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I am practically half way through my GCSEs, this time next year I will be leaving school (year 11's last day was today) and as a reward my parents have decided to help fund the start of my career towards becoming a pilot. Okay I was first thinking of joining the RAF but the reward is still flying lessons.

I am probably going to join the Shropshire Aero Club as this is where my friend goes and after asking him (and checking the prices) the

Only military guys typically wear g-suits, flight helmets and such.  I usually just fly in jeans and a t-shirt.

As for acquiring the aircraft, I don't know the conversion rate of American dollars to pounds, or what kind of fees you will run into.  However there are many things to consider when deciding to purchase.  There is insurance, maintenance costs ($$$), hangar rent, and fuel expenses to figure in.  The purchase costs of the aircraft are just the beginning.  Last I checked, unless you fly at least 100 hours a year, it is cheaper to rent an aircraft than own.  

As for license costs, in America right now the price for a private pilot's license is around $4500 to $5000 for flight time.  Expect that to continue to rise with the fuel prices.  I know the rental rate around here has been moving steadily upward.

[quote]I am practically half way through my GCSEs, this time next year I will be leaving school (year 11's last day was today) and as a reward my parents have decided to help fund the start of my career towards becoming a pilot. Okay I was first thinking of joining the RAF but the reward is still flying lessons.
I am probably going to join the Shropshire Aero Club as this is where my friend goes and after asking him (and checking the prices) the

I am practically half way through my GCSEs, this time next year I will be leaving school (year 11's last day was today) and as a reward my parents have decided to help fund the start of my career towards becoming a pilot. Okay I was first thinking of joining the RAF but the reward is still flying lessons.

That's a good start... you're lucky. But start setting money aside now, if you really want this. Also start thinking about how to get your hands on more of the stuff.
You will spend a lot of money before you make any kind of decent living flying, whether it's for the RAF, the airlines, or what-have-you.
1000 pounds, as stated earlier, will not quite cover your PP... expect to spend 4 times that before you're done. But I wish I'd had 1/4 of my training money before I started- lucky you!!

[quote]I am probably going to join the Shropshire Aero Club as this is where my friend goes and after asking him (and checking the prices) the

I think the first thing to do is to concentrate on getting that PPL. As Charlie points out, this is likely to cost something like

A parachute... whats one of them do?  ;)

I suppose for 152 aerobat flying they arent especially needed, or is there a reccomended point in aviation when you should?

I think I associated too much of above with red bull perhaps with the extra and the G-suit, but perhaps for some aircraft a helmet isnt quite out of the question... One site I looked at sells them for roughly $700 a piece which isnt hugely bad in the long run. I think I heard on Carrier that they go up to $60,000 a piece for the Navy ones.

I am also trying to look for employment but a lot of places dont really want people who are under 16 like myself. A garden and outdoors centre near my house was looking for people to help with the camping section and after I have completed my Duke of Edinburgh (and have a  few qualifications) I am going to apply for a Saturday job or something.


I did also have a brief look at the RV-8 on youtube and wiki... it looks to be anywhere between

A parachute... whats one of them do?  ;)

I suppose for 152 aerobat flying they arent especially needed, or is there a reccomended point in aviation when you should?

I think I associated too much of above with red bull perhaps with the extra and the G-suit, but perhaps for some aircraft a helmet isnt quite out of the question... One site I looked at sells them for roughly $700 a piece which isnt hugely bad in the long run. I think I heard on Carrier that they go up to $60,000 a piece for the Navy ones.

Special lightweight parachutes are usually worn in the high-performance types but not for sport aerobatics in aircraft like the Decathlon or Aerobat. Forget the G-suit. Not sure where you got the idea from but they are not used on civil aircraft, even advanced aerobatic types like the Extra. I haven't watched the Red Bull races but I doubt very much that they use G-suits. Not sure about the bone-dome but I don't think that's essential either. It's a matter of preference. I've seen some pilots wearing them in Tiger Moths.

[quote]Hmm, so a PPL is a much further target than I previously thought... though I wasn't expecting it to be cheap.

