h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Hi I'm 17 too, also studying for a PPL, but in fixed wing aircraft (never been a fan of helicopters, don't know why...). It makes a change to see another younger person with an interest in aviation, although the Royal Navy isn't really my cup of tea!
And, of course, welcome back to h2g2. Think i might pass on your advice to try the M3 though, no offence!

Well, at the moment, my future in aviation is fading away. I'm not going to continue my PPL course if it's not going to lead anywhere. I hate medicals.

what did you fail your medical on?

Your PPL course really could lead you somewhere! Have you considered the Commercial side of aviation? I like the Royal Navy myself (possibly not for the same reasons as you...!) but my career ambitions lie in the Civil Sector. I've done 42 hours of the course, and have to sit a meteorology exam on thursday for it. And even if you don't need it for your career in the end, a PPL is good fun at least!

Yes, I have considered the commercial side of aviation, and it pales in comparison to other things I could be doing... like piloting hovercrafts

I failed on hayfever. I'm temp-unfit till 2007 (which is when I plan to join the RN anyway), but there's a possibility that I could be permanently unfit on grounds of wheezing. It's out of my control now

well it's a shame that you can't join up until 2007, but think positive - you can at least have fun with your PPL. What are you thinking of doing if you can't sign up with Her Majesty's Forces? (apart from the hovercraft...)

I'm joining the RN or RM, that's for sure , even if I can't fly.

You planning to make a career out of flying?

Yeah, I'm intending to enter Comercial Aviation. I'm hoping to apply for sponsorship to join an airline as a First Officer next year when I've completed my A Levels. What do you want to do in the Royal Navy / Marines if you can't fly?

What's a First Officer as opposed to a Second Officer?

Not sure yet. Mine Clearance Diving looks fun (Bomb Disposal 30m underwater), other than that, something front line: Hovercrafts/Landing Craft, Driving or Engineering.

well, Second, First and Senior First officers are all Sub - ranks of the First officer rank. Usually second officers are called first officers anyway, because the term second officer has virtually fallen out of use.

Underwater mine clearance could be fun... not really very miliatorial myself, but if its what you wanna do, I say go for it.
What are you intending to do until you can sign up?

... finish school? ...

Next summer I'll start at uni and join the RM Reserves.

What are you intending to study at uni?

I'm lookin to do an aviation or transport management degree. It's really hard to find just aviation degrees these days, and it seems that Pilot Studies has disappeared from all Uni sylabuses completely!

... Computer Science ...

It interests me, and in RN you get paid more just for having a degree.

Well, at least you are keeping your options open with the Computer Science degree, there's a whole host of jobs in the RN/ MoD you could do. And of course, getting paid more is always a plus!

Are you gonna go to the h2g2 Christmas party in January? Think its being held in Holborn somewhere, haven't checked all the details.. might go myself, could be fun.

Doubt it. School/ski-ing etc.

Are you going to be ski-ing at school or at seperate times?! Sorry, I'm just pedantic about punctuation..., only meant it as a joke.

I haven't signed up to go to the January meeting yet, but think I will at some point, it looks like it could be fun.

Where have you been training for your PPL? I'm not a great expert on London Airspace, but so much of it is Restricted, classes A - D, it must be very hard to train.

Wycombe Air Park. 30mins on M4. Not a problem... especially if/when I get a driver's licence. I've got family out there too.

Sorry its taken me ages to reply, but you know what its like, one minute your sailing through life, and before you know it there's a huge homework due in the following day that you forgot about...

I've never flown to Wycombe myself, heard of it though. What's it like? Is it a full ATC, tarmac runway like affair, or one of those fun little strips made up of some grass and a hut?! They really are the best you know, grass is so fun when its wet and you are trying to land at 55-60 kts.

Two tarmac, one grass, ATC, flying schools, helicopters, gliding club, and all the usual stuff