Hello all;
I am an in the process of learning to fly my trainer. The instructor has been a god send. Not only had he spent time with me as well as my sons (17 &11). I would like to know, what is the proper etiquette for showing gratitude to the instructor? What have others done that has made the first solo memorable and to say thank you to the instructor?
Thank you
Mustang

Your enthusiasm and excitement is graditude enough. You will see when you instruct some day.

I had wondered that to after i soloed. The guy is just the best. He would always take time out to help me any way he could. I don't see him that much anymore because we fly on different days. I do usually see him at the LHS because he works there. We were talking one day and he mentioned he was doing some freeflight lately. He said he been looking for some .049 for his planes. I mentioned that i had an old TeeDee from years ago and wasn't sure it even still ran. He asked if he could buy it from me. I said i would dig it out of my garage and bring it in. About a week later i showed up with it in a ziplock bag where it had been for the last 15 years. It would not even turn over it was so gummed up. He said no problem he could fix it right up and be running in no time. He asked how much and i told "free". He really liked that and i felt a small portion of my debt to him was paid.

skeeter

My instructor was excited about my first solo as I was. those who love the hobby and can teach it to others usually get plenty of saisfaction just knowing they've helped someone else. Most don't want money. I gave my instructor a couple of gallons of his favorite glow fuel, he was tickled to death, as he was retired and on a fixed income, and didn't fly his own stuff a lot. He was a crackerjack teacher, though. He was a retired Army Aviator, flew OV-1's in SE Asia and had been a helicopter pilot and instructor as well.

As an instructor that just soloed his first two students last week, I have to agree that the satisfaction is payment enough. It's a real sense of accomplishment introducing new guys into such a wonderful hobby.

What do you owe your instructor? Your full attention. Progress. Always trying to learn whatever lesson he is trying to teach. Respect for his time and knowledge. Working hard so that you will not need his services anymore. As to material goods, well I've trained my share of people thru the years and never asked for or expected anything in return other than you not waste my time. Success is it's own reward, both for you and your instructor.

And to add to that, don't be afraid to ask questions. That's what he's there for and most likely, if he is like me and a most all other instructors, crave the opportunity to share knowledge and to help you avoid the pitfalls that we've all fallen into.

CGr.

Speaking from a trainee standpoint. When I soloed, had two instructors, wore them both out. I gave them 2500mAh batteries for their tx. I am now almost ready to start instructing myself. I hope I can be half as good as those that taught me. They are special people. Patience of Job. Wisdom of Solomon. If any of my instructors are looking at this post. again I say THANK YOU!!!!!

One of my instructors is the owner of my LHS. He is the best! Always there if you have a question, always available if you have a problem and if you need any assistance what so ever, he makes his time your time. Couldn't ask for more.

I always wondered what I could do to repay him for his expertise and his time. I decided that since the internet has taken a lot of business from a lot of neighborhood shops, I would spend my money in his shop rather than online. Keeps both of us going that way. Just recently another flying buddy of mine decided that something more needed to be done. He decided that this guy needed a wing bag for his big extra, so one was gotten for him. He was quite surprised, and that was what we were looking for.

Since I've been flying, I've had the chance to take a couple friends up with my trainer on a buddy box. Gave me a new perspective. Also showed me why instructors don't worry so much about a student paying them back. It's an incredible feeling when you get to teach someone something like this.

I suspect that Oldvet70 has hit it square on the head. Pay your instructor back with giving him the knowledge that his time wasn't wasted and in turn it will pay you both back in more ways than just flying ability.

Just my thoughts.

There`s no set rule. Sure, the satisfaction that instructors get when they fledge new pilots is "payment" enough. That doesn`t mean, however, that you can`t give them a gift to express your gratitude for the time and effort they spent on you. In my particular case, I gave a kit to my instructor that he had mentioned in passing one day.

I always set the price right up front......the price for me to teach you to fly........I want you to teach someone else someday.....if you do that then my fee is met....
(notice the dramatic pauses)...LOL.

Usually just saying thanks is enough but if you want to buy the guy a new car I'm sure he won't turn it down either.

While nothing is required, we provided a Home Depot gift card to show our appreciation.

Bottom line: it's whatever you are comfortable with. I felt that our instructor gave up a lot of his flying time to help us out. I have instructed in other venues and know that student success is all the satisfaction I need, but a little something extra, if you really appreciated his/her services (cookies, gift card, etc.) won't be refused.

Jack

My sentiments exactly!

Get him a case of his favorite beer

Buy him a gallon of fuel so he can teach more newbies!

As a person who has taught a few people, all i am looking for in return os someone to fly with! MOre people to fly with is always good

I have found that it is best to have the student supply at least his own plane, radio and fuel. This way he has a better feel for his investment. All the support stuff comes in time. Now I've trained plenty of people on my own planes and on the clubs trainer. Not a single person who soloed on the clubs dime stayed in the hobby, no investment, and only about 1/4 of the ones using my plane stayed, I made them buy fuel to fly my plane. I'd always take free fuel. But I'm going to fly it not a student. It's a good idea though.

your welcome, Irish was a very good person to work with. He and his wife also took me for a nice burger and fries later. I still take pride that I helped him to learn to fly,

The big pay back is I have a very nice flying buddy, who is very helpfull himself.

Besides he is flying soooo much , his landing are better than mine.

sticks

I agree with this, to a point, I teach people to fly with the club trainer. But they do not get below one mistake high with the club trainer, they must learn to takeoff and land with thier own plane. They need to be getting a plane ready to fly, or repairing it for the next landing attempt. Yes they must be getting a flight box and fuel into the mix.
To be honest, they need to be getting involved even if its slowly getting things and moving forward.

sticks

Ok, I will answer this from my point of view as a instructer.

a Gallon of fuel, he has used his at some point.

take him ( and wife) out to lunch or dinner, if that works out.

Last and the most important , say Thank you

and we are paid back.

sticks

I gave a Benchmade knife to my instructor, who seemed to appreciate it. I do think a gift of some kind is appropriate, if for no other reason than to keep instructors interested in instructing. None of them are doing it to get things, but showing gratitude in a concrete way does a lot to make the process worthwhile for the instructor.

I also agree with others about requiring people to get their own stuff. I instruct now (specifically because so many guys in the club went out of their way to help me) and look at the club trainer or my personal plane as only a way to get people interested. If I'm out and there are spectators, I usually offer to take someone up on the buddy box. It's good PR for the club and it shows people who are intersted that they can actually do this hobby if they are willing to make the investment.

Frankly, I have even more fun instructing than I had when I was a student. That's reward enough for me.

Mustang1964,

Are you detecting a theme here?

Instructors...good ones..find their reward in the act of instructing itself. By and large, we become instructors for the simple pleasure of sharing a passion for aviation. Our "fee" is seeing the lightbulb go on when a student gets it...or seeing the passion spread even further when YOU instruct...or seeing you smile when you learn to do X...whatever.

You want to pay your instructor back for his/her time and effort? Make it WORTH his/her time and effort...that's all the pay required.

When I attended a flight school we (students) held a picnic for the instructors at the end of the 10 week "semester" where we supplied the food and did all the cooking and clean-up.

Or a bottle of Glenfiddich might be an idea.