If Only . . .

I could get my hands on sixty-four thousand dollars. I think I could actually BUY a helicopter for what it costs to learn to fly one!!!

Some ground work

I just got my membership to the Women In Aviation organization www.womeninaviation.com . . . . baby steps! Reason for this, is to get into the aviation community, and for scholarship eligibility. I'm going to study for ground school either online or by DVD. First, read my handbook, then study. Will look on ebay or Amazon for a used copy of a ground school on DVD. Found some good info on the FAA site today. A lot of studying can be done myself before taking any flying lessons. Then I can get my student pilot's license, which does involves applying, and getting a medical certificate. The more studying I do upfront, the fewer actual flying lessons I'll need, which equals less expense. See how that works! (as Sydney said this morning, referring to her eating oatmeal without spilling it!)

That's That Done!

Wow, it's been a while since I last posted. I had my swearing-in ceremony on Aug. 22nd, so I'm now an American Citizen. That's the next step toward piloting accomplished, at least.

So, whether it be by student loan, grant, 2nd job, or some other means, I can now go forth and sign me up!

Staying Inspired

I found a really cool blog by a female pilot of 18 yrs. VERY cool. I'm only about 20 years behind her (she started training at 19)!
check it out ... http://copterchick.blogspot.com/2008/02/heli-expo-2008.html
I'm doing lots of research on scholarships - they aren't in abundance. I think "copterchick" did 2-4 lessons a month and it took her 2 years to get her license. It sounds like she had the benefit of no kids to consider - but I have the benefit of 2 kids!!!

I'm not sure now, how I'm going to afford these lessons. I'm pretty sure you don't need to actually enroll in a flight school though. I think they're a bit of a rip-off. If I start off reading and taking some simulator lessons, and schedule the actual flying lessons carefully, it may take me a couple of years or more, but that's ok. I have to find somewhere closer than the place I flew, it was quite a long drive.
Yes, these all sound like excuses as to why I haven't done anything since my flight. But, if I had the money, I'd be flying every weekend.
I wonder if Oprah would like to pay for my lessons. ... sure.

DONE!

I passed the citizenship test. Now I have to wait a couple of months to do the Oath Ceremony. It was a 2 1/2 hour drive to a ten minute interview, where the woman barely looked at me or smiled the whole time. I wanted music and arm waving. Oh well.

The Next Step

Now that's done, I guess I need to figure out how many lessons I can afford, and how many I'll need. Lebanon's kindof far, maybe I can find a school closer that also has a simulator.
In the midst of all this excitement, I also need to study for my citizenship test on June 17th. It's getting close! I think I have to get my citizenship before continuing with lessons, to avoid lots of red tape.

Me Hovering

I Did It!!!!!!!!

This is after my flying lesson. I'm still standing! The guy on the right is the instructor, Dustin. When we were driving up to the airport, we saw the helicopter flying and it was bigger than I expected. But when I got up close to it, and looked inside . . . it's tiny! Don't ask me why, but I wasn't nervous. After some required instruction on engine failure, and going down the preflight checklist, we just lifted off the ground, and hovered around the tarmac while he showed me what levers and pedals do what. Then we flew off and got really high up. The instructor gave me the controls. I was so busy checking the horizon and keeping the nose level, I didn't have time to be nervous. So I can now say I actually flew a helicopter. I also got my flight logged, which goes toward my hours. The school has a flight simulator, so I can rack up some hours at less cost than actually flying. All I need now is lots of money. I have to go rock my 3 month old to sleep -- more to come.

Flight Simulator

I just added a link to a flight simulator site. It's very cool - this guy wrote an account of his first helicopter lesson. He's a little more obsessed with flying than I am. BUT, I don't see why you have to have had a helicopter obsession since you were 12 in order to become a pilot. You just have to want to do it, be able to do it, and enjoy it. Am I wrong? I have 2 1/2 days to learn how a helicopter works!

Here We Go!

I just booked my flight with Noble Aviation. This Saturday at Lebanon Municipal Airport, I get a 20 minute helicopter ride and a chance to take the controls. I can't wait! It's going to be terrifying and awesome at the same time - assuming I stay conscious for the whole 20 minutes.

Ok, I requested flight info from Noble Aviation in Nashville. We'll see what they say, and if they call me back. I'm on my lunch break, and plan to go read some more about the Whirly-Girls.
Oh yeah, and I think I can forget about it costing less than $15,000. A commercial license is more like $24,000. Better look for a scholarship.

It's NOT A Sign

I've tried 3 times to contact Luxurgy, the company I wanted to get a helicopter ride with. First time the pilot's phone went to voice mail. 2nd time, I tried to call again, and the phone rang, and then went dead. The 3rd attempt, I went to the website again - but the site was down. It now is obviously permanently down because the url goes to a domain name company.
This is NOT a sign to pack up my dream. It IS a sign that it's not going to be easy, and this is only the start.
I have a friend who's sister is a pilot. She told me about Whirlygirls - a group of female helicopter pilots. They award scholarships. I have printed out the application form and will look at it tonight after the kids go to bed.
I was hoping to spend some of our stimulus package money on my first ride, but the brakes went out in my car, and wiped it out. BRING IT ON!

Hope It's Not A Sign

I tried to get onto the Luxurgy website today to check the phone number for flights ... their site is down. Last time I called, I was transferred to a pilot, and got voicemail. I was doing some reading yesterday, and it looks like it will cost more like $15,000. I want to learn on the R44 which is safer, and costs more for flights. I am going to look into The Ninety-Nines. They're a league of women pilots that offer scholarships to women who want to be pilots. I have just printed the Rotorcraft Flying Handbook, which I will start reading tonight.
Here is a view from what will be my new office, one day!

Seriously?

So it turns out you have to perform simulated engine failure when learning to fly. And apparently helicopters fall like rocks. It would be really sad if I quit my dream after just 2 blog posts - but as I had planned, because I can't do that, I'm forced to continue my quest. I'll just have to deal with it. It's not like there's no instructor to take over the controls when I pass out from fear!
I would call to book a flight today, but I have a cold, and I can't talk properly - I'm completely stopped up, and I sound foolish. Totally sounds like an excuse, but you'll see!

I will fly one day

Due to my evident mid-life career crisis, (I am 41, and have been in publishing /printing for nearly 20 years) I have "decided" I'm going to become a helicopter pilot. I don't like motion -- I would rather touch a tarantula than ride a roller coaster! So, why do I think I could fly a helicopter? I think it has to do with control - who is holding the steering wheel. I hate it when the car I'm in goes over a hill and makes my stomach lurch. But if I'm the one driving, the same motion doesn't bother me. SO, the same should go for a helicopter. Right?
For less than $15,000 I can have a well paid career, that could take less than a year.