This is a great Tom Petty song and a great song for beginners who 
need to work on your strumming pattern. And after you've made your 
jugdement, please rate.

D= down
U= up

So the song is in 4/4 beat and strumming pattern for the entire 
song is just:

D U D U    U D U
1 & 2 & (3)& 4 &

So just take a brief pause on the 3 count and strum up on the 
& of the 3 count.

So the strumming to the chords would be:

D U D U    U D U D U D U    U D U
1 & 2 & (3)& 4 & 1 & 2 & (3)& 4 &
C     G          Em    D

If you still have trouble with the strumming just listen to the song.

So now to the song.

Intro:

C G Em D 2 times

Verse 1:

       C       G   Em D
Well I started out
       C     G    Em D
down a dirty road
C       G   Em D
Started out
C    D    Em D
all alone

Verse 2:

        C        G    Em D
And the sun went down
     C           G    Em D 
as I crossed the hill
        C        G  Em D
And the town lit up
    C         D     Em D
the world got still

Chorus 1:

    C           G   Em D
I'm learning to fly
    C           G     Em D
but I ain't got wings
C      G    Em D
Coming down 
       C       G     Em D
is the hardest thing

Verse 3:

         C        G    Em D
Well the good old days
    C   G      Em D
may not return
        C           G    Em D
And the rocks might melt
        C       G    Em D
and the sea may burn

Chorus 1

Solo (just repeat the intro)

Verse 4:

     C        G    Em D
Well some say life
     C        G    Em D
will beat you down
C          G     Em D
Break your heart
C          D     Em D
steal your crown

Verse 5:

     C       G   Em D
So I started out
    C         G     Em D
for God knows where
  C          G    Em D
I guess I'll know 
     C     D     Em D
when I get there

Chorus 2:

    C           G   Em D
I'm learning to fly
 C         G      Em D
around the clouds
C         G  Em D
What goes up
C         G    Em D
must come down

Bridge (just repeat the intro)

Last Chorus:

    C           G   Em D
I'm learning to fly
    C           G     Em D
but I ain't got wings
C      G    Em D
Coming down 
       C       G     Em D
is the hardest thing
    C           G   Em D
I'm learning to fly
 C         G      Em D
around the clouds
C         G  Em D
What goes up
C         G    Em D
must come down
    C           G   Em D C G Em D
I'm learning to fly
    C           G   Em D C G Em D 
I'm learning to fly

(end on G)

And that should be that for Learning to Fly by Tom Petty.
One of these days I'll figure out that solo, but for now
it works as a great solo acoustic song. And once again, please rate.

-I hope you enjoy; my little droogies.