Razorback09

I'm starting to get kindof frustrated. I had trouble with the flare while learning landings and now have 15 hours built up. I still have one lesson before my checkride and probably will end up soloing at 18 or 19 hours. This just seems like way to long to me, I expected to do it in 11 or 12. Should I be worried that its taken me this long?

runge

I'd say don't sweat it. Definitely don't rush to solo before you're comfortable doing it. Most people that I know didn't solo nearly as early as 11 or 12. Most people do it in more like 20-30. There are a million other factors that come into play. How much you study on your own, how good your instructor is, how well you brief/debrief flights and maneuvers, how often you take a lesson, etc. Just like sex with your girlfriend; when you're ready, you'll know it. And invariably your first performance won't be your best.

Razorback09

Haha excellent analogy. I appreciate the encouragement.

DBSociety

15 to 20 hours is about average. There are of course some pilots who did it rather quickly ( I just read a thread on anther msg board..someone claimed 4hrs!) but you aren't in competition with anyone else. I did it in 17. Its much more a reflection on your training environment and the quality of instruction than anything to do with how good an aviator you'll become.

runge

My grandfather soloed in 3.8 hours, back in training for WWII. The took him up a few times, did some spins (something you almost never see in Private training anymore), did some stalls, did a few landings and takeoffs, and then handed him the keys and said good luck. You're probably better off with a little bit more conservative of an instructor.

USMCFLYR

Did you forget to put a number in front of the .8?
If he went flying a few times and did all the things that you mentioned - that seems like A LOT in a small amount of time! From what I've read about WWII flight training - we weren't the Japanese putting hardly trained pilots into the cockpits, we even sent combat proven flyers back to the states for training duty!

FWIW - I just looked at I soloed after 11.3 and a little more than two months of training (started training on 20 May and soloed 15 July). There are SO many factors as DB said - but you aren't competing against anybody and there is no set time schedule. Money and time might be your only motivator because the longer it takes for you to solo then the longer your training is probablygoing to last overall and that will cost you more money in the end.

USMCFLYR

runge

oh crap, yeah. it was 3.8 hours, not 0.8. Either way it's still pretty amazing in my opinion.

Cubdriver

Average for a Cessna 150 or 172 is about 15 hours which is what it took me as well. My last student did it about 15. I had one guy who actually could not do it in 60 hours, but he was a certified non-pilot.

GrUpGrDn

I told my students, when I say let's go fly, and that is the last thing I have to say for the flight, except, ok let's make this a full stop. Then you are ready for solo. Now, all stalls and simulated engine out manuevers have been complete to satisfaction of course.

shdw

My research puts 141 programs between 15 and 20 for an average and 61 around 20 to 25 hours. It obviously has 100's of variables. Part 141 is typically lower in comparison to 61 for a couple reasons: you fly more regularly, the instructors are closely regulated by the institution, and the course is typically more structured.

My research was just calling various, about 20 different, schools mostly in the NJ area and some online research for a course I have been writing.

Finally, don't get discouraged if it takes you longer and if you are just stuck on landings go out and practice some of the maneuvers more, specifically slow flight. Don't sit in the pattern for 20 hours pounding landings, likely there is a deeper problem with basic control if you arrive at this bridge. Good luck.