About 6 months ago I bought MS FS with a sidewinder joystick. I didn't really pay attention to the warning on the box that using the sim would lead to flying lessons, but it did. I became hooked. Since starting to fly, I fly a DA-20 (not on the simulator) and love it. Rod’s lessons were great and really broke the ground to start me flying. Rod’s Private Pilot Handbook was/is great and as soon as I go for my IFR cert, I'll pick up his IFR manual. I am going all the way for CFI. The instructors and other pilots I have spoken to, have a high regard for Rod.
R.A.
Finally, I have a handbook that I actually enjoy reading and learning from. I commend Rod on his use of words with a wonderful sense of humor, and his excellent presentations. The more I read, the more I understand, the more confidence I have.
B. S.
[Actual rocket scientist]
I just finished Rod’s PP Handbook—the best technical book I have ever read. Just so you know, I have 4 years undergrad and 6 years grad school at Purdue University in Electrical Engineering (BS, MS, quit before the PHD). Rod makes learning a heck of a lot of fun!
D.S.
I would just like to say that Rod Machado’s Private Pilot Handbook is the best of all the books I have ever read. I have one of the first books that were published. I love to learn from his fantastic ways of instructing. I hope Rod keeps up the great work, aviation needs more like him! Maybe he would offer up his dna so we could clone more Rod Machados? Just kidding. Rod is the best of the best.
W. M.
I started reading Rod’s column in AOPA on-line and found his articles so interesting and knowledgeable that I would read several in a row ‘til wee hours in the morning. I purchased Rod’s Private Pilot's Handbook and really believe that it should replace any of [Brand X's] or any other book on the subject at all flight training schools! I have, and have read {Brand X's} private pilot manual. It is boring and hard to understand the concepts. (I get bad flash-backs of being in high school in late May, day-dreaming of girls and what to do on the weekend as the sweat runs off your forehead in the 96 degree heat. Then the Poindexter-type professor wants an explanation of Einstein's theory from 'of all people' Mr. ----- who has not a clue in the world of what was spoken in the last 30 minutes.) On the other hand, I find Rod’s style of teaching combined with his great sense of humor invigorating; I don't want to put the book down. It is like reading your favorite cartoon strip; Rod makes it FUN!
J.M.
Six years ago I picked up a copy of Rod Machado's Private Pilot Handbook and used it to ace my Private Pilot FAA Written test. Now I am a flight instructor, and I recommend Rod’s book to my students as the primary text for studying. Just today one of my students commented on how much he likes Rod’s book. Well, it worked for me!
Richard,
CFI
I purchased Rod’s Handbook… reached page F12 and read about his solo and nearly died, laughing. I tried for 20 minutes to read the section to my wife, but was unable. This was a week ago and I still get a good laugh out of the thing. Rod might consider placing a disclaimer on the cover that one should laugh at their own peril. But I must admit, I need that.
Charles M.G.,
5-year pilot
For ANYONE who is thinking about becoming a private pilot, I encourage them to purchase Rod’s Private Pilot Handbook and study it. IT"S AWESOME !!
Dave in Coweta, Oklahoma
Rod Machado’s Private Pilot Handbook has been my constant companion for over a year now. It's dog-eared from being looked at so much. I earned my PPL two months ago, thanks to Rod helping me through. He really has a gift for teaching.
L. M.
Taking my ground school with the [Brand X CDs], but I got Rod’s Handbook and it is clarifying much for me. Thanks!
J.W.E.
As a CFI, I can't tell you how much this industry needs a book like Rod’s Private Pilot Handbook--it is absolutely fantastic. I certainly recognize and appreciate all the time he put into making this text. His book, with it's easy to read format, simple examples, expert commentaries, and photos will allow me as a CFI to extend his contribution to aviation that much more. There are many excellent aviation authors, but none have ever been able to inspire me like Rod Machado or Barry Schiff.
