Pilots on the decline, no surprise...

There has been hardly anything new in the private aircraft industry for quite some time, let alone something that an average person can afford.

Most people are pretty much stuck, if they want an aerial sports car, they take one look at the air force enlistment and walk away...

I have two uncles in the air force and as much as I'd love to fly, there is no way I'd even come close to passing the medical entrence exams...

Doesn't mean I wouldn't like to build my own plane someday, though :)

Hello,I am a 44 year old engineering tech that has always been fascinated by aircraft. Since my childhood, I have always gotten into things that resembled flying. I had my remote control airplane and helicopter period where I could imagine myself in the cockpit. Then there was the scuba diving period, it also reminded me of the freedom of flight. Then I tried the hang gliding approach. This was great, but at this stage of my life, I was too much out of shape to "hang in there". So here I was at the graceful age of 42 and one day my wife and I were talking. I told my wife that I have always wanted to fly. She told me that I should go for it. Well, I did and it has changed my whole life. It took me a little less than a year to get my license and I have been flying ever since. The flying community in my area is a close knit one. Everyone is very friendly and generous. I went into a partnership on a cessna 172, and it has made my costs decrease and my flying time increase. It is now two years later and i have approx 170 hours in the air and am always looking forward to my next flight. My only regret is that I did not do this sooner.

Go for it, a true aviator will take pleasure in flying anything.

Shea, I recently retired and am back in the air after a 30 year absence, and aside from the joy of flying again, I'm kicking myself for not finding a way to make it happen sooner.

The new Light Sport Aircraft category would be a great way to get started; there are many new A/C in that category that are relatively cheap to fly, and some are already being used for flight training. Much flying by private pilots is day / VFR anyway, so you can start with SLA and upgrade to the private certificate later if you want.

Mr Burkholder, as I'm sure you know, your wife is a pearl beyond price.

I have been a private pilot since leaving active duty as a Navy aircrew member almost 40 years ago. But not any more. The reasons:

*too expensive unless its my only hobby

*too time consuming to maintain currency - especially in the crowded skies of a metro area and the always increasing complexity of FAA ATC procedures

*too dangerous - I chase tornadoes instead

*medical - The FAA is overcautious in some areas

However, for those who have the time, it's a great hobby.

I do want to put in a plug for sail-planes (gliders). Gliding has no medical requirement (last I checked which was a long time ago). There are minimal ATC rules because you tend to fly far from busy airports. It is a pure sport (nothing practical about it) and is a more elegant experience than driving an air truck. In a thermal, you sometimes are literally soaring with eagles (more often hawks). The engine never quits (except on takeoff) and you can set it down at very low speeds. I would still be soaring except for the time it takes. I may take it up again some day.

Could you esteem this logic? tks.

Has anybody looked into these autogyros? They seem more feasible on the money side (about $40,000 for a complete kit with engine). However I would imagine you would have to invest a lot of time building it.

http://www.aagyro.com/

I'd love to become a Privat Pilot. But, the costs are just too great. When I was a teenager a good used aircraft cost only a little more than good used car. Not anymore.
In addition the cost of landing fees, fuel and insurance are out of sight for a middle class family with 3 kids.

What about an ultralight? Do you have to have a license to fly those? They're not THAT expensive, are they?

Dynamic WT-9 is my answer to you....