Student Pilot Question

LISRAREF

LISRAREF

Well-Known Member
Im starting lessons soon hopefully and I am going to go out and get the equipment and things for a flight bag. I was planning on buying the following, tell me what you think about them and if i need or dont need them-

-Sporty's Deluxe Flight Gear Bag
-Telex Echelon 100 Headset
-Sporty's Handheld SP200 Nav/Com
-Lowrance Avionics Airmap 500 GPS
-E6B Flight Computer
-Charts For My Area
-Log Book
-Sporty's VFR Lapdesk
-Mini Mag Lite
-Fuel Tester

What do you think? Am I missing anything? Should I not get something on this list?
 
I wouldn't go out and buy all that stuff before your first flight. I'd wait on the handheld and the GPS---and might even wait until you've gone up a few times before you buy a headset; I was 1/2 way through my private before I bought mine.

You'll have more money for flying, you can always buy things as you go, and you'll have a chance to learn more about what you might need by talking with your instructor and other pilots at your FBO.

The other stuff on the list looks good.
 
wow!
you don't need:
1. sporty's handheld. nice to have but you don't need that right now.
2. handheld gps. also nice to have but you definately don't need that at this stage. i've heard the garmin 196 is better than the one you listed anyway
3. sporty's deluxe bag. get something simple and cheap.

instead of getting an e6b, get the electronic flight computer. about $60. it will make your life a lot easier.

things you do need:
1 vfr sectional charts
2. headset
3. fuel tester. the place your taking lessons will have one but it's good to have your own.
4.gleim private pilot written exam book
5. copy of the far/aim
6. kneeboard
7. cross country plotter. looks kind of like a ruler. get the one that has the rotating wheel
8. private pilot practical test standards book (pts)

the jeppson private pilot book is good to. (big hard cover book)
the airplane flying handbook is also good.

that should be good enough to get you gowing. good luck!! and remember, flying is supposed to be fun!
 
Yeah, what the others said. Except, I get along just fine with my E6B and non-rotating plotter.
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Also, your instructor isn't gonna want you fooling around with a handheld GPS during your initial training... save the money for now is my advice.
 
I agree with Hollywood...just get the basics. DO get the electronic E6B. If I can at all help it, no primary student of mine will ever touch one...
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Waste of brain power!!!

As for the Handheld GPS....I say hold off on it. They can come in handy, and I've used a handheld GPS while on an IFR flight plan (in VMC, and not as the primary navigation system, of course....) and it's made my life easier!!!

Later on, after you've gotten your ticket, I'd say get one. It's the navigation system of the future, and you'd be a fool to not be comfortable with using GPS (like many pilots...). Usually, the ones that say, "Don't depend on GPS" are the ones that couldn't turn one on....
 
I agree with most people on this subject except that I would want you to wear a headset. I don't want to have to yell my instructions to you over the loud engine noise and it will certainly save your hearing. Your CFI will no doubt tell you that you must have a headset. Make certain when you buy a headset to get a quality headset. I have a David Clark H 10-20 and although they cost more than a Telex this headset will last for a long time.

You don't need a handheld transceiver or GPS at this time, your CFI will not let you use it during training. When you are ready to do cross country training you will then need a sectional.
 
I, like everyone else, think you can skip the GPS for now. Your instructor isn't going to let you use it and will insist that you find your way by, oh, my God, looking out the window or by using VORs.

Depending on what the FBO you're doing your training at has, you can also likely skip the fuel tester. They probably will have one in the plane and it's one less thing for you to lose.

I also don't think you need the handheld nav/com.

And, I wouldn't worry about a gear bag. Just use a duffle bag or something that you've got at home. It will work just fine.

Try to save as much money as you can for flying and instruction instead of spending it on gizmos and gadgets. Your airplane doesn't care if you've got a cool new sporty's bag for your gear or a three year old duffle bag.
 
Ok, Thanks for the responses guys, now what do you think about the deal I was given on my training.

