Darren Smith, Flight Instructor
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Getting the Most from Your Flight Training - 2012 Edition

Always free shipping to US Addresses
US Funds Only - All Purchases Final
International Sales
Reseller? or CFI?
Navigation:  Bio | Schedule | About this website | Pilot Store7-day IFR Rating IFR Adventure | Visi-Hold (Never wonder about hold entries) | IFR Checkride Reviewer | General Aviation Human FactorsGetting the Most From Your Flight Training | Pilot's Radio Communications Guide | Visi-Plotter | Pilot's Rules of Thumb 
   
 Special Offer
  Order this item, get the Pilot's Rules of Thumb Checklist FREE.  Limited time offer - don't miss out.
   Limitations: Void where prohibited. While supplies last. Subject to change without prior notice. Limit 1 per person. Single copy sales only.
  
Click to look at a PDF sample of the book
Picture of "Getting the Most From Your Flight Training"
This 170-page book is the essential guide to becoming a better pilot, paying the least, getting the most, and finishing as quickly as possible. Includes sections on Becoming a Better Pilot, Ground & Flight Instruction Tips, and Earning Certificates & Ratings. Size 8.5" x 6" Price: $14.95 (free shipping to US addresses).  ISBN: 978-1466483286

AOPA reviewed this book and said: Mention the phrase "save money on flight training," and you've got a student pilot's attention in a hurry. Darren Smith, a CFII and ATP who has written several books about flying, is the author of a book that purports to help you become a better pilot while paying the least, getting the most, and finishing as quickly as possible. Smith includes advice on getting started, how to select a flight instructor, getting into the airlines, and an introduction to radio communications. The nitty-gritty advice on saving money is found in the sections on ground and flight instruction.  Sent USPS First Class Mail with Delivery Confirmation Tracking Number.


Feedback

  • I saved $1000 by page 10 by Glenn W, Pros: Practical Advice, Flight Bag Sized Cons: Wish it were double the size Review: This book saved me $1000 by page 10. This book was easy to read, in fact I couldn't put it down and read it straight through. It was full of wisdom that I've found myself going back to from time to time. It doesn't waste your time -- gets right to the point. 
  • "By page 10, I had saved $3,000. An amazing book..."  Paul J in Yuma
  • "I'm a flight school owner and you should not be revealing some of these things.  You're doing a dis-service to flight schools by cutting into our profits.  It would be much better if you said 'Buyer Be Ware' and nothing more. We won't be selling your book at our school any longer."  Scott, Florida.
  • "Like plumbing, there are always secrets which lead to high profits for the plumber, you opened the door to getting the most out of my flight training investment. Thanks Darren." Jim, King of Plumbing, Newark.
  • "Very pleased with this purchase"  William K, Dry Ridge, Kentucky
  • I just received the book today and WOW am I am impressed. It is even better than I thought it would be.  Mike N, Rineyville, KY

What's Inside This Book? (59 of the 1000 questions this book answers)

