Jump to content
SiouxSports.com Forum

Recommended Posts

Posted

I figured there would be some members here that would have some ideas on this subject.

I'm really thinking about taking flight lessons to get a private pilot certificate. Just wondering if anyone has thoughts/ideas on the best route to go. I live about equally between Devils Lake and Jamestown, and also from Grand Forks and Fargo. Since I spend a lot of time in GF already, I have been investigating GFK Flight Support, but really am open to taking a look anywhere. Also looking at On-Site Aviation in Hillsboro, but think I may learn more based out of a busier airport like GFK or Hector.

Wondering if anybody has any experience with GFK Flight Support or any other options, either obvious or not, and what advice you could give.

Thanks in advance.

Posted

I figured there would be some members here that would have some ideas on this subject.

I'm really thinking about taking flight lessons to get a private pilot certificate. Just wondering if anyone has thoughts/ideas on the best route to go. I live about equally between Devils Lake and Jamestown, and also from Grand Forks and Fargo. Since I spend a lot of time in GF already, I have been investigating GFK Flight Support, but really am open to taking a look anywhere. Also looking at On-Site Aviation in Hillsboro, but think I may learn more based out of a busier airport like GFK or Hector.

Wondering if anybody has any experience with GFK Flight Support or any other options, either obvious or not, and what advice you could give.

Thanks in advance.

Out of curiosity what did GFK Flight say the hourly fee is?
Posted

Out of curiosity what did GFK Flight say the hourly fee is?

I haven't contacted anybody yet, but GFK's website says $99 dry for rental and $49 for instruction.

On-Site Aviation out of Hillsboro, their website says $120 wet and $60 for instruction.

Posted

Pilot here. The big thing in flight lessons is getting an instructor that you can start and finish with. If you have to change instructors during your flight training it adds to the time required for completion. You should be able to complete your training and get your ticket with around 40 hrs. of flying time. It all depends on your personal time schedule. If you are able to make the time to get it done, it will save you alot of remedial hours.

This is where having the same instructor pertains also, as you don't have to spend time proving your capability each time you change instructors. I would recommend going to the nearest location. Time and weather are the two biggest factors affecting flight training. Like everything, cheapest isn't always better. The difference in wet and dry seems about right,actually the wet looks pretty good,depends on the plane. A Cessna 172 burns appx. 8 gals. an hour, with $5.00 avgas that's $40.00 an hour right there. The main thing is meet the instructors,see what they have for planes and go with the one that your comfortable with. Feel free to PM me if you have any more questions.

Posted

Gfk flight support is a rip off. The 99 dry means you buy the gas separate from the rental. If you wish Crookston is 107 wet last time checked and you negotiate with a local instructor who usually works for undaf

Posted

Gfk flight support is a rip off. The 99 dry means you buy the gas separate from the rental. If you wish Crookston is 107 wet last time checked and you negotiate with a local instructor who usually works for undaf

vegas_sioux an aviation question. According to FlightTracker there is an Endeavor Air flight between Grand Forks and Thief River at 3:00 PM. What is the story behind that?
Posted

Pilot here. The big thing in flight lessons is getting an instructor that you can start and finish with. If you have to change instructors during your flight training it adds to the time required for completion. You should be able to complete your training and get your ticket with around 40 hrs. of flying time. It all depends on your personal time schedule. If you are able to make the time to get it done, it will save you alot of remedial hours.

This is where having the same instructor pertains also, as you don't have to spend time proving your capability each time you change instructors. I would recommend going to the nearest location. Time and weather are the two biggest factors affecting flight training. Like everything, cheapest isn't always better. The difference in wet and dry seems about right,actually the wet looks pretty good,depends on the plane. A Cessna 172 burns appx. 8 gals. an hour, with $5.00 avgas that's $40.00 an hour right there. The main thing is meet the instructors,see what they have for planes and go with the one that your comfortable with. Feel free to PM me if you have any more questions.

I have a question. What is the best plane in your opinion to learn in? Is the Cessna 172 a good one?
Posted

The Cessna 150 was the standard for years,two seater,cheap to operate,easy to fly. Since they haven't made any for 37 years there aren't that many being used for training anymore. The 172 has taken its place. UND has switched to 172's after using Piper Warriors for many years. I learned in a 150,going to a 172 I thought I was in an F-15. :lol:

Posted

vegas_sioux an aviation question. According to FlightTracker there is an Endeavor Air flight between Grand Forks and Thief River at 3:00 PM. What is the story behind that?

its usually a mx test flight they just have to file something for legality. oh i learned in the cadet then transfered to the warrior have actually never flown a cessna

Posted

Pilot here. The big thing in flight lessons is getting an instructor that you can start and finish with. If you have to change instructors during your flight training it adds to the time required for completion. You should be able to complete your training and get your ticket with around 40 hrs. of flying time. It all depends on your personal time schedule. If you are able to make the time to get it done, it will save you alot of remedial hours.

This is where having the same instructor pertains also, as you don't have to spend time proving your capability each time you change instructors. I would recommend going to the nearest location. Time and weather are the two biggest factors affecting flight training. Like everything, cheapest isn't always better. The difference in wet and dry seems about right,actually the wet looks pretty good,depends on the plane. A Cessna 172 burns appx. 8 gals. an hour, with $5.00 avgas that's $40.00 an hour right there. The main thing is meet the instructors,see what they have for planes and go with the one that your comfortable with. Feel free to PM me if you have any more questions.

I assumed it would be ideal to stick with the same instructor throughout, but also wondered if it would be possible to complete the training from two separate instructors from two separate airports, or do you have to stick with the same place throughout? The reason I ask is because I wondered about taking the bulk of the lessons from a closer airport to me like Jamestown, Valley City, or Devils Lake which are all only a little over 50 miles from me, but also logging a portion of the hours from a place like GFK or Fargo. The reason I ask, is because I understand weather can obviously be a limiting factor in getting hours in. Fargo and GFK would surely offer more available planes and more available instructors, but they are twice as far away from me. On the other hand, Jamestown/Valley City apparently only has one plane and one instructor, so booking flight time on short notice could be problematic at times I assume.

Perhaps I am really over-complicating this.

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

×
×
  • Create New...