Originally Posted by utroyalwulff (Post 1236749)

Hello everyone, firstly Im not a pilot and know relatively little about planes but I have a 13 year son that loves planes and aviation. He flies remote control planes and is now going to race pylon racers and messes with the flight simulator that I bought for him on the home computer trying to learn to put flight plans together and how to navigate between airports.

He is a very smart kid. I tell him that if he likes planes maybe he should be a pilot. He signed up with the local civil air patrol group last week. He went to his grandparents house that live by the airforce academy but it had been evacuated because of fires because he is interested in that, so maybe next year. I dont have alot of money so probably the government is going to help him learn how, which according to my friend that is a surgeon is exactly the right thing to do.

The university where I work has a flight training school, but I dont really know that much about it.

Since i guess most of you are pilots what do you think I should tell him? Should I push him towards another profession?

I like that he likes it because he is learning so much. but what does the future appear to look like?

Originally Posted by JamesNoBrakes (Post 1236951)

See my post in the "Open Letter" thread. Too much of time time we thing aviation=airline pilot. This is why there is no shortage of pilots and why it's a "buyers market" for the airlines as far as pilots. There are so many ways to be in aviation and experience it, and we shoot ourselves in the foot when we limit it to one thing. Being a pilot is awesome, there's nothing like it. That doesn't mean I have to be an airline pilot, or transport pilot, or military pilot, or any one of these specialties. Being a pilot is a general thing.

Originally Posted by utroyalwulff (Post 1236989)

thanks you guys i have learned alot. if you can think of anything else i would appreciate it.

So if we were to make a list of important things to do in the next few years:

-Dont plan on major in aviation unless its aerospace engineering, have a back up in something else
-stay in the CAP program and try to find out if they AFROTC at his HS
-doing it through the military or reserve is a good way to do it if ends up being what he wants to do.
-have him work on his private pilots license. Im hoping the the CAP program can get us some contacts on this.

I like the CAP program, its seems to be a pretty good deal. He has only been involved for a couple months so far. Have all of you that have been involved in this program feel it was time well spent?

Thanks

Originally Posted by utroyalwulff (Post 1236989)

thanks you guys i have learned alot. if you can think of anything else i would appreciate it.

So if we were to make a list of important things to do in the next few years:

-Dont plan on major in aviation unless its aerospace engineering, have a back up in something else
-stay in the CAP program and try to find out if they AFROTC at his HS
-doing it through the military or reserve is a good way to do it if ends up being what he wants to do.
-have him work on his private pilots license. Im hoping the the CAP program can get us some contacts on this.

I like the CAP program, its seems to be a pretty good deal. He has only been involved for a couple months so far. Have all of you that have been involved in this program feel it was time well spent?

Thanks

Originally Posted by utroyalwulff (Post 1236749)

Hello everyone, firstly Im not a pilot and know relatively little about planes but I have a 13 year son that loves planes and aviation. He flies remote control planes and is now going to race pylon racers and messes with the flight simulator that I bought for him on the home computer trying to learn to put flight plans together and how to navigate between airports.

He is a very smart kid. I tell him that if he likes planes maybe he should be a pilot. He signed up with the local civil air patrol group last week. He went to his grandparents house that live by the airforce academy but it had been evacuated because of fires because he is interested in that, so maybe next year. I dont have alot of money so probably the government is going to help him learn how, which according to my friend that is a surgeon is exactly the right thing to do.

The university where I work has a flight training school, but I dont really know that much about it.

Since i guess most of you are pilots what do you think I should tell him? Should I push him towards another profession?

I like that he likes it because he is learning so much. but what does the future appear to look like?

Originally Posted by 727gm (Post 1236866)

It is pure fun recreation, with the advantage that if he decides aviation is for him, he'll already have a leg up on the process, and if not, he'll have a great off-work pastime.....

Originally Posted by utroyalwulff (Post 1236989)

-Dont plan on major in aviation unless its aerospace engineering, have a back up in something else

-have him work on his private pilots license.

Originally Posted by 727gm (Post 1236866)

While you must be 16 to solo an airplane, and 17 to license, you only need to be 14 to solo a glider, and 16 for pilot certificate...can add airplane later. A great way to get into aviation and learn to "fly a wing" without the distraction of that noisy fire hazard bolted to the aircraft(engine).
see:
Soaring Society of America, the source for Gliding in the USA

click on "where to fly" to find out if there is a soaring operation
near you.

It is pure fun recreation, with the advantage that if he decides aviation is for him, he'll already have a leg up on the process, and if not, he'll have a great off-work pastime.....

Originally Posted by Diver Driver (Post 1237214)

Glider flying is the best way to get an early handle on good stick and rudder skills (basic flying skills). You can fly gliders at an earlier age than airplanes. Get your son to your local glider club and get him started, he'll develop a great set of flying fundamentals, learn a lot about aviation and when it comes time to do his private pilot's license, it'll take him less time (think less money) because he already knows the basics.