  1. How to prevent a flight instructor from milking you for hours, page 6
  2. The proper sequence of Private Pilot Training, page 8
  3. How to get the least expensive ground training, page 10
  4. How to get the first 5-10 hours at the lowest cost, page 12 (and make sure you dont get stuck with a lemon CFI)
  5. How to select the best flight instructor for you, page 15
  6. How to get on a path to an airline career, page 17 (remember seniority is everything and here are some secrets)
  7. How to get flight training for free if you're a veteran, page 19
  8. Part 61 or Part 141, page 21
  9. How you learn best, page 22 (the average flight instructor will have no clue, you will tell them after you read this)
  10. How to know if your pilot skills are on the right track, page 28
  11. How to make sure you're not wasting money on any flight lesson, page 31
  12. Getting past performance anxiety, page 37
  13. What makes a pilot successful, page 39
  14. Attitudes & behaviors that can kill, page 42
  15. What shortcuts can do to your lifespan, page 45
  16. The top three accidents and how to prevent them, page 49
  17. The four things that will kill you, page 53
  18. How a red rule can save your life, page 59
  19. The distractions that can cause you to make mistakes, page 62
  20. How you can enhance your situational awareness during any flight, page 64
  21. How to avoid a gear up accident, page 67
  22. The preflight briefing that you've never heard of that you simply must perform, page 69 (hint: SWAPAFO)
  23. What to look out for when flying with another pilot, page 71 (gotchas that can get you both into an accident)
  24. How to avoid an inflight breakup of the airplane, page 73 (how not to turn a C172 into ultralight parts)
  25. The three things you must do if you lose control of the aircraft in IFR conditions, page 77
  26. What's on the flight review, page 79
  27. How to screw up a flight review, page 81 (here are the gotchas that can screw you up)
  28. How your pilot skills disappear, how to prevent it, page 83
  29. How to take charge of your flight training, page 87
  30. What the cheapest flying can do to you, page 89
  31. Eleven things you must do if you want to save money on your flying, page 91
  32. How to get to solo as quickly as possible, page 93 (here are the gotchas which can drain your wallet)
  33. What the instructor must do if you dont get 100% on any FAA written, page 95 (most aren't doing it)
  34. Avoid paying your instructor to watch you preflight the aircraft, page 97 (a great moneymaker for any CFI)
  35. Taking care of the lowest paid employee at the airport, page 99 (you'll be surprised who it is)
  36. Things that make your flight instructor's skin crawl, page 103
  37. How to avoid miscommunication with your flight instructor, page 105 (or any other pilot with more training than you)
  38. The difference between a pepperoni pizza and a CFI, page 108
  39. How to tell the difference between fact and opinion, page 111
  40. Proof your instructor doesn't know it all, page 113
  41. Eleven things you must do to get the most for your money on ground schooling, page 115
  42. Thinking about becoming a CFI? page 117 (how to get started, you'll be surprised, its free)
  43. How to make sure your flight instructor is the best, page 119
  44. Things that flight instructors must do, page 121 (if their heart is in it)
  45. What Bruce Willis has to do with your flight instruction, page 123
  46. Why you'll eventually quit flying, page 125 (seems impossible doesn't it? so prevent it)
  47. How to save $8,000 if you're going to be a professional pilot, page 129
  48. What your instructor must do if you're going on a checkride, page 133
  49. Thirteen surefire ways to fail a checkride, page 135
  50. Fourteen little surprises the examiner can throw at you during a checkride, page 138 (and your CFI didn't tell you)
  51. How to make checkride anxiety disappear, page 141
  52. Shortcuts on the checkride, page 143 to 146
  53. Eight things you can do to build your flying skills after you got the private, page 146
  54. A surefire way to complete your rating, page 147
  55. What can screw up your instrument rating training, page 149 (some of which you will never recover from)
  56. How to save thousands of dollars on your IFR ticket, page 153
  57. The one tool you should never leave the ground without, page 158
  58. What the acronym CAPER means, page 165 (and I'll bet your CFI doesn't have a clue)
  59. The things you absolutely must know about your aircraft, page 172 (to pass a checkride, checkout, etc)
These questions and a thousand more are ANSWERED in Getting the Most from Your Flight Training
Can you afford to be without this book?

Cover - IFR Checkride Reviewer
Includes 4 products:
IFR Checkride Reviewer
Pilot's Radio Comm Guide
Visi-Hold™
Learning IFR Charts

Free Priority Mail ShippingInstrument Rating Checkride Reviewer - Best Seller - 2012 Edition
3rd Edition. Finally, instrument rating help!  This 340-page review package is designed to help you to get through the Instrument Checkride.  Includes Learning IFR Enroute Charts and Pilot's Radio Communications Guide and Visi-Hold™ (see below) as a bonus.  This package can be used as a self study guide or by flight instructors to provide IPC/Checkride preparation.  Designed to fit in your flight bag, size: 8.5" x 6" Sent USPS Priority Mail  with Delivery Confirmation Tracking Number, arrives in 2-3 days.  Price: $24.95 (Free Shipping to US addresses). ISBN: 978-0-9823940-0-7  ...more information

Special Offer, Get Pilot's Rules of Thumb checklist FREE when you purchase this item - limited time offer
Limitations: Void where prohibited. While supplies last. Subject to change without prior notice. Single copy sales only.
Special Offer #1, order this by 8/1/2011 and get a pad of IFR Clearance forms FREE, printed on 100% recycled paper.

