Originally Posted by HaveTacitBlue

My version of waking up one day and realizing I'd much rather be flying than driving a computer, as I have been for lo these last 25+ years is...

I decided even at 39 (at the time) I had plenty of years left to fly and hopefully the Age 65 issue would be resolved to give me an extra five years. So I set about looking for an accelerated flight academy, settled on one and then started saving money. That would have worked out great had I the willpower to deny my addiction to instant gratification! After a few months of saving (figured 50k would be all I needed!), I started taking ground school at a local college and subsequently began taking lessons (again, but that's another story). I trudged through PPL, ME, Instrument and Commercial while holding down my high paying day job that has paid for over 550 hours, a Bose headset or two and whatever other aviation -related toy I felt I needed. Three years have passed since I began my training and I'm still flying a computer while I work on the CFI/CFII/MEI trifecta. Oh, and I'm finishing up the BS degree as well so that I look like a well-rounded individual to those that care about such things.

This would all be well and good and I'd definitely be on my way somewhere had I not spent *ALL* my money on aviation (uh...and a Corvette - definitely another story - and subsequent vehicles once I realized an 04 'Vette just wasn't what I needed). I've been behind in paying the Treasury Department for several years now and so I have to keep at this gig until their liens are satisfied. Poor me...I repeat to myself that I "brought this on my own self".

So...dodging hand grenades and horseshoes, I'd say I wish I'd stuck with my original plan to go to a school after having saved up an appropriate amount of money first rather than this slog that I manage to sustain by shear force of will and the love of flying that I wish I'd recognized when I was a much younger man.

I might add that I really didn't understand the way the various certificates and ratings fit together to form a well-rounded pilot. I just saw them as checkboxes to fill in and did not ask enough questions of enough people to help me get it straight in my brain. I am sure my CFI was helping me get down the path I'd explained I wanted to follow, it's just that I was overwhelmed by the numbers and nouns thrown at me such that I blindly (or at least willingly) went after whatever I was told to do next. I would certainly advise anyone just starting out to take the time to research what certificates are needed and how to blend the instrument and multi-engine ratings at the appropriate times. It is probably the case that someone with more money than sense will just throw money at the problem until the checkboxes are all filled in - but is that the most efficient route?

Obviously at this point I have the benefit of hindsight and experience, so hopefully I will remember to pass along to my students what I've learned and take the time to make sure they are really pursuing what they need in the sequence that is most beneficial/efficient.