Man has always wanted to fly. Years and

years were spent dreaming, stu@ing the

flight of birds, trying various inventions,

risking and sometimes losing lives for the

cause of human flight.

Now with the invention of airplanes,

flight is possib!e for anyone. Many are not

content just to ride in a plane while another

flies it--they want to pilot a plane them-

selves. Are you one of these people? You can

become a pilot someday--if you are willing

to invest the time and money necessary for

your training. The first step is to find a

flight instructor to help you work toward a

private pilot s license. Airports often offer

flight instruction, and so do universities,

colleges, and even some high schools. You

must be at least sixteen to begin flight train-

ing, and seventeen to earn your license.

Pilot training begins with ground school.

There you~witl learn the basic principles of

flight, the parts of an airplane, and the corn

trois and instruments in the cockpit. You

must also have many hours of actual flight

instruction with an official instructor. You

wilt keep a log book of the time you spend in

the air. The instructor will teach you how to

take off and land safely, how to control the

plane in the air, and how to navigate the

plane using the instruments. You will al-

ways fly with your instructor at first, but af-

ter some practice and a medical exam, you

will start flying solo flights. After you have

completed 40 hours of flight time, you will

be eligible to take a flight examination.

The flight exam has two parts: a multiple-

choice written test and a checkride with an

FAA examiner. If you pass both, you will be

allowed to fly yourself and others as long as

you do not charge them money for the

flight. You will be a licensed private pilot.