ThisLooksInteresting

Pilot Ground School a complete failure

darren — Sat, 18 Oct 2008 22:37:27 +0000

I just completed Private Pilot ground school at the local community college. I even passed with a high enough grade so I can take the FAA test. The classes were excellent with enough anecdotes to keep even the less interesting subjects interesting. Everyone in the class both taking and giving it were engaged and enthusiastic. All around a great experience.

However it was a complete failure. I was hoping that taking a class, studying, calculating, learning regulations, etc would put me off the whole idea of flying as a hobby and save me a bunch of money. But alas no such luck, I'm still hooked.

Anybody have a plane they don't need?

Phantom Limb - Phantom Limb

darren — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 07:19:51 +0000

"Bristol-based five-piece Phantom Limb may well be the most musically sophisticated (and satisfying) band the UK has produced in far too long a time."

BBC - Soul & Reggae Review - Phantom Limb, Phantom Limb

Own your own airplane for $500 per month?

darren — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 02:17:20 +0000

I knew going to Private Pilot ground school would just be a gateway drug. I'm only halfway through the class and already planning my justifications for taking flying lessons and maybe even buy my own airplane.

Earning a private pilot's license costs somewhere around $5,000-$7,000. It's hard to nail down the actual cost as there is no way to know exactly how many hours of flying and instruction anyone will need. The FAA requires a minimum of 40 hours flying but the national average is 70 hours. That is quite a large variation. There are many things that cause the variation but the main ones are likely how often you fly (less time between flights the less you forget) and aptitude.

The main cost of the flying lessons is the rental of an airplane. A typical cost is $100/hour for a Cessna 172. So I started to wonder why not buy an airplane and save some of those costs? Opinions are varied on whether that is a good idea but it really isn't a crazy idea. It's actually possible to buy a serviceable small airplane for $20,000. It will be 30+ years old but with the tight FAA maintenance regulations that doesn't seam too bad. It seams possible to pay the loan on that plane and all the fixed costs (maintenance, storage, etc) for $500 a month.

$500 Per Month? - You can own an airplane on a budget

Sounds like a reasonable idea. Especially when you add in the fact that airplanes don't seam to depreciate. A $20,000 airplane you buy now was probably about $8,000 new. So that takes out a lot of the risk. Worse case you just sell it for probably the same you paid for it.

This is the point where I caught myself saying very similar things I had done a few years back. Why not buy a house, the values keep going up, what could go wrong? So yeah, maybe I will shelve the buying a plan idea till I can really pay for it. Having another loan secured on something that could depreciate doesn't sound like a great idea right now. Renting sounds like a much better idea.

Roulette for iPod Touch and iPhone

darren — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 15:05:26 +0000

Roulette is a cool new game made specifically for the iPod Touch or iPhone. Place your bets by tapping on the table and spin the wheel with a swipe.

Roulette

Low cost usability testing

darren — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 16:09:12 +0000

Targeted user testing $19 for 1 person with video of testing and a report. Sounds like a good deal to me.

http://www.usertesting.com/

How to Make a Million Dollars.

darren — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 16:07:24 +0000

http://marshallbrain.com/million.htm

A good idea is the last thing you want

darren — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 06:21:54 +0000

I've been reading more and more that ideas are really not that important as its all in the execution. Makes sense when you think about it. No good thinking of the next miracle widget if no one can use it. Bit of a shame I'm good at ideas and not so good at execution.

I was reading this today Bad bloggers copy, great bloggers steal. So now it seams that ideas actually hinder rather than help. It is an interesting perspective that also makes sense when you think about it.

So now I will try and concentrate on the execution of not so big ideas. More evolution and less changing the world. I have just the thing as well. I did make a start but didn't get far. Maybe this is the motivation I needed? Only time will tell.

Free? iPod or iPhone

darren — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 15:19:08 +0000

Looks like universities are giving out free iPods and iPhones. Welcome, Freshmen. Have an iPod. Is it any wonder that US university education is so expensive if this kind of thing is common?

Electrical Engineering vs. Computer Science

darren — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 15:04:20 +0000

This is an interesting read. Maybe this explains my battle for simplification as someone with and Engineering background working as a Developer amongst what must be Computer Science people.

The Complicator's Gloves also goes with this rather nicely.

My Motivation - One-plane garage with a view

darren — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 00:22:35 +0000

There are many things the motivate me but the number 1 thing is just 3 miles away from my home. There is an airport neighborhood where houses have hangers instead of garages, streets are wide taxi ways, signposts are short to avoid the wings and the runway is right there. What is especially attractive is that the people that live there are not necessarily super rich. Many are just normal people all be it with slightly different priorities.

What is surprising is that a very functional small airplane can be bought for the same price as a luxury car. Of course it will be 30 years old but the tight regulation on maintenance is comforting. A pilots license can be yours for about $6,000 and at least 40 hours of flying time.

One part of my dream is commuting from my home via plane to the Bay Area. That way I can get that fun tech job and not have to suffer the living expenses of the Bay Area.

Sound crazy? Many people that live there are already doing that. One-plane garage with a view

In a couple of weeks are start my first steps. I'm doing pilot ground school at the local community college. There I should learn all the necessary theory for a private pilots license. I can hardly wait!