I never particularly wanted to learn to fly, but last summer I took a spin in a friend’s microlight, and absolutely loved it. Since then, I’ve been up a couple of times in a Lambada, and yup, this is definitely something I want to do.
So, between juggling work commitments, and three small children, I think I’m going to be able to squeeze the time in this year to start taking some formal lessons.
One thing puzzles me…I noticed some posters on the dope talking about flying in a former life, or the fact that they haven’t flown for many years, or have allowed their licences to lapse.
What has stopped your recreational flying? Health? Financial reasons? Or do you simply no longer get a kick from it?
I took flying lessons just for a personal challenge. Once I got my license I made a few cross-country flights and gradually realized that for me, it wasn’t that much fun. It’s just a big hassle staying current, and it’s really not a practical way to travel anyway.
Unless you are a very experienced instrument pilot, you can’t say “Oh, on Friday afternoon I think I’ll fly up to Vail, do some skiing and then fly back Sunday night.”
Flying in an enclosed cockpit aircraft is like being in a noisy, compact car with wings and a slightly better view, but it isn’t much more fun than driving. I did get a tailwheel qualification and flew open-cockpit, and that was fun. I also flew ultralights, and that was the most fun of all. A total blast, actually.
I stopped for about three years. It was pretty much forced on me by a lack of jobs that I was prepared to do (once there’s a wife involved you can’t just go out bush for a year or two.) I can understand why people stop for good. For many the goal is to learn to fly, once you achieve that goal it is often too expensive and impractical to keep doing it.
Also, plane ol’ flying from A to B is not all that exciting.
I actually think it’s much more fun than driving a car. I love flying and hate that I don’t do it anymore. It’s way too expensive (my flying was all done before 9/11–after that, costs seemed to skyrocket), plus where I am now, I’d have to join a civilian flying club, which, aside from being far away, is expensive and usually requires you fly a certain number of hours per month.
I really would love to take my family up, but at this point it’d likely cost me a thousand bucks to join and get current in a plane big enough to handle them.
I first took up power flying. The process of getting my license and then flying cross-country was fascinating. But the novelty wore off and my interest waned a bit. I could have reached the point of giving it up.
I then got into soaring, which I find much more engaging. I don’t see ever giving that up, until I’m physically incapable.
I think it’s useful to note that flying small aircraft is only rarely a practical thing to do - we basically do it for fun and challenge. Soaring is inherently impractical, but IMO has a big edge over power flying in those categories. It also tends to be a bit cheaper.
Money mostly. When I started flying, I was still living with my parents and my dad owns a plane. It was easy and convient to fly. When I moved out, I lost the access to my dad’s plane, because it was too far away and I lacked the money to join a club and rent.
I’ve finally gotten a job that affords me the extra money I’d need to get back into it, but the cost of joining a club, getting current again, renting a plane - not to mention that the club is a 2 hr round trip, has kept me from flying. There’s always the option of owning my own plane, but maintence is a huge expense along with hanger rent - assuming you can get a hanger. There’s a 2yr+ waiting list for the local airport here. So, I could build my own plane (It’s really not a pipe dream - I’m an aerospace engineer and I had a hand in helping my dad build his last one), which would alleviate a big chunk of the maintence cost - but I’d still have hanger rent to deal with.
So, at this point in my life, it’s more hassle than it’s worth. But, I can still go flying with my dad whenever I’m home. And I have a buddy that I could flying with occasionally. I will get current again and get back into flying - but not in the immediate future.
After 9/11 they closed the airspace. In L.A. it stayed closed for a lot longer than in most places in the country. Lack of time, then I decided to buy a house. Then I got laid off and moved into the house.
Basically, flying helicopters is expensive. I’m planning to get back into fixed-wing though. It’s still expensive, but only like 1/3 or 1/2 what a helicopter costs to rent.
A glitzier company bought out the ma and pop hanger where I rented. It was expensive before but I could still afford it, now I can’t and having taken up all my friends already and flow around this area for 70 hours I just let my license lapse…maybe that’s what I’ll do with my rebate check.
I also stopped right after 9/11. They had closed the airspace at my local field for a long time, and then only opened it under very heavy flight plan restrictions. By the time it was fully opened, my currency had expired.
In the interim, I had bought a house and got engaged, so my flying free time and money were all shifted elsewhere.
Life goes on, flying was great fun, but I’m too busy with other life activities right now.
If I wasn’t an instructor I probably would have stopped flying due to the cost. The airplane I learned to fly in 8 years ago is now almost double the cost to rent.
I stopped fly mainly because of the cost. Here are the costs associated with being a member of my local flying club:
Cost to join: $4,280
(This is your equity, and you can get that back when you want to sell your share)
**Monthly dues: $118 **
These dues cover the fixed costs associated with the club and the aircraft ($83 / month) plus additional equity in the club ($35/ month).
Even if you don’t fly during a month, you must still pay the dues.
Hourly rates:
1969 C-172 Skyhawk $68/hr
1975 C-172 Skyhawk $68/hr
1978 PA28B Archer $81/hr
1961 BE33B Debonair $108/hr
1981 PA32-301 Saratoga $119/hr
I found that flying wasn’t much fun unless I flew several hours a month to maintain proficiency. Flying several hours a month can tend to get expensive.
There is another club at the same airport, with newer planes, which is much more expensive.
Out of curiosity, how expensive to do the soaring thing? I’d really think it wouldn’t be any cheaper, since I’m guessing you’re paying for the tow plane (even if it’s just for a bit) plus the glider.
I lost my job in November and I’m still seeking employment. It’s “silly”, but for some reason I put paying rent and buying food before flying. (Reluctantly)
/hijack/ Anyone have experience with ultralights/powered hang gliders? I flew in one on vacation and would love to learn how to fly, but I haven’t a clue of where to look for lessons. I live on Long Island. I know there are small airports out east with skydiving so I’d imagine there’d be some ultralighters too but I don’t know how to find them… /hijack/
I’ve dabbled a bit, back when my in-laws were actually in the business of selling them. Frankly, I don’t consider them all that safe. One needs near ideal conditions to fly them, and if conditions deteriorate, one needs to land fast!!
They’re fun, though. But having survived one plane crash in my past, I’m not tempting fate in an aircraft that’s less safe than what I already crashed in!
I don’t have the time to fly enough to be secure in my skills. Flying is NOT a sport that you drop for awhile and then just jump back into the cockpit. You lose the reflexes, and then you are another small article in the local paper.
