Learn to fly

Moving to the Czech Republic has made my PPL ambitions a little more realistic than they were in the UK. The overall reduced cost of living compared to London, combined with reduced costs for flight time and tuition mean I can now contemplate putting in the hours.

I’ve bought the AFE JAR-PPL training manuals, with the idea of getting the theory under my belt so that I can focus my attention wholeheartedly on the practical skills of flying. Gradually I’m making my way through them, although it is tough going at times! With the other things going on in my life, I think it’s achievable to complete the exams towards the end of 2007 or beginning of 2008 and finish the practical requirements during next summer.

I’ve recently purchased Flight Simulator X, the latest in Microsoft’s Flight Simulator series. The graphics are absolutely stunning, but I’m also hoping it’ll be an affordable way to supplement real-life flight training for a PPL.

Some of the included lessons are really basic, but I find I am picking up relevant skills and just using the simulator in free flight is helping me familiarize myself with the way light aircraft behave in different conditions. Can highly recommend it.

I’ve wanted to fly for years. I’d had brief flirtations with the microlight private pilots license training before, but last year I bit the bullet and signed up for two weeks intensive paragliding training with Thermal Monster at Dune Du Pyla in France.

As you can see the weather was beautiful, but unfortunately not great for beginners most of the time due to unpredictable winds and large, lingering high pressure systems :( I managed to complete the requirements of the BHPA Elementary Pilot rating, but only managed the theoretical parts of the Club Pilot course.

After that I had the major upheaval of moving countries, but now I’m settled again, I’ve signed up for a week in the French Alps this July to hopefully finish what I’d started.

I’m keeping my fingers crossed that in three months times I’ll have everything I need to get up on the hill and start learning for myself :)