Take Your Wings and Fly - A Journey Through a Private Pilot's Licence: Written by Jason Smart, 2013 Edition, Publisher: DestinWorld Publishing Ltd. [Paperback] Paperback – 18 May 2013

For Christmas 2016 I advised my family that instead of socks, broken biscuits or pasta, I'd really appreciate a contribution towards a trial flying lesson. It's something which has been on my mind for about a year (since I went with my Dad for a Yorkshire Coast Flying Experience I purchased for his Birthday in 2015) and also since I've played around with a few flight simulators.Jason (the author) has done a superb job with his diary-style musings of the emotional journey, from taking his first ever flight, through to attaining his PPL, along with a few stories of leisure flights post-PPL. He also does a great job of explaining the many acronyms, while breaking down various in-flight situations to be understandable for the uninitiated.I'm not sure if I was slightly sucked into this book by the fact that Jason referenced various landmarks throughout the book (the water tower near Wakefield where my nan used to live, the big red roofed B&Q at Dewsbury where dad took us on a Sunday, the lakes near Hornsea not far from where we holiday'd as kids, the golfballs at Menwith where my in-laws live or manoeuvres over Harrogate where I now live!), but I struggled to put the book down. It is throughly readable - I only purchased on Kindle 2x days ago and then I've come here to leave a review...I'm now even more excited about booking my trial flight lesson in the coming weeks and onwards progress towards learning & study, in preparation to beginning my training. Highly recommended and well done Jason.

Having completed my PPL a year before I was interested to come across this book which tells the story of the authors own journey through flying training to ultimately complete his own licence. At the time I had thought it was just me who experienced the highs and lows, thrills and frustrations of training to be a pilot. Therefore I could relate completely to the authors own experiences and I wish I had read the book while I was completing my own training. Highly recommended for anyone who is considering a PPL, is in the middle of the experience or has already completed their licence.

Not a "How to fly an aeroplane" book but the frustrations of trying to actually get in one and start in the UK.Yes....this is just what it is like. You will probably have already signed up for a block booking and bought your training manuals for the theory tests and already spent many hours travelling to lessons and sat around in the club hut and achieved very little as explained in this book. If you can read this book before you do this and then instead book a 2 week intensive course in Florida you may save both a lot of money and avoid all this frustration.I always tell people that I think I taught myself to fly and the Instructor just happened to be there at the time(usually asleep)

After having a couple of pleasure flights I found myself wondering what is involved in getting a PPL. I found this a well written and honest account of the process which I enjoyed reading a lot.

This is a really well written, entertaining and informative take on the journey to getting a PPL. It's something I've been thinking about doing and having a day by day account of what it takes has given me an invaluable insight into the process. The book goes into just enough technical detail so as to keep you interested but not overwhelm you. It's often funny and light hearted and if you're interested in flying, thinking about getting your PPL or currently working towards it then I think this is a must have book to add to your collection.

If you have ever considered taking your PPL this book will either kill your desire instantly , or make you very enthusiastic. When I first read that it was a diary of the author's training programme I nearly didn't buy it ,thinking it would make fairly boring reading . However it transpires it is a very well written account which is extremely interesting and very informative. You share his emotions of triumph and despair every minute of each Flight. He has achieved success on two counts , he has written an excellent book, and gained his PPL.

This book is a diary describing the author's way to achieve Private Pilot's Licence.I am interested in pursuing PPL and this book gave me a proper understanding of process - touched on majority if not all areas of the process.The book is written in an easy to read way and explains everything, so the person who has never been in cockpit can enjoy.

A well written account of learning to fly but like most written accounts he constantly refers to the cost of lessons, medicals and exams but never once informs us of the actual cost of gaining a PPL which for many perspective pilots is the most interesting aspect. A pity!

Great book for all flying enthusiasts, especially PPL aspirants. Makes you relive every moment of your training. The hard work, patience, and effort required to become an aviator is realistically brought out, sans the oft-seen view through green-tinted aviator glasses. This book is an eye opener for all aspiring general aviation pilots who dream of romancing the skies but do not know what it entails and the amount of grit and determination required to achieve your dream.

If you have any interest in aviation this is a must read.I thought it was well written and easy to read; and whilst it is not Shakespeare it is informative and interesting.I have always been interested in doing a PPL, but like 95% probably never will. If I was this book provides some great advice and information about the journey.BTW PPL is Private Pilots ............A must read for anyone embarking on the journey to become a pilot.

As a pilot, I like reading the experiences of others that may have been down many of the same paths as me. The author takes us through his odyssey from passenger to pilot, and he's uncommonly open about the various doubts, failures and other obstacles he hit along the way.He does paint himself as maybe a bit more timid, fearful and self-doubting than is common among most of the pilots I know, but I suspect at least some of this is really just a device to introduce the concepts he wants to write about. Indeed, to a greater or lesser extent, I think most people who learn to fly will have many of these same thoughts and feelings along the way...most of us just don't write books about it. In my own case, although it's been many years since my student pilot days, I found myself reminiscing about my own feelings surrounding many of the events in the book.If you're contemplating going for that pilot license, Jason's book is definitely a realistic example of what it can be like. While you might not react quite like him (and indeed, I suspect some of his examples are a bit embellished), the book will give you a good insight into the sorts of things you have ahead.