Does anyone out there have any recommendations for a good textbook set to getting a Private license and an IFR?
I've been using the Cessna Pilot Center "textbook" + video-on-CD course material (pictured at right) but the textbook leaves a lot of stuff out and the videos are great at illustrating concepts for people without imaginations, but it's otherwise a big waste of time.
So I'm looking for a good guide (or as is likely, series of guides) that covers all of the relevant parts of a private license in enough detail and an instructor or a set of videos aren't necessary. Any recommendations?
I used the Jeppeson book for most everything. The King School videos are really good, if you change your mind about watching videos. I could loan you a set of them.
The Cessna set that I've got is, in fact, done by the Kings—I suspect they updated and rebranded their video set and then sold it to Cessna.
And you're completely right in that it's really pretty damned good as far as video instructions go. It's the format the kills it—I can randomly search and read a book a hell of a lot quicker than I can watch a video.
I certainly would agree that a book is good for quick lookups. One thing that I did that I wish I hadn't was take my written right away. Some of the things on the test would have been a lot more trivial if I had waited a bit longer. Also by taking the test earlier it put an arbitrary deadline on when I had to get my training done.
Is that really the closest field for you?
Agreed—I'm planning on putting it off for quite a while now.
There's one field closer than Crest Airpark, but I've heard rumors that the FBO there doesn't keep their planes in terribly good shape. Crest came personally recommended by the guy that owns the shop where I get my BMW worked on.
I've seen his handiwork, and his word on maintenance goes a long way with me.