...In the pilot in command seat, in control of a Cessna 172M.



My first flight lesson was truly one of the most incredible experiences I have EVER had. I took off from Milton Airport and flew directly to the practice area, over pensacola beach. It's such an amazing view to be looking down over the ocean and coastline from the pilot's seat a few thousand feet up. There is now not a single doubt in my mind that this is DEFINITELY what I want to do with my life. My instructor said I came the closest he's ever seen to actually making a landing by myself on my first lesson, too. So I'm definitely looking forward to the next one. ^^

Wow, congrats, man. You're one step closer to being

Nothing is really more gratifying than knowing what it is you want to in life. What is it you can settle down with. A good number of people don't even find that out until it's too late in their life. So mad props to you sir.

That's pretty much what I got from Cheese's post until I scrolled down far enough to see the movie title.

Anyway, congratz on the thing, wolf. Now, are those things pretty simple to control and understand, or are you still dealing with about a dozen buttons and meters or so?

Good luck on your next flight, don't crash!

Rock on, dude. You're doing what I've always wanted to.

Fly for me too.

Still quite complex. Here's a shot of the actual dash/instrument panel:



You have to use the yoke and pedals for pitch roll and bank, coordinating with your feet for rudder, break, etc, while understanding what your instruments read. So a lot of stuff to keep track of, but pretty simple if you study up on it.

I have two lessons in one day on Tuesday.

Wow, are all those knobs and meters really necessary? What more do you need than the steering, the radio, and meters for altitude, speedometer, turn angle, pitch, engine thermometer, battery power, wind speed (and maybe direction, if that's possible to tell), compass, and fuel?

Really, you want to be a pilot? That's pretty interesting and cool. I'd never imagined.
Congrats on pursuing your dream, pal!

Once when I was smaller I visited a plane's cockpit in an international flight. It was very complex, there were about 5 times more buttons and things than in the picture. Not the pilot nor the co-pilot knew what all of them were for – there was a list with the functions, taped somewhere in the cockpit. I find that quite amusing.

Yep, that's very true about the larger jets. They have a LOT more instrumentation than the little single-engine ground, prop plane that I flew.

Heh, I can just see the people who built THAT one: "sh*t, the dash if completely full... um, try putting the rest on the center console between the chairs... What? That's full too?! Um, well hell... put the rest on the ceiling. Yeah, that should work."