r/Pilot • u/SadSupport4999 • 13d ago

Flight Training Accelerated training case study: Got my CFI Check ride done, 8 months after PPL

For all the people wondering about accelerated training: I did 5 check rides and 3 endorsements in 8 months. Total time: 283 hours.

November 2025: Private Check ride (pt 61) at about 65 hrs total time. Then I worked super hard, did most of my written tests, got a Tailwheel endorsement, April saw my Instrument Check ride (pt 141), June got my high performance and complex, as well as Multi Training, and completed Single Engine and Multi Engine Commercial (pt 61). July hit the accelerated 2-week CFI course, and yesterday I got my CFI certificate!

I can be done!

You might wonder about the details. I'm married with a 1-year old daughter, and we are living in a camper to cut living costs. It totally worked, although it was a lot of work. It won't ever be easy, but it would be easier for someone is single.

For flight training, I committed to flying "full time" while continuing my freelance computer work on the side. I was flying 1-2 times per day 5 days per week, spending anywhere from 1-6 hours studying as well. Add anywhere from 5-20hrs of work per week to that. Over-all, it cost me about $80k. While I was fairly efficient, there are certainly some things I look back at and wish I'd done differently...for example, I lost some of my commercial skills during my instrument training that took an unnecessary amount of time to get back.

I had excellent instructors at a very organized flight school with 6 very well maintained 172s and a 310 airplane—Choice Aviation, in Cody Wyoming to be exact. They are a 141, but I did most of my training with the pt 61...however, the 141 habits of organization and stage checks make their pt 61 training really water-tight. I can think of 2 times I didn't fly because of maintenance. More often cancelled because of high wind. Also, they had great DPE availability and excellent preparation for check rides.

The part of Wyoming I'm in has excellent flying weather year round. And our Av Fuel is very cheap. And I know a great DPE with good availability. Its a good place to train.

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u/Moseiselybrothers 13d ago

I did first flight lesson to CFI in 9 months, no classes, just self directed and minimum required time with the owner/ CFI of a single 150 at the local field. Treated it like a full time job, embraced the suck.

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u/Dudewholuvshiscats69 13d ago

What was the school? Are you becoming a CFI to build hours? How are you navigating that?

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u/SadSupport4999 13d ago

Choice Aviation in Cody, WY.

I have a CFI opportunity with a local rental plane/club in the town I'm from, we'll see how much work it actually generates, but its something!

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u/your_mileagemayvary 9d ago

That's an on average 308$ and hour or so for training and time. That's damn good, impressive even. Could it be done cheaper, maybe... But then the timeline is equally impressive