Lauren McGavran

Hey fellow aviators!

I just started Sporty's Learn to Fly online course for ground school, with ASA's "The Complete Private Pilot" by Bob Gardner for supplementary material. I've been fascinated by planes since around age 7 and flew with my Aviation Club in high school from 1997 through 2001.

Question: Is it possible to go through my entire ground school training and FAA Knowledge Exam without CFI assistance? I, like many people, don't have the money (yet) for an instructor, so I can't exactly call someone up and ask questions when I get confused. How should I handle that? Thank you and fly safe!

David Wilcox
Lombard, IL

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Hey fellow aviators!

I just started Sporty's Learn to Fly online course for ground school, with ASA's "The Complete Private Pilot" by Bob Gardner for supplementary material. I've been fascinated by planes since around age 7 and flew with my Aviation Club in high school from 1997 through 2001.

Question: Is it possible to go through my entire ground school training and FAA Knowledge Exam without CFI assistance? I, like many people, don't have the money (yet) for an ... more

I used iFlightplanner for quite a while before AOPA gave us access. It seems to have a bug that it never used to have. I planned a round-robin sightseeing flight and filed it. I went to the Leidos site to make sure that the actual filing was correct, and to get weather briefings, etc. The route in iFlightplanner looked OK, with several waypoints listed. The filed plan, however, had nothing in the route field, so the flight consisted of the departure and arrival airports - which were the same. Short flight! Anyone else seeing this? I sent a help request about three weeks ago, but have not received anything beyond the automated “We got your request” e-mail.

Show Less

I used iFlightplanner for quite a while before AOPA gave us access. It seems to have a bug that it never used to have. I planned a round-robin sightseeing flight and filed it. I went to the Leidos site to make sure that the actual filing was correct, and to get weather briefings, etc. The route in iFlightplanner looked OK, with several waypoints listed. The filed plan, however, had nothing in the route field, so the flight consisted of the departure and arrival airports - ... more

I used iFlightplanner for quite a while before AOPA gave us access. It seems to have a bug that it never used to have. I planned a round-robin sightseeing flight and filed it. I went to the Leidos site to make sure that the actual filing was correct, and to get weather briefings, etc. The route in iFlightplanner looked OK, with several waypoints listed. The filed plan, however, had nothing in the route field, so the flight consisted of the departure and arrival airports - which were the same. Short flight! Anyone else seeing this? I sent a help request about three weeks ago, but have not received anything beyond the automated “We got your request” e-mail.

Show Less

I used iFlightplanner for quite a while before AOPA gave us access. It seems to have a bug that it never used to have. I planned a round-robin sightseeing flight and filed it. I went to the Leidos site to make sure that the actual filing was correct, and to get weather briefings, etc. The route in iFlightplanner looked OK, with several waypoints listed. The filed plan, however, had nothing in the route field, so the flight consisted of the departure and arrival airports - ... more

I would be interested in hearing people’s experiences flying with their dogs.

I have been flying a non-owned Remos (light sport), but the owner is ready to sell the plane. That means that I have some serious decisions to make. Buy that plane? Buy a different plane that could accommodate the family (for a lot more money?) “The family” consists of a reluctant husband and two Siberian huskies who travel well in the car.

How do people restrain their dogs? Crates wold be ideal, but it would have to be a pretty large plane to accommodate two large dog crates. Seat belts and harnesses may be the only solution, but that doesn’t work well in the car, and you can’t just pull over when the dog gets tangled or chews through the harness. Could you rig a sturdy barrier between the back area and the front seats? Maybe somehow use a car barrier, or have something similar custom made?

Do the mutt muffs work to protect their hearing? (How could you possibly know?) But at least do the muffs appear to work and do the dogs tolerate them? I won’t subject my dogs to that much noise without hearing protection.

Thanks for any insights and experiences.

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I would be interested in hearing people’s experiences flying with their dogs.

I have been flying a non-owned Remos (light sport), but the owner is ready to sell the plane. That means that I have some serious decisions to make. Buy that plane? Buy a different plane that could accommodate the family (for a lot more money?) “The family” consists of a reluctant husband and two Siberian huskies who travel well in the car.

How do people restrain their dogs? Crates wold be ideal, ... more

I would be interested in hearing people’s experiences flying with their dogs.

I have been flying a non-owned Remos (light sport), but the owner is ready to sell the plane. That means that I have some serious decisions to make. Buy that plane? Buy a different plane that could accommodate the family (for a lot more money?) “The family” consists of a reluctant husband and two Siberian huskies who travel well in the car.

How do people restrain their dogs? Crates wold be ideal, but it would have to be a pretty large plane to accommodate two large dog crates. Seat belts and harnesses may be the only solution, but that doesn’t work well in the car, and you can’t just pull over when the dog gets tangled or chews through the harness. Could you rig a sturdy barrier between the back area and the front seats? Maybe somehow use a car barrier, or have something similar custom made?

Do the mutt muffs work to protect their hearing? (How could you possibly know?) But at least do the muffs appear to work and do the dogs tolerate them? I won’t subject my dogs to that much noise without hearing protection.

Thanks for any insights and experiences.

Show Less

I would be interested in hearing people’s experiences flying with their dogs.

I have been flying a non-owned Remos (light sport), but the owner is ready to sell the plane. That means that I have some serious decisions to make. Buy that plane? Buy a different plane that could accommodate the family (for a lot more money?) “The family” consists of a reluctant husband and two Siberian huskies who travel well in the car.

How do people restrain their dogs? Crates wold be ideal, ... more