I know what I'm going to do with my life!

[Matt Colan]

Today, I got to fly a Cessna 172 and it was an absolute BLAST!!!  Thanks to my school and the local airport this was able to happen.  They have an Aviators club which is held every first and third Thursday of every month.

The instructor had me sit in the left seat, which I didn't think that would happen, so I was the captain for 10 minutes.  I taxied around for a little bit, showed me how to do a run up, and I took off.  I AM NOT KIDDING!  We flew around the area for about 10 minutes, and then landed since we had to give the other kid a shot (only three of us are part of this club, well more flying time for me ), but I didn't land the plane.

I now know what I am going to do with my life, I want to fly.  My head is still in the clouds and have absolutely no idea how I'm going to do my homework tonight  

[Wynn Robins]

you will have to do your homework and plenty more of it if you want to be a pilot!!!

Flying is a great experience - I think I was about your age the first time I was handed the controls of a Cherokee.......

now stop smiling and go do your homework young man!

[Zuriel Armstrong]

That brings back memories.  My first stick time was in a Piper Tri-Pacer.  Been in the clouds ever since.

[bob branch]

Nothing like flight from the front left seat.

bob branch

[Mike Scholtes]

I think Matt gets a pass on his homework tonight. But just this once.

There a lot of full-scale pilots on these forums, including some with some very serious credentials. They will all tell you that anyone can learn to drive an airplane. The hard part is learning how to manage the flight and operate safely. There is a lot of book learning between now and that pilot's license. But the payoff is that you get to belong to that exclusive fraternity (or sorority; my first instructor was a woman) of persons who have mastered this amazing set of skills.

[Matt Colan]

Well, I finally finished my homework, and my head is still in the clouds.  It will be in the clouds for a while until I fly maybe 10,000,000 more times

[Will Hinton]

Matt,  now is the time to start your book part of your certificates!  Even with the rigors of school you can begin by studying on weekends, etc. and get a leg up on those written tests!  Remember, this is INTERESTING school work, and the drive to learn is totally different than those courses that are imposed on you.
There are many great courses available for you to use and you will have a lot of fun in the process. GO FOR IT!!!  I have had no greater priviledge on this planet.  (Or off of it!  Chuckle.)
Blessings,
Will

[Peter Ferguson]

The cool thing is, in this country there's not much to stop you from doing that unless your health is an issue. If you can't afford to do it on you own, Uncle Sam will be happy to help you out.

[Bill Heher]

Matt I know exactly what you are feeling. I got my 1st ride at about age 12, Piper Cherokee that a friend of my Dad's had part ownership in.  I didn't get left seat but that didn't matter, flying form the right seat and feeling the plane respond to my feet and hands was incredible. At school the next day I told some friends about it, and either they thought I was blowing smoke or didn't care. No matter , cause I was hooked.

The thing that triggered my chance to fly that day was a get together at our house, and one of the guests was the Cherokee owner. My dad introduced him to me and said he had an airplane, I said " Be right back" and ran to my room and brought back my 1/2A profile Sterling Thunderbolt. He looked it over and said it was nice, asked if I had any more. My Dad laughed and said - lets go to his room. At that time there was about  a dozen 1/72 scale planes hanging from the ceiling, and the wall above my bed was covered with box top art, pictures and other airplane stuff.
He said I obviously had "The sickness", and I needed a treatment. next week we were sailing into the blue and I was in the clouds like you.

You once asked what kind of work I did to get to travel around and also geet to fly with Control Line groups like the N.W Fireballs. My current job title has nothing to do with aviation, but my interests in all things avaiation related is what got me here.  I did not become a pilot, but eventually went to school and earned my FAA Airframe and Powerplant technicians Liscense. Worked at  a couple airlines for 10 years or so, spinning wrenches and enjoying touching the hardware, many a late night power run in a twin turbo-prop, engine changes etc., life was good. I ended up in the Enginnering Dept of a little start-up called AirTran. I discovered that pushing paper insteaed of using my mmechanical skills was not as fun, and when an offer came to move into Semi-conductor Equipment support I left the airline world and started spinning wrenches again- and life was good once more.

The moral of the story is- you never know where your interests and passions will take you, but aviation can lead you to places you might not have gone without that influence. It did for me, and I still get to Fly Stunt and enjoy life!

[Jim Pollock]

Matt,

Congratulations on discovering the thrill of flight.  I discovered it at age 19 while at a training school in the USAF.
I then went on and obtained just about every pilot certificate you can have except ATR.  I taught flying to student pilots to the tune of about 4,000 hours before my interest was switched to law enforcement by my model airplane flying partner Mike Thompson.  One thing about flying I found out is that the days of obtaining airline flying jobs with just lots of flying hours and not that much education pretty much ended by the time I had enough flying time to start applying for airline jobs.  The focus now is on education, a minimum of a 4 year degree is needed and it should be in something like Aerospace engineering, very heavy in the mathematical department.  You might like to look-up Todd Lee's number and find out more information about schools like the one he attended in Daytona FL that included flight training.  I think he now is flying for one of the Express airlines in the northeastern U.S.  Also, attending the Air Force Academy and learning flying there would also be quite beneficial.

Jim Pollock,  Good Luck in your endeavors Matt, study hard!       

[Matt Colan]

Now I heard that the next time we go to the airport, we are going to go flying again

[john e. holliday]

Congradulations young man.  You are getting an experience that most young men will never get.  I think you have set your goals, now you have to follow thru.  Also remember which way the wheels go.  The Air Force Academy is one way of getting an education as well as flying.  DOC Holliday

[steven yampolsky]

Now I heard that the next time we go to the airport, we are going to go flying again

Have they shown you the FAR/AIM book yet?   

That book is better than any sleeping pill!

Did you get a log book yet!? My first flight lasted a total of 20 minutes and I came down looking greener than the spring grass(kept the lunch thank you very much). As soon as I was stable enough to move around I asked for a logbook.

[Perry Rose]

Start now taking courses that will get you into one of the military academys. From there flight school. That is the best way to get your wings. After your military career the airlines will smile on you.

[Matt Colan]

Have they shown you the FAR/AIM book yet?  

That book is better than any sleeping pill!

Did you get a log book yet!? My first flight lasted a total of 20 minutes and I came down looking greener than the spring grass(kept the lunch thank you very much). As soon as I was stable enough to move around I asked for a logbook.

Nope, no FAR/AIM book, don't even know what that stands for .  A couple of the guys said that they send 1 to 2 kids per year to Oskosh and they pay for the whole thing, but you have to show love for aviation (that's easy for me to show love for aviation)

You headed to Pal Park this weekend Steve?