Back when I instructed full-time, I had a student who was an intern for Boeing. He never finished his license while he was here for his summer intership. Boeing actually pays their interns, plus they get $500 when they solo and $1000 when they get their private!

Anyways, he ended up with a job in St. Louis and never finished his license. I told him I would finish him up and he could pay by way of Jack & Coke's. He had to cancel last week because of winds, and today the wx was forecast to drop to 020 OVC at noon. He was scheduled to start at 9am, which should have him finished by noon. However, he never got three takeoffs and landings at a towered airport. When we looked over his logbook, we must have missed it.

So I had to drive 35 minutes to the airport and sign him off to solo at a towered airport. He went and took care of that and I haven't heard him since! The weather is as forecast, but I called and the airplane is apparently out flying. The guy at the front desk wasn't much help as he was busy and just said the plane was gone.

I just thought I would share my goofy story as I am a little nervous, excited, etc. about something as small as a private pilot's license. Flying with him has reminded me of when I began flying. If you haven't taken up a small plane in a long time, I highly recommend it. It is well worth the money to go up and put around without a care in the world.

On a side note, I took my private with the same guy in May, 2000. Back then, I paid $125. Now, this same guy charges $250! Instructors were $25/hr, now they are $40! This is in St. Louis, where I hear it is still fairly cheap to fly.