Someday...

[cashflyer]

Not picking at either of you two guys, but just want to comment about time and money...

Cribbed from an aviation forum:

Ultimately it comes down to a simple question ~ Can the average man have ownership of an airplane, become a pilot and afford to fly it?

Yes. Absolutely they can.

Is it hard? Yes. Everything worth having is hard.

The average person spends 33 hours a week watching TV. Imagine having 5 hours a day to work on (or fly) an an airplane????? So time just isn't an excuse.

The average American diet is full of chips, soda, candy and crap. Drink water, eat less, lose weight, feel good, and save money on groceries for airplane gas. Frozen pizza is more expensive than steak per pound ~ skip the pizzas and order capstrip.

But all this requires we work for it and work hard. We have to settle and compromise......something in that many are not willing to do. One thing I've learned in life is that we always get what we want. Always! If a guy wants a new truck and he has his heart set on it 99% of the times he gets his new truck whether he can afford it or not. Same with 4-wheelers, snowmobiles, fishing rods, ipads and 100" plasma TV's.

We always get what we want.


Cost to get a pilots license is about $7k
I pay $540 per year to insure my Cessna.
Cost to buy a good used C-172 is around $30k.

And one final comment:
How much time do you have on this planet? (James 4:14)
What do you really want to do with that time? Watch another rerun of Friends? Work a few extra hours at your job?

[VINMAN]

That was awesome. thanks for posting that.

[cashflyer]

This Aeronca 7AC Champ, like what is being flown in the video, is for sale in IL right now for less than I paid for my used 996.



One of these can burn non-ethanol Automobile gas, and only uses about 6 gallons per hour. $20 per hour is cheap for this kind of fun, IMO.

edit: adding this video.

[Baz]

Great video Sarc....thanks for the posting. Finally got around to watching while eating a salad....hope you are happy Cashflyer!

[onewhippedpuppy]

Cashflyer there's a lot of truth to that, though I want to know who in the hell watches 33 hours of tv? I have three young kids, and when we don't have practice our evenings consist of homework, dinner, maybe a little outside or other quality time, then baths and bed. Weekends consist of a little tinkering time in the garage (if I'm lucky), ball games, family activities, and every summer Sunday is spent at the lake. In the meantime I spend 50+ hours per week at work plus the occasional weekend and cram in MBA study around the edges. I could make it work, but something has to give.

[billybek]

Great video! Thanks for posting it.

My first ride was with my dad in a 152. I can remember the tower asking if we would "take the grass" instead of landing on the tarmac. The other thing I remember is not being able to see over the dash so I pushed the wheel in to make that possible! I was 5 and loved it.

There is one thing that I didn't like about the video is seeing people outside the running aircraft. Kids especially are very impulsive and walking into a prop would be completely possible.

[jwgn777]

Originally Posted by cashflyer

Not a Piper.


Elevator trim.

oh yeah I took a fast look. I should have known that especially coming from a air oriented family

[dewolf]

Brilliant. Kids truly are special creatures are'nt they...

[cashflyer]

Originally Posted by onewhippedpuppy

Cashflyer there's a lot of truth to that, though I want to know who in the hell watches 33 hours of tv?

I think that is just an average, and is probably skewed by the serious couch potatoes.

Also, it can really creep up on you. I get home at 7:30 each night. Watch TV until it's time to put the dog to bed at 10. 2.5 hours per week night. Add to that a race or game on the weekend, and a couple more hours in the weekend evenings. I bet I am near 20 hours per week.

For a real time killer, you should check out that interwebz thing. There's something there called Pelican that can suck away more time than you could imagine.

[notfarnow]

I'm starting lessons in a month or so, I'm pretty excited. I've been watching the prices on Cessna 172's and 150's, but I have to admit I am REALLY drawn to Pietenpoles. They seem like a really fun plane, and great bang for the buck. They don't need much runway either... pretty sure we could make a nice grassy runway on my dad's land

excuse the music:


There's a Pietie that I'm going down to look at in a couple weeks. yeah, the whole idea is a cockamamie scheme. I'm Ok with that

[onewhippedpuppy]

Originally Posted by cashflyer

I think that is just an average, and is probably skewed by the serious couch potatoes.

Also, it can really creep up on you. I get home at 7:30 each night. Watch TV until it's time to put the dog to bed at 10. 2.5 hours per week night. Add to that a race or game on the weekend, and a couple more hours in the weekend evenings. I bet I am near 20 hours per week.

For a real time killer, you should check out that interwebz thing. There's something there called Pelican that can suck away more time than you could imagine.

My evenings are usually spent amusing the kids. As for that internet nonsense, I know not of what you speak.

I know it could be done, it's just a big compromise that I can't justify right now. Flight training vs kid's ballgames, flight hours vs contributing to college funds and retirement. The list goes on and on, probably a good reason why many wait until later in life to pursue a pilot's license.

[cashflyer]

notfarnow... Piets are good bang for the buck. I personally would not buy one with an automobile engine. I would get one with a small Continental engine. I've read that the prices on these planes are very affordable - probably due to the open cockpit, and the fact that they are not factory built. Be sure and inspect the plane thoroughly. Inspect build quality, and inspect for wood deficiencies (rot, cracks, etc).

Matt... You are right, of course. Family is always more important than a hobby. I see a lot of the guys around the airport are older, and I'm sure it has to do with home being paid off, kids being out and on their own, etc.

[flipper35]

I hope to do that this spring with our kids. I don't dare let our three year old near the controls just yet. He isn't very smooth. Yet.

[widebody911]

One summer when Iw as a kid (I was probably 9 or 10), my dad came home and picked me up in the middle of the day for an "errand" we had to run. I wasn't told what was going on until we got to the hangar and they opened the door. We went for an hour or so ride in a small plane (some sort of Cessna, IIRC) and I had strict orders that I was to never speak of this outing to my mother or sister.

Originally Posted by johnco

my daughter's first flight. her mother still doesn't know about it a decade later

[j8tg]

That was really well done and thanks for posting.

TG
Littleton, Co

[cashflyer]

[Dantilla]

Okay, now I think I'm a bad dad- My daughter's first flight was in a Cessna, with the doors and windows tightly closed.

At least she has now had a few lessons, and has hew own logbook.

If I ever mention selling the Bonanza, she just about claws my eyeballs out. Guess I'll keep it.

[MT930]

Kids and Planes are a kick. I it is an experience they will never forget.

if your not a pilot have the experience together with a CFI let the kids sit up front.

The plane part is a disease I will never shake. Thanks Dad !

My daughter after a ride with me in Diamond 20

[cashflyer]

Well, Lainey's First Flight has now made it to the Barnstormers newsletter flyer.
BARNSTORMERS.COM eFLYER - Issue 264 - March 2013

[McLovin]

When I was in high school in the 80s, my friend's dad had a small plane (the dad was a pilot for Continental).

My friend and I would sometimes take the plane out, by ourselves.

Looking back at that, it seems crazy and I'm not sure even legal. We were probably 16, 17 at the oldest.

We never had any issues, though! And it was really, really fun.