Are any of you guys pilots?

Andy J.

Andy J.

Doin’ it LIVE
Joined
Nov 5, 2005
Location
Winston
I was wondering if anyone here had experience with any local flight schools. Fixed or rotary wing. There don’t seem to really be any rotary wing options near me, but there are several Part 61 fixed wing schools around. I’m looking to get my PPL.

Flying Music Video GIF
 
If you find any, post results. I looked a few years ago when we started the Smith Reynolds terminal project and only reached dead ends.
 
You'd have to go to Charlotte as well as be pretty wealthy in order to fly helicopters, though if you buy one and pay good money there are people that will come to you for a month for training. If you're just looking to get your pilots license and fly a Cessna go to just about any local airport and take lessons.
 
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The school at Smith Reynolds has mixed reviews and had an accident a number of years ago. There are a couple of schools out of GSO. At the moment, Skybound Aviation is the one I’m leaning towards.

I’d love to do rotary wing (because who wouldn’t want to land in their backyard), but I’m not wealthy and also not going to drive 1.5+ hours each way for a 2-3hr lesson multiple times per week. It also doesn’t make sense to drive that far for a rental, post-licensing.
 
A good instructor at whatever school that was recommended probably isn’t there anymore. Those guys are using teaching for building hours to move on to the next phase in airplane employment. The guy that taught me is now flying passenger jets across the country. They don’t hang around very often. Flying a shit box tin can for 8-10 hours a day trying not to let the dirt get too close is taxing on the mind and body. Most of those guys are hitting the 1500 hour mark and getting the fuck out of that business.

Do rotate through instructors when you start. Find the one that you enjoy spending time with. My instructor and I are still friends.

Helicopter is next on my list…
 
Hey, if Aunt Bee can do it, you can!

 
My son recently joined Civil Air Patrol. I am hoping he works hard at it and can be one of the lucky few to get a scholarship to get his pilots license. My plan is to let him get his license and buy a plane, that way I can go fly whenever and let him do all the work 🤣. Who am I kidding, I'll probably be dead before that happens.
 
If my memory serves correctly, @benmack1 has something to do with the aviation industry.
 
DSM Turbos said:
Ugh, I want to learn but 10k or so for that, I could buy more dirt bikes.
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And keep doing the same ole thing 😎

Spend a little ya tightwad, and LIVE 😘 🤣

I've watched a few of my friends go thru the cycle of getting a license, buying a plane..maybe buying a bigger plane, leasing a hangar, then not flying as much...then leasing their plane out, then losing interest and selling it all and never flying again. So it seems to me like more of an itch that can be scratched and goes away than a real passion like offloading or single track 🤷🏿‍♂️
 
jeepinmatt said:
If my memory serves correctly, @benmack1 has something to do with the aviation industry.
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I am a private pilot with instrument rating. I don’t know the community toward Winston too well. As has been said, most small airports have a flight school and would be fine. Burlington has a very large school, Elon Aviation. Might be good to get a fixed wing PPL before moving to helicopter. The only helo instructors I know personally are in South Boston VA, W78 and Charlottesville va KCHO. Both too far to be useful I suspect. As has been mentioned, maybe find a crash course (pun intended) to attend for 10 days and do it all at once. Will be pricey regardless of the path you take.
 
CasterTroy said:
And keep doing the same ole thing 😎

Spend a little ya tightwad, and LIVE 😘 🤣

I've watched a few of my friends go thru the cycle of getting a license, buying a plane..maybe buying a bigger plane, leasing a hangar, then not flying as much...then leasing their plane out, then losing interest and selling it all and never flying again. So it seems to me like more of an itch that can be scratched and goes away than a real passion like offloading or single track 🤷🏿‍♂️
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Yeah. I just want to do it to say I did it. I doubt I would actually fly much. So I’ll take that time and ride two wheels more 😂

Maybe I’ll just do an into flight to just have that itch and see how it is. The issue is more time than money in reality.
 
Any time someone talks about becoming a pilot...this is all I can think of :lol:

 
Ultralights.
10 grand would probably pay for a plane, some sort of training ( dead simple to fly, supposedly) and a years hanger space. Not to mention if you have a decently large and flat back yard or nearby field, an airport isn't a necessity.
 
Lizooki said:
Ultralights.
10 grand would probably pay for a plane, some sort of training ( dead simple to fly, supposedly) and a years hanger space. Not to mention if you have a decently large and flat back yard or nearby field, an airport isn't a necessity.
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That was my dad's plan. He bought one and put it in the barn. Then, since he's such a hoarder, moved it outside so a tree could fall on it.
 
CasterTroy said:
And keep doing the same ole thing 😎

Spend a little ya tightwad, and LIVE 😘 🤣

I've watched a few of my friends go thru the cycle of getting a license, buying a plane..maybe buying a bigger plane, leasing a hangar, then not flying as much...then leasing their plane out, then losing interest and selling it all and never flying again. So it seems to me like more of an itch that can be scratched and goes away than a real passion like offloading or single track 🤷🏿‍♂️
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This is exactly what I have seen several times too. Some people are addicted to planes and for them it's like wheeling, I quit at around 40 hrs because it's just like driving down the interstate and anywhere I travel by plane would take 2 days in a single engine. And it's frowned upon to drink while operating but not while sitting in first class--which is far cheaper than owning an airplane.
 
If it flies or floats... you're gunna be broke!
 
Went down this route in 2020-21 and ended up with many of the same thoughts @braxton357 pointed out. Cliffs notes:FIL left me the pieces of his C150 and Aeronca Champ that are in my shop. I have too many hobbies and not enough time as is, so they will sit in the shop til I’m provided the logbooks and wings.

I can drive from Creedmoor to Mayberry in the same time it would take to leave the house, get to the grass field nearby, preflight, fly, land at Mayberry and drive to the farm. Same with my buddy’s hunt camp and anywhere else I regularly go. Beyond that, I’m not flying a 150 or Aeronca Champ to FL or NH to see family.
 
StretchASU said:
Went down this route in 2020-21 and ended up with many of the same thoughts @braxton357 pointed out. Cliffs notes:FIL left me the pieces of his C150 and Aeronca Champ that are in my shop. I have too many hobbies and not enough time as is, so they will sit in the shop til I’m provided the logbooks and wings.

I can drive from Creedmoor to Mayberry in the same time it would take to leave the house, get to the grass field nearby, preflight, fly, land at Mayberry and drive to the farm. Same with my buddy’s hunt camp and anywhere else I regularly go. Beyond that, I’m not flying a 150 or Aeronca Champ to FL or NH to see family.
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Sounds like what you really need is a helicopter than
 
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