Private Pilot loosing interest in flying

ewan whose army

So I am a Brit ex-pat who is a private pilot (I hold a JAA / EASA PPL ). I initially got my PPL because I had a dream of being a commercial pilot however that dream died (I got cold feet at funding it among other things, I just lost all interest in it all of a sudden) .

Now I am doing a funded PhD at TCD and I use some of it to pay for my own flying, but the thing is I am loosing interest in it.

I have the PPL access to a Piper Arrow but I don't know what to do with it. Its alot of money to spend just on a hobby isn't it ?

Does anyone on here have any ideas of things I could try to rekindle my interest in it?

keith16

Have a look at some of the pictures in the flight fest photo thread from today?

Sorry I can't give you anything more technical than that.

ewan whose army

keith16 wrote: »

Have a look at some of the pictures in the flight fest photo thread from today?

Sorry I can't give you anything more technical than that.

I live in the IFSC so I saw some of them from my balcony, it kinda made me feel bad considering the ones I saw were that Russian 767 and the A340 and A380 . Oh and the civvie C130

Stovepipe

Hi there,
get yourself into your car and get down to Newcastle in Wicklow and make yourself known and go flying off grass in a tailwheeler. It'll tell you what your feet are for and wean you off leaden nosewheelers. Failing that, get an Irish flight guide and start visiting the small airfields on your day off.There's at least six in Meath alone, Kilrush in Kildare,Abbeyshrule in Longford and so on. Great flying to be had there.

regards
Stovepipe

fii

Hi,

Have you considered taking up microlighting? It will be a new challenge learning to fly microlights and you can fly them for a fraction of the cost of an Arrow. Their excellent STOL performance will open up many new airfields to fly to and a wide new circle of friends!

Regards,
FII

bombs away

Have to agree with stovepipe here, get yourself a taildragger rating. Most fun I've ever had flying aircraft. enough said

logie101

bombs away wrote: »

Have to agree with stovepipe here, get yourself a taildragger rating. Most fun I've ever had flying aircraft. enough said

Taildragging instruction in Ireland appears to be dying out. Apart from NFC's Cub I can't think of anywhere else in the country to get a tailwheel sign off.

alphaLaura

^ logie101 - you can also get your tailwheel sign off in Cork (EI-BIV) and with Trevor Kellet in Navan. Peter Tawse in Kilkenny used do the signoff but I believe there has been a shuffle of available Citabrias so no longer an option unless you source your own.

youknowwho

Can anyone suggest where you can get a ride in a taildragger. Flew in a 1930's Tigermoth in the Australian outback years ago ane loved it. Seeing the boeing Steerman at the weekend rekindled the desire to ride in one again.

Stovepipe

If you live in or about Dublin, especially the Southside, get yourself down to EINC, Newcastle. There is a Super Cub available there. Also, there are other private taildraggers based there so ask the Boss there and see what he can do.

regards
Stovepipe

lomb

Spare a thought for the heli ppl guys I doubt more than 1% of them renew their licenses long term as that is unaffordable to most whereas fixed wing isnt if its saved up for. Having said that I think its only 4% of PPl(A) holders that renew which is fairly shocking considering the initial expense and dedication.

ewan whose army

lomb wrote: »

Spare a thought for the heli ppl guys I doubt more than 1% of them renew their licenses long term as that is unaffordable to most whereas fixed wing isnt if its saved up for. Having said that I think its only 4% of PPl(A) holders that renew which is fairly shocking considering the initial expense and dedication.

A lot of that is also down to the aircraft, you can't really afford anything other than a R22 as a PPL (H) and to be honest they are kinda horrid things. Unless you are loaded and get a Turbine then you are stuck in the same type of bird.