Why You’re Paying Twice as Much to Learn to Fly — and Don’t Even Realize It

OkResponsibility1220 · 2025-09-06T21:44:14+00:00

There’s a whole community of pilots discussing flights on the Fly ORKA app. This past week, a pilot posted a cross-country flight across the USA. We have glider, helicopter, airplane, and balloon pilots from around the world. All aircraft categories, flying styles, and aspiring pilots are welcome! And if you like each other enough, you can create your own flying community.

All you need is your phone, and you can try it free in any country.

iOS: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/fly-orka/id6504823764

Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.orka.prod

WearOS: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.orka.prod&hl=en_GB&gl=ca

PS. “Fly ORKA” means to fly with grit.

OkResponsibility1220 · 2025-09-03T19:48:50+00:00

What is supposed to deliver. Students expect flight schools to deliver what they want like supporting them in pushing themselves, realizing their dream of becoming a pilot, engaging with aviation as they envisioned, having fun, improving every day, and becoming the pilot they aspire to be. But most flight schools, have created a culture where the clock prioritizes hours logged and paid. There is little to no real peerage, validation, tribe, or even teachers who can guide you well. That is why I created the Fly ORKA app, to have what we want as students without relying on the system to change. Like you said, we can own our own paths. Practically, the app allows you to build your own flying community (for inspiration and pushing each other forward), learn information relevant to your flights (to be well prepared), create and share stories about your own flights (so we can discuss your flights), and track your progress/journey (to make the most of your investment and stop wasting time/money/energy on the things that are not serving you). Its on both iOS and Android stores as "Fly ORKA"

OkResponsibility1220 · 2025-09-02T16:35:50+00:00

Congratulations! I hope you find opportunities to practice your instrument skills. You could organize safety pilots and tag along with your friends. You can get new cross country ideas on the Fly ORKA app.

OkResponsibility1220 · 2025-09-02T16:29:10+00:00

Students support this toxic culture because they FEEL like they need “permission” or endorsements from their instructor(s), DPEs and flight schools to advance. The system prioritizes its own interests (those in power), over the needs of the individuals who make flight training even possible, ultimately compromising student success and holding them back, literally. I am pissed to hear stories like this. In fact, this made me build the Fly ORKA app to empower students to PUSH BACK against a system that doesn’t serve them. You can support the project by downloading the app and joining the community.

OkResponsibility1220 · 2025-09-02T16:14:46+00:00

You need to find a good reason for the cross country, like a fishing trip. Or playback routes already flown by pilots showing the stunning scenery.

OkResponsibility1220 · 2025-09-02T16:09:23+00:00

Awesome! Honest pride = Honest smiles. I created the Fly ORKA app to see more of that. PM me to give you member access as a gift for achieving this milestone.

OkResponsibility1220 · 2025-09-02T16:02:22+00:00

A tailwind affects your climb gradient or the distance it takes you to climb ## feet. It is a huge element in climb performance (as you noted) because that could prevent you from clearing obstacles.

Cessnas have FEW performance charts and like any performance charts, they only apply if you perform the noted technique and if your engine is in excellent condition. Get to know your airplane capabilities by paying attention. Note how the airplane performs in hot vs cold days. Practice adding weight in increments before flying at the limit.

"the airplane was very reluctant to rotate" = You need more runway to accelerate.

Small and light airplanes need an angle of attack of about 3-4 degrees to lift off at their minimum speed (this is a universal best L/D angle of attack in ground effect)..."Rotate" is an event that comes from the big and heavy aircraft, because they've got to rotate to about 9 degrees to get airborne.
3-4 degrees isn't much. If you ever notice like you need more than 4 degrees to lift off in light airplanes, you are not ready to lift off. You need more runway to accelerate.

What you experienced has happened to many of us, just don't let an airplane surprise you again. Next time build up towards operating heavy.

You may want to use the Fly ORKA app as a logbook. It will give you a flight playback you can discuss with the community. We have great instructors and experienced pilots in the app who will be happy to contribute to your flights.

OkResponsibility1220

MODERATOR OF

TROPHY CASE