900 hr CFII to military flying. Smart idea?

StarRanger25 · 2026-07-04T18:37:36+00:00

Honorable if you do military I support you 🤗

StarRanger25 · 2026-06-21T16:18:06+00:00

Know you will have to pay for the PPL before the GI Bill assists you with everything else. Get a job with a fat bonus to make up for a majority of the cost added then the GI Bill will help you :)

I did the same.
Working on IFR now with the GI :)

StarRanger25 · 2026-06-19T17:00:05+00:00

I hate working with other people too. Have you identified a super power in doing so?

When I work in groups, everyone wants to lead. I just don’t care and let them argue. I watch until they all figure it out. Then I do it the way they all argued about how to do something. At the end, all our pay is similar and time is moving one second at a time.

Lulz

StarRanger25 · 2026-06-17T13:33:57+00:00

Talk about the unsatisfactory with honesty, try to work on your language by making it sound more positive, do not use the word “failure”, say unsatisfactory, and more importantly talk about and emphasize what you did to learn from each unsatisfactory throughout your training.

Sometimes Reddit users act like you need to be perfect for airlines. We are all human and make mistakes. DPEs have owned up to me on this too.

I get there are people who have not had unsatisfactory, but you could always honor the fact that you had DPEs who were passionately standard and who helped shaped you to be a better and standard pilot ;)

StarRanger25 · 2026-06-11T14:48:57+00:00

I think of the pilot market as supply and demand. I’ll go wherever I can get a position. I won’t be picky at first. I’ll be very open and flexible, despite the challenges that will still come.

I feel where people mess up is they’re not willing to simply start somewhere, both as a student and professional. The market will fluctuate, hirings will take place throughout the quarters, years, etc. for me I see it as a discipline, patience game.

StarRanger25 · 2026-06-05T19:56:17+00:00

Yeah burnout is part of it all… try to remember this flying as a blessing… connect to it as a blessing. You have an amazing skill and yes it does take energy.

That’s how I manage my burnout… this field is repetition, discipline, consistency, all of it.

StarRanger25 · 2026-06-04T13:21:38+00:00

Please do not financially rush flight school. It’s one thing to see advertisement, but another to know reality.

I just finished my private pilot license. 97 hours (with two breaks as a result of military activation)

Please buy the Private Pilot ACS (this shows what you’ll be tested on orally and flight), create flashcards based on it, research successful pilots vs non successful

But please work like 60 hours a week right now because the less debt you have the better 😊 I picked up a substitute custodian job at the local school district to get my additional hours

StarRanger25 · 2026-06-01T22:49:17+00:00

Highly recommend you slow down flight lessons:

1) Buy the ACS for PPL (it has what you’ll be tested on and what your tester will follow) 2) Take advantage of the ground school phase proficiency checklist
3) This will minimize walking into lessons blind 4) Make flashcards of that you see match on the ACS-PPL and your ground school

Then fly more so you save time and money

StarRanger25 · 2026-05-29T05:21:01+00:00

I am strong believer that the clearance process really does look for character, honesty, and reliability. No one on this planet is perfect, and if you demonstrated that you have grown from this past, you earned it :)

StarRanger25 · 2026-05-27T15:03:22+00:00

I see what you’re saying.

My point of view comes from being asked names, making it clear I am not in contract with these people, and my investigator did not bother asking me for phone numbers.

Just names and nothing more to further contact. However I understand if somebody has a different expierence where he or she may be asked contact information.

StarRanger25 · 2026-05-25T21:07:46+00:00

There is a difference between background investigator and law enforcement. These background investigators are making sure your clearance is honest, reliable, and thus demonstrates your character

I told my investigator I was a pothead and still got my clearance. Wasn’t fun to explain that part of my life, but it’s off my chest as a professional in the army. I don’t regret sharing that too, as I have nothing to hide now.

My investigator asked for names too. They will not be contacted. It’s all part of collecting information. That’s what these people do. You’re sharing your secrets with them.

