The best Birthday present ever!!

[Mtnbiker1998]

So my 18th birthday is tomorrow (May 23rd), but since I have work tomorrow I got to open my presents today. My brother had been teasing me with a surprise for about a month now, and he finally revealed to me what my present was...

 

A 1 1/2 hour flight lesson with 40 minutes of flight time!

 

THE GREATEST PRESENT I HAVE EVER RECEIVED!

 

Thanks Robbie, the best brother in the world!

 

Now I just gotta wait 'till June when the lesson is. :joystick:

 

"For once you have tasted flight you will walk the earth with your eyes turned skywards, for there you have been and there you will long to return." -Leonardo Da Vinci

[MegOhm_SD]

Congrats and Happy Birthday. Who knows what this 1st step might bring in the future. You have a great brother. Nothing better than that!

:pilotfly:

[adrianstealth]

happy birthday

 

please post impressions sim vs real please

[cichlidfan]

Nice. Very nice.

[AG-51_Razor]

Brothers are like that! :thumbup:

[Mainstay]

Very nice !

 

A really nice birthday present from your brother indeed. Enjoy your flighttime m8.

[Aginor]

Cool, enjoy :)

[HungaroJET]

"For once you have tasted flight you will walk the earth with your eyes turned skywards, for there you have been and there you will long to return." -Leonardo Da Vinci

 

Welcome in the club and have a great birthday. :thumbup:

Try not to be a pernicious flightoholic :smilewink:

[Yurgon]

Sounds awesome indeed, congratulations! :thumbup:

 

+1 for sharing your impressions after the lesson.

[Mtnbiker1998]

Thanks everyone!

 

happy birthday

 

please post impressions sim vs real please

 

Sounds awesome indeed, congratulations! :thumbup:

 

+1 for sharing your impressions after the lesson.

 

Lesson is June 10, Will post my impressions afterword!

[VIKBELL]

Cool for both of you..

[Mtnbiker1998]

So today was the day! I got to fly a Cessna 172 with an instructor on an introductory flight.

 

First thing I did upon getting there was a short 1 on 1 lecture with my instructor. very basic stuff, anyone with experience in a flight sim will know it as common sense. I told my instructor about my flight sim experience so we didn't waste much time with the basics. Off to the plane we went!

 

Here I got to do some stuff that no flight sim (That I know of) will let you do, preflight! Walking around the plane inspecting everything was a cool experience (though I'm sure becomes routine and even boring when you have to do it before every flight). Very cool!

 

My Instructor taxi'ed us out and took off, and handed the controls over to me once we gained some altitude. My first task was to put her in, and maintain level flight. Once I'd figured that out, (controlling a plane is much different when you're actually moving, as opposed to sitting behind a desk!) We did simple climbs, dives, and gentle turns, which may seem boring, but the sensation of being in control of a real plane, and feeling real G forces was just too awesome compared to any supersonic jet in DCS! After flying around the area for a little while, I put her back on course to the runway, and my instructor took control for Final and landing.

 

Yeah, I probably coulda landed it if he's let me :smartass:

 

:pilotfly:

 

I spent 40 minutes in the air, which felt like such a short time compared to 40 minutes at work! :music_whistling:

 

As much as I'd love to praise DCS for its authentic flight physics and experience, No matter how realistic a sim can get, nothing can make up for the sensation of actually flying. Feeling the Gs as you turn, feeling the bumps and drops as the wind buffets your plane around, it simply can't be replicated while sitting in a chair in front of a monitor. Actually flying a real plane through a real, dynamic atmosphere is something totally different. As for flight characteristics themselves, there really isn't anything comparable to a Cessna in DCS, though I have faith that ED and third parties have done an excellent job recreating flight in the most realistic way possible!

 

I had an absolute blast today, although flying is definitely not a cheap hobby to get into. whether or not I continue with my flight training will be decided later, to anyone who can afford it, I highly recommend going for at least 1 flight!

 

 

So that was my experience of flight. writing essays is definitely not my strong suit, but in my short little passage here, I hope I gave you guys an idea of the awesome day that I had today.

[MegOhm_SD]

Congratulations! Just awesome.

 

Never look at Pre-flight as routine and boring. You could miss something that may cost you your life.

 

Keep at it...if you want it bad enough, you will find a way. Maybe you could work there and cut a deal.

 

If do you get your license, there are clubs that make it much more affordable.

 

If you don't do it, you will look back one day and wish you had. Because at that time if you followed though, you would be flying now. Who knows where it might lead.

[Mtnbiker1998]

Congratulations! Just awesome.

 

Never look at Pre-flight as routine and boring. You could miss something that may cost you your life.

 

Keep at it...if you want it bad enough, you will find a way. Maybe you could work there and cut a deal.

 

If do you get your license, there are clubs that make it much more affordable.

 

If you don't do it, you will look back one day and wish you had. Because at that time if you followed though, you would be flying now. Who knows where it might lead.

 

I was thinking along the lines of future preflights not being quite as Interesting and fun as the first time, learning all the little things and getting a closer look at some things that you can't do in a flight sim. I realize the importance of properly inspecting a plane before flight.

 

I really hope I can get my pilots license sooner rather than later. As long as my financial situation allows it I will do my best! Definitely caught the flying bug :joystick:

 

Also one thing I forgot to mention, those who find the CH pro pedals too narrow, are in for a nasty surprise if they ever sit down in a Cessna 172! :lol: verrrry close together to make room for the dual controls, but I found it to be a non-issue.