Should I start??

[schuh]

I have 1100 dollars right now saved up for my private. I dont know if I should start to fly now or wait till I have around 5 grand. I will be spending around 120 a hour. I have not flown for a year now because of focusing on my real estate test and job. I do have 14 hours logged right now.

Would you wait or start??

 

[esa17]

Wait!

The worst thing you can do is start your training then run out of money in the middle. The delay will cost you more than just time. You will have to relearn things you were already taught to shake off the rust, and that, will cost you money. A lot of money.

Most of the people I know who didn't finish their ratings ran out of money.

 

[Douglas]

I would wait too.

 

[LoadMasterC141]

I would wait until you can do it it all at once without having to stop to save more money. If you stop, you'll only end up paying more in the long run because you have to keep covering old ground.

 

[38bat]

I would save up for your Sport pilot. Average cost is around $3500 and it can be done for alot less. Great way to get started. Hit me up if you have any questions. Our LSA airplane rents for $60hr wet and instruction is $35 hour. 20 hours required to get your license.

 

[DeltaAVL]

Save.

I started with about $4000 in hand (I ultimately thought it was going to cost around 5k instead of the 10k it's actually going to cost, but that's a whole other story), and I hit that 4k mark real fast. It got me pretty much through solo, but then I was out of money. Not even 20 hours into the course.

I ended up taking a ~3 month hiatus because I had no money, and am just now getting back in the air. But now I'm having to do it slowly, because I simply don't have 5,000 to hand over to my flight school.

I s'pose my point is this - it's much better to have the money ready upfront and fly consistently than it is to try to gather up money as you go along, having breaks here and there due to lack of funding. It's more efficient, you learn better, and you'll end up paying less in the long run.

In any case, enjoy your training!


edit: I see three other guys beat me to it! Agree completely with esa17.

 

[38bat]

I would save up for your Sport pilot. Average cost is around $3500 and it can be done for alot less. Great way to get started. Hit me up if you have any questions. Our LSA airplane rents for $60hr wet and instruction is $35 hour. 20 hours required to get your license.

Not a solicitation by the way, I am in Florida but may be able to answer questions if you have them.

 

[Hubbs]

Save.

I started with about $4000 in hand (I ultimately thought it was going to cost around 5k instead of the 10k it's actually going to cost, but that's a whole other story), and I hit that 4k mark real fast. It got me pretty much through solo, but then I was out of money. Not even 20 hours into the course.

I ended up taking a ~3 month hiatus because I had no money, and am just now getting back in the air. But now I'm having to do it slowly, because I simply don't have 5,000 to hand over to my flight school.

I s'pose my point is this - it's much better to have the money ready upfront and fly consistently than it is to try to gather up money as you go along, having breaks here and there due to lack of funding. It's more efficient, you learn better, and you'll end up paying less in the long run.

In any case, enjoy your training!

Where are you training? 10k is a LOT. You should be able to find a quality CFI for ~$40/hr and a cheap 152/172/pa28 for less than $100. If you have already solo'd you probably don't much more than 20 hours to get your private.

And to the OP you probably should wait a little while. Depending on how much you study, flying once (or twice) a week shouldn't set you back.

 

[Maurus]

Save up till you can support yourself for at least 2 or 3 flights a week (till completion) if you want to get started faster.

If you don't mind waiting, I would just save the money and then go at it five or six days a week.

 

[unclenobby]

How long did it you to save to $1100?? If the answer is greater than 1 month then wait and save up the 5G or whatever you budget to finish
In the mean time study for and get the written out of the way. Get your hands on the ground course and study that too (the FAR/AIM, Airplane Flying Handbook and Handbook of Aeronautical Knowlegde). And maybe some MSFS to keep you from going crazy!! You'll be ahead of the game when it comes time to fly.

 

[contactground.9]

Where are you training? 10k is a LOT. You should be able to find a quality CFI for ~$40/hr and a cheap 152/172/pa28 for less than $100. If you have already solo'd you probably don't much more than 20 hours to get your private.

10 is about what I paid, a little less...

 

[juskl]

9-10K is about right. If it has been a while since you last flew and you weren't that far into it anyway, you are going to have to get resolo'd and re due a bit. Wait, save up the cash and get it done as quick as you can (with quality in mind).

 

[SJM]

I have 1100 dollars right now saved up for my private. I dont know if I should start to fly now or wait till I have around 5 grand. I will be spending around 120 a hour. I have not flown for a year now because of focusing on my real estate test and job. I do have 14 hours logged right now.

Would you wait or start??

Do you have a job right now? If you do and can put 1000/month away for flying, then I can suggest you wait until you have HALF the total cost of the rating (realistically at least 4000) in the bank, and then start taking lessons. This is how I approached getting my ppl, but, as always, your mileage will vary.

 

[schuh]

Thanks for all the help guys. I am learning in a super decathlon so I will be starting all over since I have 14 hours in a 172. I am going to talk to my instructor today so I will keep you posted on what he tells me to do. I think I will just keep on saving my money and do it all at once and not pause when I run out of money. Just focus on studying.

I got the money from my tax return:laff:

 

[juskl]

Just a heads up. I am a tailwheel guy and we do teach people their Private in tailwheel if they choose (supercubs). But the costs go up (unless you are one of the few who are skilled at tailwheel right off the bat). Probably looking to add about 40 percent to the overall cost. You have to get a tailwheel endorsement prior to you solo. Which means you have to have your skill level up to what any pilot would be at getting a tailwheel endorsement (not just a student pilot). Very possible, just gonna take more time and money..... You might want to finish in the 172 or warrior and then get a tailwheel endorsement when you are done. You will save money in the end.

 

[stuckingfk]

Thanks for all the help guys. I am learning in a super decathlon so I will be starting all over since I have 14 hours in a 172. I am going to talk to my instructor today so I will keep you posted on what he tells me to do. I think I will just keep on saving my money and do it all at once and not pause when I run out of money. Just focus on studying.

I got the money from my tax return:laff:

Like the poster said above me, I'd learn in a different airplane. It will be cheaper and you can transition to the Super D later.

I'd also claim more on deductions with the IRS, no need to give the almighty, yet smart and efficient U.S. government an interest free loan.

 

[38bat]

Just a heads up. I am a tailwheel guy and we do teach people their Private in tailwheel if they choose (supercubs). But the costs go up (unless you are one of the few who are skilled at tailwheel right off the bat). Probably looking to add about 40 percent to the overall cost. You have to get a tailwheel endorsement prior to you solo. Which means you have to have your skill level up to what any pilot would be at getting a tailwheel endorsement (not just a student pilot). Very possible, just gonna take more time and money..... You might want to finish in the 172 or warrior and then get a tailwheel endorsement when you are done. You will save money in the end.

Sounds like you have more experience than me. Out of curiosity though, why does it cost so much more? It took me 5 hours to get my tailwheel endorsement and in 10 hours of tailwheel I have flown two different Champs and a Citabria on grass and pavement without any problem. Personally I think it made me a better pilot as I was getting lazy in the Cherokee!