Beginning Flight Training

After my first flight with a flight training instructor where I got to handle the controls somewhat, I decided that I wanted to learn how to fly. I was making decent money on my job and could afford the lessons, so I signed up and paid some cash in advance. I was going to fly one hour a week. Thinking back, I realize that I should have flown at least three hours a week for retention.
The first few lessons were typical basic maneuvers and a lot of touch and go's. I don't really think that my instructor had my best interest at heart . It seemed that he was only trying to get me to that first solo, and didn't concentrate much on my precession with basic maneuvers. Many flight training instructors are like that, especially the younger ones. They have bigger and better things on their minds personally and are only climbing the ladder to a better job. This one in particular was hoping to start flying corporate soon and already had a Learjet rating.
After about nine hours I was getting ready to solo but I had one problem. I had not yet taken a physical and gotten a medical certificate. I was on blood pressure medication at the time and was taking another medication for gout. I went to the flight surgeon for the physical and passed. He couldn't issue me a certificate on the spot because the medications had to be okay-ed by the FAA in Oklahoma City. First delay. So I kept practicing touch and go's and some maneuvers.
During this time I made the mistake of telling my drinking buddies that I was waiting for word about my medication from the FAA. One of these guys happened to work for the FAA at a flight service station. They soon devised an elaborate hoax behind my back. I got a letter from the FAA that stated that they needed to do more research on one of the medications that I was taking and that my urine sample showed a large amount of alcohol in my system. I was pissed. I didn't have any sort of alcohol the whole week of my physical and I knew that something was wrong. I told my "friends" about it and they laughed there asses off. Then they told me. The guy who worked for the FAA got an FAA letterhead and together they devised the letter as a joke. I was relieved and laughed along but it was a dirty joke and I will never forget it.
I finally got the real FAA letter, but the news wasn't much better. Because of the blood pressure medication, I was required to take a blood test, a stress test and an EKG. Another delay. I made an appointment with the flight surgeon and passed with flying colors but I still had to wait for the FAA to send me my medical certificate. I finally got it and was ready to solo.
This may be a lesson to others. Get your medical first before you consider spending money on flying lessons. It will save a lot of time and frustration. I will talk about my first solo in my next post of Aviation Flight Training Personal Stories. Wilbe