"I am now recommending it to my students as the best single book to buy to prepare for the checkride." Kevin
  Also for sale at HelicoptersOnly, Jake's Pilot Shop, MarvGolden, MyPilotStore,

          
Free 1st Class Mail ShippingVisi-Plotter - Simply the Best Flight Planning Plotter Made

This is the only VFR plotter invented by a CFI for pilots.  It includes innovative features that provides temperature conversion, flight planning scratch pad area, and a no-mistakes course protractor that even beginners won't be confused by.  It provides scales for sectional & WAC charts, and it even has inches & MM measurements.

The Most Accurate
The Visi-Plotter navigational plotter is created from a calibrated hot stamp.  It is the most accurate way to create a plotter.  No other plotter on the market uses this production method because its more expensive than the silk screen method used by every other manufacturer.

You'll pay no less than $21.95 to get a basic VFR plotter shipped from the typical online pilot store.  It won't include a tutorials on flight planning like Visi-Plotter.  It won't include online support like Visi-Plotter. Instead, get the original Visi-Plotter, helping pilots since 2000.  With Visi-Plotter, you'll get the best made plotter in the industry, a tutorial on flight planning, and online support.  Price $15 (Free Shipping to US addresses)  Sent First Class with Delivery Confirmation Tracking Number.
 
  Combo Packages


Picture of "Getting the Most From Your Flight Training"Cover - Radio Communications Guide Free Priority Mail ShippingStudent Pilot Combo
Want to be ahead of the game and need it all?  Get the best VFR cross country flight planning plotter on the market, and the book that is going to save you a lot of money, help you get finished quickly, and become the safest pilot.  There is also the radio communications guide which will make you sound like a pro and the checklist that covers 30 normal and non-normal situations and has 9 special tools that  you'll use on every flight.    Free upgraded shipping!  We ship everything in a huge priority mail envelope with delivery confirmation tracking number - arrives in 2-3 days.  Price: $55 Always free shipping to US addresses.

You'll get  5 great products which will give you a leg up on your training:
  - 
Visi-Plotter  - The best, most accurate navigational plotter made.
  -  Pilot's Rules of Thumb The ultimate checklist that every pilot needs  which covers 30 normal and non-normal situations and has 9 special tools that  you'll use on every flight.
  -  Pilot's Radio Communications Guide. 70-page review guide is designed as a quick reference guide or radio communications training self study guide.
   -  I've Screwed Up! Now What?  A 48-page review guide with practical tips and advise for using the NASA form when you've violated the FARs.
  -  Getting the Most From Your Flight Training, a 170-page book is the essential guide to becoming a better pilot, paying the least, getting the most, and finishing as quickly as possible.

 
 
Cover - IFR Checkride ReviewerPicture of "Getting the Most From Your Flight Training"Click to see a larger picture

Includes 8 products:
IFR Checkride Reviewer
Getting the Most From Your Flight Training
Pilot's Radio Communications Guide
Safer Approaches  AND  Pilot's Rules of Thumb
Visi-Hold™   AND Learning IFR Enroute Charts
I've Screwed Up!  Now What? - Using the NASA form
Free Priority Mail ShippingThe Whole Enchilada - Everything IFR - 2012
Save $18!  Getting started and don't want to miss a thing?  Coming up on a Checkride and need it all?  Here's the package that everyone has been asking me to do for the last 10 years.  It's the whole enchilada as they say on PBS. 