J. R.,
CFII
I just love Rod Machado’s Private Pilot Handbook.
J.P.,
Canada
After getting my private SEL back in 1978, I flew for about 6 years and then stop. I kept up on my reading but not the flying. Economic conditions didn't help. I am currently reviewing EVERYTHING that is written and preparing to do some dual training. I teach and conduct research at the University of Florida. I just wanted to tell you that Rod Machado’s Private Pilot Handbook is one of the best-written aviation books that I have read.
M.K.
Gainsville, FL
I am about 1/2 way through reading Rod Machado’s Private Pilot's Handbook, and I have to congratulate Rod on creating a very informative and humorous read! It seems to be a mixture of pure avionics, Star Trek, George Carlin's humour, and a hell of a lot of experience! I also have to admit that is has given me more than an enthusiastic push to finally do what I've wanted to do for quite some time: learn to fly. Rod’s book is providing me an excellent framework for diving into the endeavor before me!
D.B.
[2000] XXX Flight School is in real bad shape with our FAA approved [Brand X books] ground school. Students are not mastering the material. I just simply don't have time to get this straightened out. Two of our instructors have expressed an interest and we all agree that the Private and Instrument/Commercial ground schools should be based on Rod Machado’s material. [Update this year: School changed to Machado Books—students are happier, concepts are understood and test scores are higher.]
I have enjoyed Rod’s books and videos. Not only did he help me get my ratings due to being able to simplify things, he also helped me on my way to fulfilling my dream of becoming an airline pilot. I am now a comm/multi/inst rated pilot. When is Rod coming out with more books and videos? I know the amount of time that can go into writing a book can be enormous, especially with his schedule. I’m sure I speak for a lot of us, MORE, MORE, MORE please!
W.K.B.
I've had the goal of a Private ticket in and out of my sights for over 22 years and it finally looks like I'm going to nail it. A large part is due to Rod Machado's Private Pilot Handbook. Over the years, I've purchased a pile of books and study aids, but nobody does it better than Rod. With its clarity, humor and depth, I recommend Mr. Machado's excellent book as the best to anyone who will listen.
J.C.
I am an instrument pilot working on my commercial with a desire to be an instructor. I purchased Rod Machado’s Private Pilot Handbook this year. Wanting a deeper understanding of weather, I dove into Rod’s weather chapter first. I spent the next four days carefully reading every word until I thoroughly grasped each paragraph. WOW! The book was totally worth the purchase price for that chapter alone. I have quite a collection of aviation related books, but I now have a new favorite. Rod has a fresh, informative style.
M.C.
I just purchased Rod Machado’s Private Pilot Handbook. What a wonderful book. Even though I received my PPL last year, I can't stop poring over it. The difference between my [Brand X] Manual and Rod's is that his is not only entertaining but it has so many neat tips. "A picture is worth a thousand words" Rod hit the nail right on the nose. I added a gem to my resource library.
B.A. Carmichael,
CA
I use Rod’s Private Pilot Handbook during my instruction, to help students learn their ground. What I really find intriguing about Rod’s teaching is that he makes all the knowledge easy to learn and retain. I guess the humor that he applies already places the student above the "rote" level, whoever thought of a word like that, and makes the student absorb their material so much quicker. I hope to continue learning from Rod’s material. I don't plan on ever letting my CFI certificate expire. I love teaching too much. I hope Rod keeps up the great work and continues helping students AND CFI's (like myself) continue learning.
N.K.
CFI
My wife bought me Rod Machado’s Private Pilot Handbook, for a gift. I am a 43 year-old student pilot with about 60 hours and have just about finished the {Brand X} book and CD ROM, but decided to read Rod’s book anyway. Fantastic! It is clearing-up tons of questions that I had. I have already taught my instructor several things she didn't know that I learned from Rod’s book.
N.M.
I do love Rod’s Private Pilot Handbook, as well as his columns in AOPA Pilot.
J.M.H.
