Private Pilot Check Ride

Me and my instructor, Greg

I am licensed to drive a car, a motorcycle, licensed to teach K-12 Phy Ed & Health, licensed to hunt, and now... I am licensed to fly!  I passed my private pilot check ride today.

Last weekend I went in to take my Private Pilot check ride.  I started early with the oral exam of the practical.  Because this is my first check ride ever, I wasn't as nervous as I might be for the next ones, mainly because I didn't really know what to expect.  I felt excited for different areas of operation. I feel confident in my knowledge of aircraft systems and cross country flight planning, but I wasn't too confident about the regs because there are so many and the quantity is daunting!   If I fumbled through some areas, I powered through others and my confidence returned.  When I checked the weather for our flight after the oral, it was clear that I should make a choice to discontinue the exam.

We finished today by completing the flight portion of the exam.  To my surprise, it was probably the best flying I have ever done.  Lately, I have felt like I can perform the maneuvers pretty well, but there seems to be one that gets away from me. But this flight was just pretty! Once we landed the examiner said that if I can taxi back to park the plane without any incident, then I am a private pilot.

It took me 57.70 hours.

Progress to Becoming a Private Pilot

After today's flight I have 47.5 hours of flight time.  Up until this point, we have been able to pay for a majority of the training out of pocket, due to the fact we are in a situation without any living expenses and still DINKS (Dual Income No Kids).  As I finish my licenses I hope to share with you about estimated costs and then my actual costs.  I think it's helpful to get a clear picture of what you're getting yourself into, because it is high cost; however, if you're able to stick with it and make it to the airlines, it will eventually pay off.  Right now when I fly solo, it costs just about $140/hour.  Obviously more for when I have an instructor with me.  Here's a couple pictures from today, with MSP down below.

Long Cross Country Solo

I planned a long cross country flight to Duluth, then Brainerd, and back to Crystal.  Flew yesterday.  Duluth is unique because it is class Delta airport with an approach controller... which makes them a wannabe Charlie.  After my first leg, I stopped to go into the pilot lounge and check the weather to prep for the next couple legs of the flight.  I pulled out my E6B when a woman approached me saying, "I haven't seen one of those in 20 years!"  I completed the last legs of the flight, which were uneventful, for a total flight time of 4.1 hours.