This package comes with SEVEN products:  first you got the best selling IFR Checkride Reviewer which is #1 in the USA for IFR Check ride preparation.  Built into the binding of the book is included
Pilot's Radio Communications Guide and Learning IFR Enroute Charts as a chapters.  Visi-Hold is absolutely included and you'll find that it's the easiest way to figure out holding entries (until you can do them in your head).  If that weren't enough, we add these additional products:
  -  Pilot's Rules of Thumb The ultimate checklist that every pilot needs  which covers 30 normal and non-normal situations and has 9 special tools that  you'll use on every flight.
  -  I've Screwed Up! Now What?  A 48-page review guide with practical tips and advise for using the NASA form when you've violated the FARs.
  -  Getting the Most From Your Flight Training, a 170-page book is the essential guide to becoming a better pilot, paying the least, getting the most, and finishing as quickly as possible.
  -  Safer Approaches - how to conduct Instrument Approach Procedures to a higher standard of safety and precision.  It includes a descent rate table I am sure you will keep in your kneeboard. 

We ship everything in a huge priority mail envelope with delivery confirmation tracking number - arrives in 2-3 days.  Price: $60 - Always free shipping to US addresses. 


  

Cover - IFR Checkride ReviewerPicture of "Getting the Most From Your Flight Training"Click to see a larger picture
Includes 5 products:
IFR Checkride Reviewer
Getting the Most From Your Flight Training
Pilot's Radio Communications Guide
Visi-Hold™ AND Pilot's Rules of Thumb
Free Priority Mail ShippingIFR Checkride Preparation Combo - 2012 Edition
Save $6.  Got your IFR checkride coming up?  Starting your instrument rating?  Save $10 on the IFR Checkride Prep Combo - everything you'll need for your checkride.  This package includes the best selling IFR Checkride Preparation guide, a 340-page review package is designed to help you to get through the Instrument Checkride.  It also includes the Pilot's Radio Communications Guide as a chapter and Visi-Hold™ (described above).  You'll also receive Getting the Most From Your Flight Training, the ultimate guide to getting the most, paying the least and becoming a safer pilot.  If that weren't enough, you'll also receive the ultimate pilot's checklist, Pilot's Rules of Thumb, which covers 30 normal and non-normal situations and has 9 special tools that  you'll use on every flight.  Sent USPS Priority Mail  with Delivery Confirmation Tracking Number  - arrives in 2-3 days.  Price $38 (Always free Shipping to US addresses).  









Click to see a larger picture
IFR Home Run:  Learning IFR Charts, Safer Approaches, Visi-Hold, Rules of Thumb - 4 Great Products, One Price
Free 1st Class Mail ShippingSave $11. Get three top-rated pubs & the ultimate pilot's checklist:   Learning IFR Enroute Charts & Visi-Hold™ & Safer Approaches & Pilot's Rules of Thumb (described above) home run combo package.  Not only will you own the ultimate pilot's checklist,  you'll master IFR chart symbology, you'll never wonder about holding entries again, and you'll perform the safest, most stabilized instrument approaches possible.  This home run combo package is a perfect gift for the Instrument Rated PIlot.  Sent US 1st class mail.  Price $20 (Free Shipping to US addresses)Sent First Class with Delivery Confirmation Tracking Number. 




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  Home | Login | Schedule | Pilot Store | 7-Day IFR | IFR Adventure | Trip Reports | Blog | Fun | Reviews | Weather | Articles | Links | Helicopter | Download | Bio
All content is Copyright 2002-2011 by Darren Smith. All rights reserved. Subject to change without notice. This website is not a substitute for competent flight instruction. There are no representations or warranties of any kind made pertaining to this service/information and any warranty, express or implied, is excluded and disclaimed including but not limited to the implied warranties of merchantability and/or fitness for a particular purpose. Under no circumstances or theories of liability, including without limitation the negligence of any party, contract, warranty or strict liability in tort, shall the website creator/author or any of its affiliated or related organizations be liable for any direct, indirect, incidental, special, consequential or punitive damages as a result of the use of, or the inability to use, any information provided through this service even if advised of the possibility of such damages. For more information about this website, including the privacy policy, see about this website.