I bought Rod Machado’s Private Pilot Handbook at the recommendation of a friend about a year and a half ago. At the time I was working on my instrument and commercial certificates and really never took the opportunity to read it. I am now about two weeks away from my CFI checkride. One day in total frustration at attempting to find a simple way to describe so many of the concepts needed to teach someone to fly I pulled Rod’s book down off the shelf. It is absolutely the best at presenting things in an easy to understand way. The diagrams and illustrations are great. Rod’s book had not only been very helpful for me in studying for the CFI but I know I'll use it when instructing.
L.B.
I own and love Rod Machado’s Handbook for Private Pilots.
W.L.
My husband brought me a copy of Rod Machado’s Private Pilot Handbook. I am learning to fly and reading Rod’s book makes it so much easier. All the silly cartoons and funny stories make me feel a lot better about stuff, like making an idiot of myself on the radio. It helps to know everybody else makes idiots of themselves too. I think the funniest thing I've read so far is the story about what Rod "heard" his instructor say when he cut him loose to solo. I laughed so hard I thought I was going to pass out! Tears were streaming down my face and I was rolling on the floor! Rod has a real talent to be able to make all this dry factual stuff such a good read.
A.S.
Rod Machado’s Private Pilot Handbook does an excellent job of presenting complex airspace issues in an understandable manner. Much more so than the explanation contained on [Brand X]. I have been an adjunct professor for a university off-campus aviation program for the last 20 years.
H.W.
I have been a CFI for 11 years and have used different textbooks for my private students over the years. I was introduced to Rod Machado’s Private Pilot Handbook a by a fellow CFI and was impressed with the presentation of the material and in particular the color pictures and graphics. Since that time, I have been recommending my students Rod’s book and they all give it high marks. Rod wrote a book that helps put the "fun" in studying while learning at the same time.
S.F.
CFI
I was blessed with a job flight instructing at a university. I'm training numerous CFI candidates and trying to impress upon them the tremendous responsibility they have as flight instructors. Rod Machado’s Private Pilot Handbook is on my list of recommended resources for CFI's—it has great explanations and diagrams. Love the cartoons and sidebars, too.
J.W.
I have recently purchased Rod Machado’s Private Pilot Handbook. I am an engineer and over the years I have read many technical books. I must tell you that Rod’s book is one of the most thorough and best illustrated books I have ever had a pleasure of reading.
K.T.
I have Rod Machado’s Private Pilot Handbook and I have to say that, although the [Brand X] book is required for at my ground school (I fly out of ------), Rod’s book is much easier to understand and entertaining to read! I am 17 and working really hard to pay for my training (I have 4 jobs) and its really cool to have a role model like Rod to inspire me to keep at it!
E.G.
Rod Machado’s Private Pilot Handbook was a godsend for me while studying for my PPL written.
C.E.C.
I'm a student pilot with a whopping 3.1 hours of flight time. I recently purchased Rod Machado’s Private Pilot Handbook. Job well done! Rod has a great talent of being able to dissolve some of the most complex aviation topics into the basic information that every student can understand.
J.W.M.
I'm a 46-year-old mother of two. I've NEVER had any desire to fly an airplane...I have a hard time parking the car, but I have a husband got his pilot's license immediately followed by an airplane. Figuring there was safety in numbers (i.e. the more informed people on board the better), I decided, to read Rod Machado’s Private Pilot Handbook. I've gotten so much out of it and been entertained in the process. After 46 years I even know what a 'mag' is. I expect to take and pass the ground school test in the near future, just from reading this book! I never expected, when I started reading Rod’s book, to get my pilot's license. Now I feel confident that it is within my grasp.
D.S.
