So, what's next?

[Brian Scranton]

Ok, now that I am a bad ass, card carrying instrument rated pilot...what's next? Mind you, I'll only be flying for fun and occasionally for work...

1) Stop wasting your money on instruction. You're handsome and a fine pilot--just keep filing and flying. 

2) Get my tail wheel endorsement--some guys never use their rudders.  

3) Go for Commercial--though it won't effect your insurance, it will make you a better pilot. That, combined with your good looks, just sounds cooler. 

4) Get a Multi--though I will never be able to afford two engines, why not spend $600 on a check ride to know that I can if I wanted to? 

Thoughts? Ready...GO!

 

 

[AaronDC8402]

The popular thing with my local pilot friends right now seems to be doing aerobatic training. A couple of the local flight instructors offer it. It's fun and teaches some skills and situations you're likely to not encounter otherwise. That's the next thing I intend to work on once my excitement wears off from the Mooney (just got it 6 weeks ago).

 

 

[Brian Scranton]

Ooooh, yeah! 

[1964-M20E]

could always go get your helicopter rating. 

[Seth]

Commercial.  You are in training mode and can knock out the written exam pretty easily.  The other requirements aren't that difficult, and you can use your newfound instrument rating to allow you to complete the longer leg flights should the VFR conditions not hold.  Also, on those cross countries use flight following as you are now comfortable talking on the radios.

From what you stated I'd go

1. Commercial

2. Tailwheel

3. Multi

Circumstances may change the order.  I should get my multi as I now have about six non logable hours in a Cessna 414. 

I'm finishing my commercial rating by Decemeber and I think Mulit will be next for me (though it still may Tailwheel).

Add floatplane after that!

 

-Seth

[Brian Scranton]

I guess Commercial is the real question. A few of my pilot buds who are ATPs all think Commercial is a waste of time for a PPL. It doesn't affect insurance and I won't be flying for hire...so, what does it get me? Other than the ability to do lazy 8s and to call myself a commercial pilot...of course. 

[steingar]

Take some trips, preferably internationally.  I've heard there's quite a destination in Wisconsin somewhere...

[RLCarter]

Sounds like you have completed all the training that your personal mission requires, save the money on ratings and endorsements that you won't use to hone your skills even finer....my thoughts anyway

 

Edited July 13, 2016 by RLCarter

[fauskie]

47 minutes ago, Brian Scranton said:

I guess Commercial is the real question. A few of my pilot buds who are ATPs all think Commercial is a waste of time for a PPL. It doesn't affect insurance and I won't be flying for hire...so, what does it get me? Other than the ability to do lazy 8s and to call myself a commercial pilot...of course. 

Opens the door for your instruction certificate and grooming/molding of future pilots.

 

 

[Seth]

3 hours ago, Brian Scranton said:

I guess Commercial is the real question. A few of my pilot buds who are ATPs all think Commercial is a waste of time for a PPL. It doesn't affect insurance and I won't be flying for hire...so, what does it get me? Other than the ability to do lazy 8s and to call myself a commercial pilot...of course. 

It allows you should the case ever come up, to ferry an aircraft for someone (flight school) something, whatever as long as you have your proper medical and such, and get paid for it, even if that was never the intended point.  It's an extra tool for something at some point down the line and since you can get it in your own aircraft vs a Tailwheel or multi, do it while you are in training mode.

Once you get it then you can decide which next rating/checkout to check off.

Commercial:

10 take off and landings at night at a towered airport.  Go do that now anyway.  Lifetime in your book unless you already have done so.  Heck, this time of year just do three to stay night current and then another three in 90 days.

100 mile / two hour XC VFR flight 

100 mile / two hour night XC VFR fight

300 mile VFR XC

250 hour TT

Chandelles

Lazy-8's

Steep Spirals

Power off 180

Many other small requirements

Can all be accomplished in your Mooney.

-Seth

[N9453V]

I'd strongly recommend getting your Commercial... I did mine 4 years ago in the Mooney and I know it made me a better pilot and comfortable flying the airplane through a much larger envelope. I found the power-off 180's the hardest to do. I got all the requirements and the written done (well twice, since the first time, work got in the way for almost 2 years) and completed it over a week working with an experience instructor.

-Andrew

[Seth]

51 minutes ago, N9453V said:

I'd strongly recommend getting your Commercial... I did mine 4 years ago in the Mooney and I know it made me a better pilot and comfortable flying the airplane through a much larger envelope. I found the power-off 180's the hardest to do. I got all the requirements and the written done (well twice, since the first time, work got in the way for almost 2 years) and completed it over a week working with an experience instructor.

-Andrew

Andrew-

I got almost all of my requirements completed 5 years ago in 2011.  Was getting really good at the power off 180 in my former F model.  Then sold my plane and bought the Missile and as part of the purchase overhauled the engIne.  Didn't want to abuse a new engine so I waited 100 hours to start the maneuvers again and figured I'd get the written done soon.  Never did it.  I had two cylinders crack at 100 hours SMOH so I didn't trust that lot and had two replaced under warranty and made a deal on the other 4 to be replaced as the overhauled, a well know shop, wanted to stand behind their work.  So another 100 hours and I was ready to start maneuvers again.  Still hadn't done the written.  I then proposed, then got married, moved, had a baby, she's now 13 months and with my biannual flight review due in December, I'm going to finish this.

Step 1:  Recheck requirements and start working maneuvers again

Step 2:  Pass written

Step 3:  Get CFI and brush up manuvers and simulate Checkride and Oral

Step 4: Actual Checkride and Oral.

Life gets in the way sometimes, and I'd have it no other way.  Love my family and my Missile!

