Thinking of flying

[Big Mac]

Hi everyone

Been introduced to microlighters by a friend. :D Always looked at the sky and thought flying was only for the rich. I have currently applied for membership of the PPA - Poor Pilots Association. This website made me think I could actually afford it, either by starting with a kit or a used a/c. I am also thinking of doing this with a partner.

I am interested to start flying microlight fixed wing, 3-axis, or what ever they are called, cheaply, i.e Bushbaby, Cheetah etc. Not really interested in trikes. I am totally ignorant regarding this type of flying and any suggestions would be welcome.

Requirements would be:

Fun flying
Low maintenance
2-up

[Morph]

Welcome Big Mac,

this is a life altering decision and the best thing IMHO you could ever do. Yes it is more affordable flying, but don't be fooled in does still cost you. Your mind is going to be screwed with thoughts of sky and trips and adventure and thrills and planes and instruments and and and.... .

Find out where your various training schools are, go to them and have a look at what 3-axis planes they train on. This is significant because you will probably end up buying exactly the same or something similar. Find the school with the type of plane that appeals to you. Then get all the money you need to do your training, don't try and do it on a monthly budget, this will take forever and you will become dissalusioned. If you have all the money up front you can drive the speed of your training.

Then get in a plane and start learning to fly, and have fun

Check through the Training Talk forum for more information.

[GR8-DAD]

Welcome Big Mac . Enjoy every moment of it, it will change your life. You will also make great friends on this forum.

[Big-D]

Welcome to flying Big Mac

Remember - Flying is not so much a hobby as it is a disease :D :D


I have been flying for a year and a half and evertime I fly is still just as magical as the first time

[Slow_Poke]

welcome big mac, as morph said its a life altering decision and its adictive!! drugs are nothing compared to flying!

[DarkHelmet]

Welcome Big Mac!

Morph has hit it pretty spot on. I also thought it would be relatively inexpensive and initially thought about doing it over months.

The bug bit so hard I gunned through it with 3 lessons a week!

As for triking - why you not keen? I really love my trike (ada laaik ada laaik) Have you ever been in one? It is really awesome - I prefer my trike to 3 axis.

[John Young]

Requirements would be:

Fun flying
Low maintenance
2-up

Welcome Big Mac - [another] big guy !!

Despite your comments [stated preferences], trikes could be just the thing for you.

Regards
John ZU-CIB

[KFA]

Welcome. You will find this site to be very informative, entertaining as well as very confusing. Me fly both types. Nothing beats trike on a good day. 3-axis more lekker for the rough stuff although a trike can handle the same as three axis, is the pilot that suffers.

[loansharkblv]

Hey Big Mac and welcome to the mad bunch...


I echo exactly what KFA said..... i am currently doing a 3 axis conversion because I (not the trike) don't like the rough stuff....

Here at the coast there is always wind so being a bit of a sissy my flying suffers.....

As far as cheap is concerned it depends on your definition of cheap flying....

2nd hand a trike will cost you about 2 1/2 times less than a 3 axis - Hangarage should be about the same and depending what you fly there may actually be a reduction in direct costs (fuel, etc) in the 3 axis...

As for the fun factor ..... both are the same ... just under different conditions for me.....

As for the view ............ Trikes rule!!!

[Big Mac]

Naaah John not really a big guy - just built like a hamburger.

Thanks for the comments guys. The comment cheaply should actually have been affordable flying.

Please help:

What licence do I need to fly something like a Bushbaby, Cheetah or equivalent ?

Where does MPL go and where does PPL start ?

Under which licence does one fly the Thunderbird and the Bantam ?

Recommendations for contacts for a demo on any (or all) of the above and for pilot training in the Pretoria ( Gauteng) area

[Vlieg-Kattie]

Hi Bic Mac,

Welcome and I hope you will find your dream-flying-machine! But I promise you that for me it wasn't about what I was flying, it was about the flying itself!

The moment I was up in the air it felt like I was born there.

I am still a student at the JAG Air Africa in Cullinan and I am flying with the SAFARI. Speak to Alex, he will be able to answer most of your answers.

Goodluck!

Flying is believing!

[Thatchman]

Hi Big Mac

Just some food for thought. I also wanted to fly fixed wing at first but was persuaded to try a trike first before making a decision. Glad I did. Besides cheaper, trikes are a huge amount of fun. My advice is to go for a flip in both before you start lashing out money, then make a decision.

[Rob F]

Hi Big Mac

I have a Thunderbird, and would gladly take you for a flip if you want.

You can also contact Gareth Davies at Crosswinds for an intro flight (They build the T-Bird)

[ICEMAN]

Hi Big Mac, welcome to mad half hour.....

if u get a chance, take a trike intro flight. u might just wanna get "ronald" to "super size" your order!!

fly safe

[Big Mac]

Hi Rob F
Thanks for the offer,I am interested in a demo with your Thunderbird
You can contact me at 0824675597
Big Mac