It was Rod Machado’s Private Pilot Handbook that helped me earn a score of 98 on the written. Rod’s text is very comprehensive, much more than the [Brand X], and much easier to digest. Rod seems to have all these different levels happening in the text—the intellectual and conceptual, "emotionally shrouded" with humor, stories, and graphics—that help etch the concepts in the brain. I plan to start on my instrument rating after I put in a few more cross-country hours. Naturally, I want to use Rod Machado’s Instrument Pilot's Survival Manual.
L.W.
I have utterly enjoyed Rod Machado’s Private Pilot Handbook and learned so much—completely unintentionally! I hope he keeps helping "baby" pilots such as myself with his funny, informative books and tapes. Here's hoping I never end up as an anecdote !!
J.R.
I have read many of Rod’s articles, watched videos of his speeches, and own Rod Machado’s Private Pilot Handbook. Rod has made the technical side of aviation more fun than all the other instructors I have ever had.
M.G.
CFI
Just from reading Rod Machado’s Private Pilot Handbook...ok...reading some sections multiple times...I just passed the written private pilots test (95%). I would like to mention how well the index was done. Every time I needed to find some information, it was easy to find the location in Rod’s book, not something you can say about all reference/self-study materials. We'll see now if I get my pilots license or if I'm happy to just be able to find an airport and land!. My husband is now reading Machado’s IFR book. I don't think I'll ever get to that one! D. S.
Rod Machado’s Private Pilot Handbook is a wonderful book that has helped me to become a more confident and safe pilot. It also helped me pass the FAA PPT written (while only missing one question) and subsequently pass my check ride with flying colors!! Rod’s tone and inflection cause the reader to feel like they know him very well upon finishing the book. His dedication to flight instruction is truly admirable. I look forward to hearing him speak.
R.C.
I am a flight instructor and recommend Rod’s books to all my students. Rod has done a great job of making aviation academics enjoyable.
R.B.
I am a student pilot at John Wayne Airport and whenever I have any questions about anything, I just grab Rod Machado’s Private Pilot Handbook and problem solved. Rod is making my learning process so much easier, not to mention more entertaining. I listen to his emergency situation seminar tapes all the time, they too made me aware of so many things that they did not teach me at my flight school. I am looking forward to going to one of his seminars.
K.R.
Rod Machado’s Private Pilot Handbook is a very practical source of information and I like reading it.
Adam
I became a hero to my last 3 students after I lent them my copy of Rod Machado’s Private Pilot Handbook to help them in the lesson on private pilot regulations. (The [Brand X] syllabus simply directs them to read a list of Private Pilot FARS.) They all bought Machado’s Handbook shortly afterwards and then Rod became their hero. I really enjoy teaching private students. It is a real kick to take someone with no knowledge of aviation and turn them into a private pilot after a few weeks and 40 hours or so of aircraft time. But there is so much to learn on the ground and in the air and Rod’s book has become an indispensable tool to help explain it. I think it’s worth a least a few hundred dollars a copy!
G.C.
I wanted to express my thanks. I took a video-based ground school, but it was definitely Rod Machado’s Private Pilot Handbook that filled in the depth of my understanding and gave me the confidence to take the FAA Private Pilot written exam. I took the test and scored 98%. I had missed one question out of 60, they told me. This was actually a higher score than any of the practice tests that I took, which was a surprise. Rod’s book is my #1 reference and it's a real pleasure to read.
G.W.
Rod Machado’s Private Pilot Handbook has taught me just about everything I know about airplanes. I am a 16 year old boy and now have about 35 hours. Rod makes it so easy for anyone to understand what he is talking about. So far, I have passed the test, so I am very proud of that.
J.J.
Have been an advanced ground instructor for some time, and have never read a more imfornative book than Rod Machado’s Private Pilot Handbook.
F.M.
I have started instrument ground school. I have Rod's Private Pilot Handbook and I am always going back to it for information.
P.S
I received my copy of Rod Machado’s Private Pilot Handbook today and I am REALLY enjoying it. The presentation and the humor and the cartoons and drawings are really helping me understand. Even aerodynamics seems enjoyable.
G.J.
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