The local airport I would fly out of is a class C airport which is uncontrolled from 11PM to 7AM. It is Farmingdale Republic Airport in NY(KFRG). I looked at about 5 different flight schools on the field and I wasnt too impressed by any but my luck changed on my last hope. I was going to a school and as I was walking across the taxiways and parking areas to get to it, a Beechcraft sport came in and was parking. Two gentlemen jumped out and I asked them exactly where the school was. They both turned to me and were like, you want to use them?
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I looked at them and they both said it, they have had multiple people use them and there planes are in bad shape. The guy who said this was a certified mechanic and has rented a few planes from them, and the planes werent in good shape from my view either. The guy than continued and we got to know each other a little. He was a chief pilot for the local State college's aviation program which runs out of KFRG as well and he has his all his licenses including his CFI and CFII. We began discussing flight training and all of a sudden a Piper Archer came around and was parking next to the beechcraft. Another gentlemen jumped out and walked over and joined our conversation. Eventually they told us that these two planes belonged to a Flying Club that operated there. The club had about 3 or 4 CFII's in it and they ran both planes, had multiple mechanics in the club which maintained the aircraft as well. He told me that to join all members put a $800 bond down that is returned when they leave the club and they only pay $50 a month in dues. The aircraft rates are $70 per TACH hour for the Piper and $76 per TACH hour for the beechcraft. Both aircraft the allowed me to sit in and they were in great condition and they all had thrust levers, no push buttons
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. The gentlemen told me that he is off from the college on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. He said he would give me lessons for $30/hr plus the $70 for the aircraft. So it would be around $100 for HOBBS Time in the plane, but really come to about $90ish since the plane runs off its RPM and at KFRG you usually will be waiting on the taxiway awhile before being cleared due to the high amount of GA traffic. Is this a good deal?

$30 per hour for a instructor whos one of the chief pilots at the local college
$70 per TACH hour for a Piper Archer

Ideas? Opinions? Suggestions?
 
yea those are some great prices, i also train at FRG, i think im paying $30-$33/hr for instruction and like $75/hr for a piper PA-28 and thats with a 10/hr block time discount. oh btw what was the flight school that those pilots were speaking poorly of, you can pm me that info if you like.

Ryan
 
I dunno man, $800 down that you supposedly get back when you leave the flight club??? And 'only' $50/month in dues?? That's $600 per year.
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So you're gonna pay $1400 just to be allowed to fly there for the first year? $70 tach for an Archer is good, $30 for instruction is a pretty good deal... but if you fly once a week that's more like $130 per hour with dues than the advertised $100 or $90 per hour. But then again if you liked the place, go for it
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I would take what these guys said about the flight school with a grain of salt. I have a problem with people who trash talk a school and offer you a club instead. What these guys did was wrong. Talk to the flight school that the guys trashed and keep your options open. If it means going to another airport and seeking more schools. Shop around not only for the best deals but shop for your comfort as well.
 
Well I did go look at the school anyway and didnt like what I saw. I wasnt very impressed. I also went out to another aiport which is a more commercial airport with a flight school as well and liked them too, but they were very expensive.
 
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Well I did go look at the school anyway and didnt like what I saw. I wasnt very impressed. I also went out to another aiport which is a more commercial airport with a flight school as well and liked them too, but they were very expensive.

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Yeah....I've heard that FRG flight schools are a death trap
 
Shop more than you think you need to. An expensive, mediocre education is a very bad thing, whether it's flight instruction or a kindergarten. It sounds like these guys played to your emotions. "They both turned to me and were like, you want to use them?
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This is a pretty common tactic, and I think that a lot of pilots [no, I'm not a pilot yet] would say that it raises a red flag when schools/clubs recruit students by focusing on another school's shortcomings rather on than the student's needs. You didn't mention any discussion of your long-term career goals or any advice you received regarding them.
I'm sure the planes were very well-maintained, but you're not buying their plane; you're buying their instruction. Shop some more.
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If you like that guy, and could see yourself spending a minimum of 30 hours with him, then go for it. That's a pretty good deal.

I belong to an airplane club myself, and it is the best deal out there.
 
where are you guys training at frg im over at select pretty overpriced but well maintained aircraft and i have the best instructor around.....i wasnt at all impressed with nassau flyers aircraft but as an earlier post stated your not buying the plane your buying the instruction. im not too familiar with any of the other flight schools over there but i do know that SUNY farmingdale is located on the field and you need to be a student their in order to train in there aircraft.... as a matter of fact the chair of the flight department is my aviation safety professor at the college of aeronautics... they just bought a whole bunch of new planes... before that i heard horror stories about their flightline ...
 
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