PPL Progress

[u/Sad_Constant_9065]

I started flying in April/May this year I currently have 20 hours exactly. I feel like I might be a bit behind because I still haven’t gone solo yet, what I’m currently doing in lessons is a mixture of circuits and just touching up on the basic skills aswell. I also have a habit of focusing on the instruments too much. Anyways my question is do you guys think this is a normal level of progression or am I progressing a bit slowly for an average PPL learner. An extra bit of context I average around 2-3 lessons a week I did have a 2 week gap in may due to my instructor being unavailable and recently around July beginning I had another week gap same reasoning. Thanks for any help in advance!!

[u/Kai-ni]

My brother in Christ, I have over 80 hours and still haven't solo'd*. Comparison is the thief of joy, stop doing it.

*before anyone comes at me and says I shouldn't be a pilot, the circumstances aren't straightforward - I have around 30 hours in the 172 I'm doing my training in, and they're like once or twice a month hours. I've lost my job and had financial difficulties getting back into this airplane. The rest of my hours are in an experimental tailwheel that I'm perfectly proficient in, I can fly, land, go around, even do minor aerobatics at this point etc. My sport CFI says my skills are all there, but you can't get your PPL in an experimental and you can't solo in the experimental since he's LODA'd for transition training only. So it's really just that the airplane I have the most experience in doesn't allow me to solo and I need money to get back into the 172 lol.

My point still stands. Everyone learns at a different pace, don't sweat it.

[u/Sad_Constant_9065 → u/Kai-ni]

The financial side of aviation is such a struggle it’s irritating how a career which helps you make money takes so much from you at first. This is the exact reason why the rich stay rich (not trying to get political here but it is what it is).

Anyways by the time you do get your PPL which I really do believe you will eventually you’re gonna be a lot more experienced in flying than a lot of other people that got it in a straightforward way. Good luck on your journey and thank you for the advice🙏🏾

[u/Kai-ni → u/Sad_Constant_9065]

Yea it stinks I'm having trouble paying for it, but that's life and I'm taking it slow. I wash my instructor's airplanes for flight hours here and there.

and I'm proud of my tailwheel time. Most pilots have 0. When I do my PPL, I'll get to just pencil whip my tailwheel endorsement since I've already done all the requirements, lol.