re: Do you think you could fly a plane with no formal training? A helicopter?

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We had this program run by a retired pilot in my school district called aerospace. You learned about the science of flight and such and then there was this flight test you did at the end. It was in a flight simulator. Not on a computer but a fully equipped, expensive professional simulator. As a 14 year old I did a full flight test perfectly on one attempt. I think people equate the risks of flying with the difficulty of flying.

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I'd need a quick breakdown of the basics: how to read the gauges (vacuum, oil temp, oil pressure, etc.); where all the buttons are (throttle, flaps, trim, fuel pump, whatever the hell else). At that point, you're basically getting formal training though. I don't think your average person would know enough to sit in it and go. Like how would you know how many RPMs to put the throttle before takeoff?

If I got a few-minute crash course (or some time with a flight manual) I might be able to take off and maybe keep it in the air for a while, but on my own I wouldn't know the first place to start with this:

Small plane, maybe. No way I could get a helicopter off the ground and keep it there.

My son is a pilot and my first born. I know this because I have considered selling him to pay for flight time, instructors, and fuel. He tells me flying a modern airplane is almost like playing a video game until it comes time to land.

I have a private pilot’s license and grew up around aviation. The concept of fixed wing is being able to understand that power (or throttle) and pitch contribute to flying the aircraft. If you understand balancing those then flying is a piece of cake and you should have plenty of time to react if something happens. That all being said, you could fly and possibly land with no formal training if you understand those concepts and were aware of stall speeds, etc.

Helicopters are unforgiving. You constantly have to be on your toes and in the event of engine failure, you have about a second to two to put it in autorotation (pitch down to force the rotors to spin, which gives you some lift) or you turn into a rock in the air. So no, you cannot fly a helicopter without formal training.

Yes on plane no on helicopter

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Do you think you could fly a plane with no formal training?

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I had some basic flight training on a simulator in middle school. Does that count as formal training?

I just ask because I'm in the Bossier Parish Flight Simulator Hall of Fame.

An Airliner is Easy

Captain Joe guides someone with no flight experience

I've flown a small plane for about 30 minutes. No way I'd ever try to land one without formal training. It was an older Cessna prop and takeoff wasn't exactly smooth, but I got it off the ground. Flew the first half hour, then let the real pilot in the passenger seat take the controls and land it.

I've taken flight lessons so I am sure I can still land the Cessna.

Helicopter, I've flown in alot and remember thinking I would like to try... But it seems like alot of muscle memory and practice so I doubt anyone could on the first attempt.

I feel like I could fly a C-130. Land a C-130? No