OMG that was awesome!  I just got back from my intro flight, and let me tell you.  To all of you who have thought about trying it, and have the means to do so, I'm telling you, you won't be sorry!!!

The only thing I didn't do was land.  Other than that, I had the airplane for most of the flight, including take off.

My instructor, Pat, was amazing.  He didn't tell corny jokes like Rod Machado (I sorta expected him to, believe it or not), he didn't oversimplify things...It really was just like flying with a friend.  (And it helped that he was about my age.  lol)

Words can't describe how much fun it is.  Don't be like me and put it off til you're 28.  Do it!!!  I can't wait to schedule my next lesson!

I just got a call from the Flight Instructor who teaches at the local airport. Anyway, she's giving me the chance to take the Groundschool class starting this Monday and lasts 15 weeks.

I just need to work this out with my boss to have that day off every week.

Nice one Scott, glad you enjoyed it.

Mark

Actually, I did some work with the numbers, and I could probably afford a lesson a week.  But while I was there, I picked up a pamphlet by a company called Pilot Finance, Inc.  (www.pilotfinance.com) and they will finance your lessons, allowing you to do as many as five lessons per week.  So now I'm not sure how I'm gonna do it.  Just that I am!

hope you know understand that M$ FS is still far from perfect when it comes to flight caracteristics 

the key thing being you get a real feel for the plane when your up in the sky, like the vision its something flight sim cant even simulate. just remember though flight sim is great to really keep your basic skills up with when your not flying

i think it was just a point of note thing more than anything else

my wife got me one of these flights. I have gone up prior in a Cessna 172 twice prior but when I went up in July around 10am.

It was very humid so there were thermals. I was able to taxi and take off but maybe after 20 minutes in the warm humid air I thought I was going to get sick 

Had to crack the window and he gave me his barf bag just incase. When I got back down and drove back home even going over hills gave me that same sick feeling (hurl)

I'm not a fan of roller coasters or hieghts but had no problem prior or in big planes. Just the raise and pitching like being out at sea made me feel like total crap.

When we got down the instructor told me he had a lady come over her airsickness but I don't think I'll try to fight it.

What a bummer, hope you go all the way 

Quote:
  I think it WAS just for the record, and IS relevant to the topic.  ???  The dynamics are not always accurate, to say the least! If you try to maintain altitude in a steep turn in the 172/182, half of the time you end up stalling! I threw away my Force Feedback joystick because of this. I have never stalled a 172/182 in a steep turn or any other flight regime for that matter, other than INTENTIONAL stalls. If I had started out in FS and then transitioned to a real Cessna, I would be shocked at how easy it is to fly the real thing!

So when's the next lesson Scott????    ???  ???

Be careful with programs like Gulfstream Academy and Comair, with their F/O programs. We take resumes with this kind of history and chuck them directly into the circular file! 
It sounds good to a guy trying to build time, and get his foot in the door, but remember you are taking a job from somebody else in a business where people are struggling as it is. The fact that these guys are profitting from it(the schools) doesn't go unnoticed!!
Where in FL just out of curiosity?           Riddle probably has THE best program in the business, but the cost follows accordingly with the BEST title! If you are in the Dade/Broward area, I would reccomend a school called PFT(professional flight training), they are a 141 school w/o a college program, but none the less the best training for your dollar spent !   Pat

hyp...
  this is great news.  i'm also working on my license, both rotor and fixed,  and my two cents is; no matter the struggle or how long it takes, and has taken thus far,  it is worth every piched penny.  coming from a 23yr old father who sometimes just makes his bills.

i'm going to teach my daughter to fly someday too if she's interested
                                                             rooks