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my suggestion is if at all possible take out a loan that you can pay off over time...it doesnt hurt as bad that way. but you can also get your hours whenever the weather is good. if you dont think you can afford to go the whole route to a private license....you should be able to get a "sport pilot" license for between 15 to 20 hours. that will get you in the air with restrictions and let you build time...you can get your private cert later...but at least you can get your feet off the ground now and then...
my suggestion is if at all possible take out a loan that you can pay off over time...it doesnt hurt as bad that way. but you can also get your hours whenever the weather is good. if you dont think you can afford to go the whole route to a private license....you should be able to get a "sport pilot" license for between 15 to 20 hours. that will get you in the air with restrictions and let you build time...you can get your private cert later...but at least you can get your feet off the ground now and then...
Not sure about the US, but in the UK, most flying clubs offer a 'package deal', where you'll go through the flying, ground school for Nav Met etc, right up to the hours needed to go solo and get the licence, with a monthly or quarterly repayment scheme.
With the less than perfect flying weather in the UK, some clubs were offering the same deal, but with the flying taking place in the USA or Portugal, often with return flights and accommodation, from 'bunkhouse' to '5 Star', thrown in, with these 'over seas' courses aiming to get you to qualification within between two to four weeks, depending on progress and weather.
Happy wife, happy life...
Thanks everyone! If anybody is reading that's never done it before I highly recommend doing it at least once. It's definitely an amazing experience. It's not unreasonable either, they usually have groupons for under 200 bucks.
That's not a bad idea at all. I think I might take some more lessons first and see how rapidly I want to persue it. Does your flight time expire?
I'm afraid to ask how much that package deal is! Why didn't I persue this when I was a bachelor!?
Yeaaaaa I'm pretty sure after this I'm gonna have to get her something sparkly for her birthday. Do you think I could get her a handmade card and explain I'm trying to save up for my private pilot license?
That is kind of what I do. I use my Credit Card and then use my GI Bill to pay it off. Of course I can only use my GI Bill because I am doing a college program in professional pilot. About more years and I think I should have my instrument, CFI, Multi Engine and Commercial.
Only think holding me back is the damn Midwest weather. I sometimes get stuck without flying for 2 to 3 weeks.
i got my license in oklahoma so i know what you mean about the weather....and it can change with the tick of the second hand. were i younger i would be doing what you are....at this stage of the game i am protecting my chances of getting off the ground and going the UL/sport ac route.