-Seth

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Jeff_S]

You forgot about your sea plane rating. That would also be very cool and teach lots of new stuff...that you might never use again, but who cares!

[Piloto]

A rating that will enhance the safety of your flights is an A&P rating or equivalent training. Safe flying is not only steering the machine but knowing it will get you there safely.

José

[RLCarter]

Piloto makes a good point, especially if you like working on your bird

[helitim]

I second Piloto's suggestion.  I'm almost at the 2000 hour mark now.  I may never be a great mechanic because I don't do it everyday but, I can repair and or assist with almost every aspect of my plane now.  That's a really good feeling to know you have that ability when needed.  And for the CB's in the group, it makes flying ALOT more affordable.  My annual this year was $400 because I did almost all of the work.  Something to be said for sweat equity.  My wife says it's cheaper than a therapist.

Tim

[jetdriven]

I agree. I've flown my Mooney 500 hours and worked on it perhaps 1000 hours.  But you know what, when my wife or my partner flies it, I dont worry. 

The logbooks are in the baggage compartment and they burn up in case of a crash.   

 

Just kidding !

 

But I do sleep soundly for the most part. 

[Brian Scranton]

An A&P is SOOOO out of the question for me. Don't get me wrong. I love learning about the systems. I like to watch and help my A&P. And I really don't mind getting dirty. But I'm jewish. And we built the damn pyramids. After 40 years of wandering we all made a pact never to work that hard with our hands again. 

[MB65E]

Go do your T/w endorsement. For the value it will teach you a lot. You'll pick up on things post T/W you never noticed before. Do this while working on the commercial requirements at your own pace.  Highly reccomend Acro training as well. 

The multi, float, and Heli are stupid expensive if you don't have a use for them. 

However, the Heli and float training are equally as fun as the Acro, possibly more so. I got the biggest smiles out of the float flying. The most sweat loss out of the Heli flying. 

-Matt

[Browncbr1]

On 7/13/2016 at 9:57 AM, AaronDC8402 said:

The popular thing with my local pilot friends right now seems to be doing aerobatic training. A couple of the local flight instructors offer it. It's fun and teaches some skills and situations you're likely to not encounter otherwise. That's the next thing I intend to work on once my excitement wears off from the Mooney (just got it 6 weeks ago).

 

 

+1   Visit John Burt at KDKX...  It may save your life some day....You'll develop the ability to maintain brain function during high physical load.   It's a week long and lots of fun.

[Hank]

On ‎7‎/‎13‎/‎2016 at 8:49 AM, Brian Scranton said:

Ok, now that I am a bad ass, card carrying instrument rated pilot...what's next? Mind you, I'll only be flying for fun and occasionally for work...

1) Stop wasting your money on instruction. You're handsome and a fine pilot--just keep filing and flying. 

2) Get my tail wheel endorsement--some guys never use their rudders.  

3) Go for Commercial--though it won't effect your insurance, it will make you a better pilot. That, combined with your good looks, just sounds cooler. 

4) Get a Multi--though I will never be able to afford two engines, why not spend $600 on a check ride to know that I can if I wanted to? 

Thoughts? Ready...GO!

I'd go for Option #1. You've been training hard, now go reap the benefits of all that training! You now have two "licenses to learn," neither of which requires an instructor beside you. Go out and learn. Fly around, travel, have a good time. File and fly, get comfortable in the system, get to where you know your plane, what it does, and how to make it do what you want to do without thinking about it.

Once you've done that, then go back and examine what additional training you may want. But for now, just go fly . . .

[chrisk]

I'd like to get an A&P, however, I have not looked at the requirements.  Somehow I suspect it requires many hours of apprenticeship that I do not have time for.

I went the route of instrument, then commercial.  When I was deciding what to do next, I thought about gliders.  I visited a local club.  --I just didn't have time for the slow progress path.   Doing an accelerated course seemed interesting.  I though about going for a CFI.  I started reading one of the FAA books on instructing (I think fundamentals of instructing or something like that).  --It was horrible and I need to get back to it.  Along this search for what is next, I found the airport 10 miles from my house has one of the best gyro-copter instructors in the country.     I gave it a shot and got a gyroplane sport endorsement.  I might go for the commercial gyro check ride, which is even more useless than the ASEL commercial rating, given there are about 5 certified gyroplanes in the country.  But I am having fun with it, which is really important long term. 

[steingar]

3 hours ago, Brian Scranton said:

An A&P is SOOOO out of the question for me. Don't get me wrong. I love learning about the systems. I like to watch and help my A&P. And I really don't mind getting dirty. But I'm jewish. And we built the damn pyramids. After 40 years of wandering we all made a pact never to work that hard with our hands again. 

You're Jewish, so you're chea...  er, parsimonious.  When I had mechanics do annuals they were always expensive and something always had to be replaced.  When I did them they were cheap and nothing needed replacement.  Fellow MOT not afraid to get his hands dirty.

[Brian Scranton]

Funny! I've been told the cheapest thing you put in an airplane isn't the fuel, it's the pilot...

It's really a time thing for me. And as Billy Crystal once said, "Did you do the dead bird? C'mon, you have to do the dead bird...let's go...mime is money!"

 

[Jeff_S]

Oh, here's another idea nobody has mentioned yet...get your glider (sorry, sailplane) license.  That will really teach you about energy management and, like a tailwheel, will also hone your rudder skills. And it will help you keep from freaking out entirely in the unlikely event that your Mooney ever becomes one. Admittedly the profiles will be very different, and the sight pictures, but at least you will have some experience with a whole lot of quiet in front of you.

I did some glider training, just for the experience, and it was quite enjoyable. Never took it all the way to a certificate but definitely helped me understand more aspects of flight.