Yeh license is at 17. Money is an issue currently as I have no job and about

I think you need to get a few of your facts straight before you start. Most of what you want to know is readily available on the Internet. I found this from a quick search. http://www.starttofly.co.uk/LicenceRequirements.html

Here's the relevant points;

Theory Tests

Passes in all 7 of the theory subjects is required. The examinations are in multiple-choice format and are not difficult provided the student pilot has read the appropriate training material. Some student pilots choose to learn enough about flying to pass the exams, others choose to learn about flying. There is a distinction. I'll leave it to you to work out which is the better pilot.

All of the exams must be completed within 12 months of the first pass. All flying training must be completed within 24 months of the first pass. The pass mark is 75% on each paper.

Whilst a PPL is valid for 5 years it must be revalidated every 2 years. This can be done by either:

   * Flying with an examiner and undergoing a proficiency check within the 3 months immediately prior to revalidation. This is a flying test of approximately 1 hour that looks to check general handling skills.

   * Flying experience of a minimum of 12 flying hours flown in the 12 months prior to revalidation of which 6 hours were flown as PIC. There will need to be log book evidence of 12 take offs and landings ( A good pilot always has the same number of each!). In addition there must be a dual flight with an instructor of a minimum of 1 hour.

Also, do hours flown with cadets count towards a PPL? I currently have an hour and ten mixed glider and powered

You would have to ask your instructor. I'm pretty certain the glider time wouldn't count. Hours flown in military aircraft do not generally count towards a PPL.

I think I associated too much of above with red bull perhaps with the extra and the G-suit, but perhaps for some aircraft a helmet isnt quite out of the question... One site I looked at sells them for roughly $700 a piece which isnt hugely bad in the long run. I think I heard on Carrier that they go up to $60,000 a piece for the Navy ones.

You simply don't need all that protective gear to get a PPL in a light single, but sure, all that gear is probably very expensive. Parachutes aren't cheap either, but if you're doing acro training, usually the school will rent you one. The Aerobat has quick-release doors which make it possible to get out if needed... the typical emergency requiring egress in flight would be jamming of the movable surfaces, such as when Sean Tucker's rudder got stuck past the stop and he realized he wouldn't be able to land safely.

I am also trying to look for employment but a lot of places dont really want people who are under 16 like myself. A garden and outdoors centre near my house was looking for people to help with the camping section and after I have completed my Duke of Edinburgh (and have a  few qualifications) I am going to apply for a Saturday job or something.

 It is tough for a bloke your age, but look on the bright side: you are mostly full of potential at this point, you know what you want to do, and you haven't already been caught up in thge rat race, with a wife and kids and stifling job and all that stuff. You're still very much in control of your immediate future. That's worth something, believe me... most folks over 30 would love a chance to start over.
 Keep trying- your willingness to work already puts you ahead of most of the pack.


[quote]I did also have a brief look at the RV-8 on youtube and wiki... it looks to be anywhere between

Well they are about an hour down the road, but I can definately talk to my friend tomorow on a radio course I am on (MOD Stafford basic radio) who goes there to find out some more.

Will definately give them a ring when I am in the position to get the lessons, which wont be for a bit I dont think.

Dont forget that if you really want to do aerobatics with a parachute your going to need to learn how to control a AFF chute, in euro's it is around 1000, but im not quite sure how the rates are with the pound, and you need to make atleast one jump each 2 months overhere.

I didnt know you needed to be qualified as such to use a parachute in those situations... for parachute jumping yeh, but I didnt know that about having one for flying.

I can try and read up on that.

I didnt know you needed to be qualified as such to use a parachute in those situations... for parachute jumping yeh, but I didnt know that about having one for flying.

I can try and read up on that.

Kinda makes sense that one knows how to use a chute, otherwise why would one carry one eh?

Kinda makes sense that one knows how to use a chute, otherwise why would one carry one eh?

Well with cadets we are given one and shown how to use it.

The parachutes we use are fairly simple to wear and operate- clip it on, tighten it up and pull back the straps. To deploy pull the D ring.

I would have just imagined it be a basic knowledge instead of something that needs to be practised every 2 months.