It’s just hit me hard that I can’t do this :(

[danny_galaga]

I built my plane for the fun of building it. I’ve put about 50 hours on it, flying a few friends around the local area, enjoying the scenery. But I’ve never done my navs, and I’m now going through the PPE course. And I realise I’m not cut out for the full deal. 30 years ago, yes. I did one nav and did ok, but ran out of money and steam. But now, I can’t absorb anything easily, and I feel it might be dangerous to continue. All the info just swirls around in my head, but I’m not absorbing it. 

 

My skills are very iterative, so for instance I would be good at freeform sculpture. A current project involves making a custom case for a games console. I build it as the ideas come to me, no plan. But I’m looking at this course, and it’s stuff I did have some understanding of years ago, but not enough that it’s like ‘riding a bicycle’. All my flying up until now has been very ‘organic’. Is the local weather good? yes? No? If yes, go for a pootle. If no, probably still go for a pootle and scare myself silly. Luckily I don’t do that all that often, but the few times I’ve done it made me wonder if I have the right kind of sense for this hobby.  

 

So, this is a crossroads. If I give it all in, at least my house repayments will drop with the extra in the offset. And of course all the associated costs means more towards the mortgage repayments.

 

Ponderin’ time.

 

 

Edited 5 hours ago by danny_galaga

[FlyBoy1960]

you don't mention how old you are ?    that has a lot to do with absorption

 

[danny_galaga]

Just now, FlyBoy1960 said:

you don't mention how old you are ?    that has a lot to do with absorption

 

56. I first learnt to fly at about 27. Then left it for several decades. 

[rgmwa]

I don't think your age would be a factor here even if it takes you a bit longer, but it will definitely be harder if you're not sure in the back of your mind that you really want to keep going, particularly if there are other demands on your financial resources. It comes down to whether you want to go the full deal or not, and it sounds as though you have more or less decided that the answer is no because you've achieved pretty much what you set out to do. Building and flying is already more than most people ever achieve so deciding you've done enough is perfectly OK. In the end whether to stop or keep going is something only you can decide. 

 

[kgwilson]

It is different for everyone. I turned 76 in February and my BFR expired in November 24. I had a bad case of Shingles that lasted 4 months, then a lot of wet weather, sold my house & bought another & am full on with renovations. I flew my aircraft in January with an instructor and was very rusty. My navigation skills in the air and general flying ability are fine but thinking about organising a BFR and what I need to demonstrate to an instructor has left me pondering whether i'd manage everything. I haven't flown more than a hundred miles from home since 2020 and am unlikely to go long distance any more so maybe I'll just do the BFR without Navs. I am not sure I will be able to remember everything i need to know about XC flight by dead reckoning. First though I need to go for a couple of flights with an instructor to get my skill levels back.

 

One day i know I will have to give up flying. I still have a few years ahead of me but don't know how many.

 

I read somewhere years ago the quote below.

 

"One day you will walk to your hangar knowing that this is your last flight or one day you will walk to your hangar not knowing that this is your last flight. You will not do both". I fully intend it to be the former.

[clouddancer]

Hi Danny, maybe try doing the nav part of the exercise while the instructor flies the aircraft? That way you embed the processes and use of the map and time intervals without overloading yourself flying the aircraft?

You probably do many of the time over distance tasks in the car without even thinking about it, because driving a car is second nature for most of us.

Practice ETAs, using 100 kph, estimating your time to the next town?

Don’t give up just yet, talk to your instructor and ask them to be innovative.

My advice is also don’t sweat the accuracy of headings too much, over shorter legs you won’t get too far off track. 
You need to develop systems that work for you, so your organic methods work to your advantage.

[facthunter]

Remember you don't have to prove anything and IF you are not perfectly comfortable, it's not Pleasure any more so save your Money.  I know quite a few who just said "What am I doing up here?" and stopped. It's not as if there are not other ways to engage and amuse yourself at Less cost.. Nev

[Moneybox]

2 hours ago, danny_galaga said:

I built my plane for the fun of building it. I’ve put about 50 hours on it, flying a few friends around the local area, enjoying the scenery. But I’ve never done my navs, and I’m now going through the PPE course. And I realise I’m not cut out for the full deal. 30 years ago, yes. I did one nav and did ok, but ran out of money and steam. But now, I can’t absorb anything easily, and I feel it might be dangerous to continue. All the info just swirls around in my head, but I’m not absorbing it. 

 

My skills are very iterative, so for instance I would be good at freeform sculpture. A current project involves making a custom case for a games console. I build it as the ideas come to me, no plan. But I’m looking at this course, and it’s stuff I did have some understanding of years ago, but not enough that it’s like ‘riding a bicycle’. All my flying up until now has been very ‘organic’. Is the local weather good? yes? No? If yes, go for a pootle. If no, probably still go for a pootle and scare myself silly. Luckily I don’t do that all that often, but the few times I’ve done it made me wonder if I have the right kind of sense for this hobby.  

 

So, this is a crossroads. If I give it all in, at least my house repayments will drop with the extra in the offset. And of course all the associated costs means more towards the mortgage repayments.

 

Ponderin’ time.

 

 

My flight instructor recommended I download Chapter 10 of Stewart Maddigan's FLIGHT TRAINING MANUAL. It's just $11.99 from Amazon and worth every cent.

 

https://www.amazon.com.au/FLIGHT-TRAINING-MANUAL-performance-Recreational-ebook/dp/B0BYXQNQLM

 

He gives you the theory and practical exercises for a WA location but you just insert data for your own location. That's all it'll cost you to get started and practise what you're learning.

Edited 3 hours ago by Moneybox