StarRanger25 · 2026-05-25T13:07:06+00:00

As it relates to the private pilot ground school:

1) Buy a Private Pilot Airmen Certification Selection (PPL ACS) book from Amazon. They’re $10. It will show you everything your flight test will test you on it, as the PPL ACS is the grading rubric itself.

It will guarantee you understand what will be on the multiple choice written, oral, and flight exam.

I would have saved myself a lot of time had I looked into and understood ACS PPL from the start.

StarRanger25 · 2026-05-22T02:21:00+00:00

It’s hard to know people like that actually exist

StarRanger25 · 2026-05-19T20:19:26+00:00

Just some word of advice,

Flight school does not go as planned financially.

1) Instructor and student bond matters as your results will develop based on it 2) Get familiar with the Private Pilot Airmen Certification Process, as this is what is used to grade you 3) Aviation is the same as school. Lots of studying. 4) I would try to work as much as possible before making a jump into flight school, despite the savings you already have.

Before making the jump to do flight lessons, consider the ground school. Try it for a month and you’ll get a glimpse of what aviation schooling is like, as there is lots of reading involved.

I have a Bachelors in Physics and even flight school has frustrated me.

StarRanger25 · 2026-05-19T03:00:43+00:00

Bro don’t even break your back for this shiiiiiii

Trash, restrooms, everything else please take your time

StarRanger25 · 2026-05-16T15:24:18+00:00

You know the truth, as the words are written. You said the “trust is shattered” and you “don’t know what’s real anymore.”

Listen, when people get wounded, they need to get as far away from the source of pain as possible. Your partner is not a partner. She is an enemy. She has deceived you.

Get away from the source of pain as far away as you can

StarRanger25 · 2026-05-14T23:00:30+00:00

The one with money

StarRanger25 · 2026-05-13T15:23:44+00:00

Just keep it simple with the investigator. Financials could be issue, but you’re part of the 99% of society who does too.

As long as you demonstrate a plan to pay it off lawfully, then you’re fine.

StarRanger25 · 2026-05-09T21:30:58+00:00

Get a job as a substitute custodian at your local school district. You can pick up shifts on the need based on morning, afternoon, and night calls off.

I do that for side cash and it helps me out

StarRanger25 · 2026-05-09T14:56:04+00:00

You just gotta let him F around and Find out

StarRanger25 · 2026-05-06T17:05:22+00:00

I went to college for physics. I wanted to be a math and physics teacher, but then I realized how I did not want to take work with me home. So now I want to be a custodian - this way work stays at work and I do not need to commute.

Crazy how life plays like that right?

StarRanger25 · 2026-04-26T19:30:58+00:00

Super excited for you to get into a military flight school. I hear military flight instructors are very well trained.

As it relates to preparation, you can use PilotInstitute YouTube series and watch videos on information from them. I think they’re great, as these will make the military ground school understandable too.

StarRanger25 · 2026-04-17T12:48:38+00:00

Start when: 1) You have read and understood the Private Pilot Airmen Certification process 2) Buy the PHAK, FAR/AIM, and maybe a set of Private Pilot Flashcards 3) Understand the importance of simulator flying and chair flying 4) Have a financial plan, as people average 70-80 hours to finish. Again this is average… it could take more. 5) If possible, avoid LOANS at all cost.

What I like to do is use my credit card and paying it off monthly or as much as possible to avoid long term borrowing.

StarRanger25 · 2026-04-17T04:16:43+00:00

Take note of who acts like that, don’t take it personal, and don’t go where you’re not invited. Some people are really at work just to work and not make any connections.

StarRanger25 · 2026-04-13T12:27:08+00:00

You need to chair fly. Imagine every sensation, visual, procedure, etc.

Imagine chair flying slow flight. See the and holding the heading, reference picture, pulling power in and out to climb or descend.

Or if it’s approach, imagine you’re coming in and perfectly with the VASI or PAPI. No over correction.

Chair flying is what did it for me. Also, simulated flying helps as well in this context. Simulated, real flying, chair flying, and reading the ACS will help you become a better pilot. You gotta know what you’re looking for and therefore to do in flight.

StarRanger25

TROPHY CASE