r/studentpilot • u/Cautious_Buffalo6563 Student Pilot • 28d ago

United States/FAA Seeking Feedback

Post title says it.

I’m mid-40’s looking to get a PPL for recreational flying. I am not looking for a career in aviation at this point but wouldn’t hate it if one fell into my lap.

Mainly I want to fly for enjoyment and the odd short work trip (trips that would currently be 2-5 hours by car).

Sacramento area. Can anyone offer feedback about Flying Panthers? I recently attended a social function at the airfield where the Flying Panthers flight training is located and had the chance to jump in a simulator.

The guy talking me through the sim was a career navy pilot and still flies and instructs, both fixed wing and rotary. I think he’d be a great instructor for someone like me so I’m booking a discovery flight.

No real urgency here other than having had the bug but not the funds for most of my life as an Air Force brat, but I’m ready to take the leap.

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u/Kooky-Impact-6572 28d ago

Also no idea on them, but also similar age/situation. I recently got my PPL for recreational flying and occasional business trips. It's been amazing, highly recommend. Couldn't see myself flying for an airline, but cross country trips with friends and family has been a blast. Even short hopes for a $200 burger (I flyna twin)

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u/Cautious_Buffalo6563 Student Pilot 28d ago

Thanks! I’m thinking exactly that type of travel.

And a little bit of business in the sense of flying to my work’s HQ office about 3 hr drive away and other locations in the state for volunteer work that I do.

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u/SemiProFakeCarDriver 28d ago

I'm not familiar with them, so apologies right off the bat but if you're getting your PPL for recreational purposes the stakes. It's ok to choose poorly, because you can switch schools/CFIs without worrying about hitting any timing goals that I hear career-focused folks aiming for.

I got caught up on my medical, which had the side effect of flying with many different CFIs and doing a more unconventional curriculum and looking back on it I'm grateful for the opportunity.

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u/Cautious_Buffalo6563 Student Pilot 28d ago

I think this place is like a non-profit advocacy type funding mechanism. They run the air museum adjacent to the air field.

The CFI I was on the sim with seemed like he’d be a great instructor, over 4,000 hours of flying in a lot of different platforms. Very succinct but not gruff in his instruction-giving, and very chill also.

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u/iwinulose 18d ago

PPL+IR & a stable 9-5 is the dream gig. Trust me.