hang on to that dream, David! And be patient ...
It took me 35 years to get it to the top of my priority list. First those other little things, like getting married, a house, car, new kitchen, you can imagine the list. Now, finally, I seem to have the time and (soon) money available for such luxuries as pursuing a childhood dream. I'm sure if you really, really want this, it will come for you as well, some time. In the mean time, work on your skills with FS. My flight instructor said I could already fly because of FS. All I need to do is learn the pile of theory (of which I know at least half already, because of our hobby), and to perform the emergency procedures, unusual attitudes, that sort of thing.

To be continued ...

EHM-2387 Eric-Jan · « **Reply #10 on:** November 20, 2011, 09:32:09 pm »

Quote from: EHM-2387 Eric-Jan on August 24, 2011, 09:25:09 pm

...
I have a standing arrangement to fly a DA-20 in October (weather permitting)...

That October appointment was postponed until in November after all.
Despite low visibility on the ground (marginal VMC), I finally got to fly the Katana

The other good news is that the third plane is available as of next week, so I´ll try to make an appointment there too ...

Stay tuned at
http://ericjesppl.blogspot.com/

EHM-2387 Eric-Jan · « **Reply #11 on:** November 29, 2011, 07:31:28 pm »

So here's a little story about the third plane; the Aquila A210

http://ericjesppl.blogspot.com/2011/11/aquilla-ferry-flight.html#more

EHM-2387 Eric-Jan · « **Reply #12 on:** December 10, 2011, 10:09:27 pm »

I think I know which way I want to go:
http://ericjesppl.blogspot.com/2011/12/aquila-info-evening.html

EHM-2387 Eric-Jan · « **Reply #13 on:** December 16, 2011, 06:56:32 pm »

And now I am actually sure

http://ericjesppl.blogspot.com/

I'm just looking for a sponsor...

EHM-2387 Eric-Jan · « **Reply #14 on:** December 28, 2011, 09:34:56 am »

2011 has been a highly dynamic year for me. Especially n the area of real life flight

Here's a summary of how and why:
http://ericjesppl.blogspot.com/

EHM-2387 Eric-Jan · « **Reply #15 on:** March 12, 2012, 08:01:07 pm »

Nearing the April first (no joke) deadline for the shared ownership construction, I decided to put in another good word

We are at 33 of the 40 minimum participants, so a little extra advertising can't hurt!
http://ericjesppl.blogspot.com/

EHM-2387 Eric-Jan · « **Reply #16 on:** April 01, 2012, 08:46:10 pm »

Today was the deadline for the minimum of 40 shares for the Aquila A210 shared ownership construction for KLM Aeroclub. The day before yesterday (last Friday evening, to be exact), I got the message that #40 was sold!

So we're in business !!!

Now, we need to officially set-up the corporation, do some legal paperwork, create an agreement with KLM Aeroclub, and order the plane (after fighting over the colour of the leather

). So it will probably be August before she flies in. Can't wait already!

But the most important thing is that it will go on

My Blog (EN)
my KLM Aeroclub pictures

EHM-1465 Dominic · « **Reply #17 on:** April 01, 2012, 10:02:33 pm »

Great news E-J - it's a very exciting year for you so far

EHM-2589 David · « **Reply #18 on:** April 02, 2012, 11:20:39 am »

Good for you Eric-Jan an we're happy with you too

EHM-2387 Eric-Jan · « **Reply #19 on:** May 01, 2012, 11:49:56 am »

About two weeks ago, we had our fist shareholders meeting. If all went as discussed, there should now officially be a corporation, and the plane should be ordered just about now...
Delivery times would then make it the first week of August, before she arrives ...
http://ericjesppl.blogspot.com

EHM-2387 Eric-Jan · « **Reply #20 on:** July 10, 2012, 07:07:35 am »

We hit a few snags (last people to pay up took a while, IRS took longer than expected to come up with a VAT number) so it took a little longer than I posted before, but the airplane has been ordered!
A delegation of the corporation will travel to Schönhagen to see the plane being buit on the 25th of August. I am one of them

Expected delivery date: 22 Oktober 2012 ...

http://ericjesppl.blogspot.com

EHM-1465 Dominic · « **Reply #21 on:** July 10, 2012, 11:08:40 am »

That's great news E-J - getting your own plane must be a fantastic feeling even if you have to share it occasionally

EHM-2387 Eric-Jan · « **Reply #22 on:** July 17, 2012, 08:53:04 pm »

The date is set: 25 Aug. we go visit the factory

http://ericjesppl.blogspot.com

EHM-2589 David · « **Reply #23 on:** July 18, 2012, 05:12:46 pm »

August 25th

you count the days...

All the best Eric-Jan

EHM-2387 Eric-Jan · « **Reply #24 on:** July 19, 2012, 07:28:40 am »

Expect a full report a couple of days after

News:

Author Topic: Real life PPL (Read 50647 times)