Too young for learning to fly?

[rotorrodent]

A guy I know (ok, we're family!) started flying FW at 14 and switched to RW after about 20hrs. Took his PPL checkride on his 17th bday, commercial shortly thereafter, first flying job same year. Flew all over the country for 6yrs, went back for his instrument rating, still flying....25yo, 4600hrs, finally eligible for ATP , flies EMS. No such thing as too young. Save your pennies and you'll be a young, high time pilot with no debt...best of all worlds!!

 

HG03

 

I know of a guy who started flying at age 13, (couldn't log time), took lessons at 15, Private FW at 16, Instrument at 17, Commercial at 18, CFII at 19, ATP 21 (had to wait until 23 for license), and is now a senior pilot for a major airline.

 

He says that if he had to do it all over again, he would have started at age 3!!!!

 

Rotorrodent

[Inferno]

Hah! If anything, you owe me a free flight....

Ooh, free flight time?

 

I'll take you up on that one. Just let me know when and what airport and I will meet you there.

 

I'm not 15 anymore but I have been told that I have the mental maturity of a 15 year old, if that counts for anything.

 

@op

That is actually a fair price for 44 time. There is no reason whatsoever for you to do all your training in a 44 though. Most schools either fly 22s or 300s for the majority of their training. Shop around. It might mean waiting till youre done with high school to start training, but it will save you a ton of money in the long run...

[svtcobra66]

Start as early as you can, just remember its not going to be the most cost-effective way to start your training, since you'll probably have quite a few more hours than required for solo and your private. I started flying a Bell 47 at 15, soloed on my 16th birthday (though the government thought I shouldn't be able to drive a car by myself until 6 months later), and have been flying ever since. I had 60 hours by the time I could solo because I didn't exactly plan it well, but its all experience that will benefit you later.