14 years after first looking at taking flying lessons, (and several times since), it only took 2 hours talking with a pilot friend for me to finally go ahead and sign up. After listening to his Air Force and general aviation flying stories I came away saying "I want to fly! I want to fly!". Two days shy of six months was what it took to get my PPL.

I looked at four flight schools in the Durham area: Chapel Hill Flying club at Horace Williams (W52) airport, Causey Aviation at Person County (TDF) airport (910)364-1111, Empire Aviation at Lake Ridge Aero (Pvt.) Airpark (919)479-1050, and Raleigh Flying Service at Raleigh Durham International (RDU) airport (919)840-4400. I dropped the Chapel Hill Flying club because of airport restrictions and having to find an instructor in the club. Person County airport was the farthest away and nothing in particular stood out about them. It came down to Empire Aviation and RFS. I heard nothing but glowing reccomendations about Paul Hesse, Empire Aviation's main instructor. Empire Aviation and Raleigh Flying Service were about equal.

I finally decided to go with Raleigh Flying Service. I will probably spend more time (and money) in the pattern getting out of the way of the big jets at RDU, but I felt that being comfortable talking to the tower and Approach and Departure Control was worth the money. Hey, I'm the one flying the plane, whether I have my instructor, Jessica, next to me or not. That's the whole point, right?

I keep an electronic record of my flights using Steven Schlossom's Logbook database.

The history of my flight instruction

May 8, 1996

My first scheduled day of flight instruction.

May 22, 1996

The fifth scheduled lesson, The weather is finally good enough to start flight instruction. Flying in 69048, a Cessna 152.

July 3, 1996

Got my 3rd class medical.

July 31, 1996

The 14th lesson. Everything was set for soloing. Then the wind picked up and the solo was waved off. Maybe on August 6th. The weather forecast is looking favorable then.

August 6, 1996

Solo! 69048 is a small plane. It seems much larger when there isn't anyone sitting in the right seat!

August 10, 1996

First solo away from the pattern.

August 15, 1996

First cross-country RDU to GSO and back by Pilotage.

September 14, 1996

25 Days is a long time to go between flights.

September 15, 1996

Night Flights. Got 8 landings in. With all the lights at RDU, the runway lights were somewhat difficult to make out while on a downwind.

September 20, 1996

Solo Cross country! First Solo cross country. RDU to Craven County regional (Newbern - EWN) and back. This flight was the most exciting to date. Alone to a place I've never been before, 114 miles away. The only down side was that I had to pump $1.95 in change into a payphone to talk with my instructor for about 30 seconds to say that I made it safely.

October 15, 1996

Night cross country flight.

October 16, 1996

First checkride prepatation flight.

October 24, 1996

Long cross country: RDU - RIC - ECG - RDU.

November 11, 1996

Passed FAA Written exam - 98%.

November 14, 1996

Scheduled to take checkride in the morning. Got weathered out.

November 20, 1996

I'm a Pilot! Satisified all requirements to become a Private Pilot. It took two days shy of six months, 52.1 hours, 151 landings, and $3,000.14 to get my PPL.

December 4, 1996

Got checked out in a Cessna 172 Skyhawk.

December 30, 1996

Received my permanant PPL.