Quote Originally Posted by Racegunz View Post
Want my advice? buy an unfinished (but well documented...very important!) project and build your own, be self insured (that's called assuming responsibility) and fly the heck out of it and have a blast!
I agree... build your own... even if you start from scratch. That is what I am doing. I got my ticket at age 33 (now 40) and went through the same scenario you are talking about a few years back. My wife and I discussed the options, and while we could probably afford to purchase a Cherokee, the insurance and operating expenses would pretty much consume all of our entertainment budget. The only option I could come up with that wouldn't destroy the family budget (or patience) would be to build something. Will I get to fly right now! Well, yes and no. While my project is a long way from being airworthy, I have met a bunch of great people, and I occasionally get offered a ride to breakfast or a fly in. I am having a ball building my own airplane while learning about the people in my community, our chapter and a whole BUNCH of new skills.

Now before you say, "yeah, but a new RV or Zenith could cost $100k!" ... keep in mind that there are a LOT of options that can't always be found in the magazines. For example, I am building a Pietenpol Air Camper... not your thing? Ok, maybe a Wittman Tailwind, or Buttercup, a Fokker D-7, a Hatz biplane, a Parakeet, a Super Ace, or an EAA Bipe, or... well, you get the idea... there are a LOT of options, and many outperform those factory offerings that cost you $100+/hr.

You mention that it is "the money, honey", and you also suggest that all the "damn kids these days" comments is a bunch of rhetoric. While I don't totally disagree with you, I can also see a lot of the instant gratification mentality even among my age group. It blows most people's minds that I would consider a project that might take me 5 or 6 years, or longer. I guess some of us aren't so short sighted. Honestly, many of them are taking notice as my pile of wood starts to look like an airplane, but still, many insist that they just couldn't do it. Well, ok... so they obviously weren't meant to fly either. Perhaps PC solitare is more their speed. My point is, that one way or another it is going to cost you something to fly, whether it be time, money or both (one in the same to me)... just like it would cost you something to be involved with shooting sports, amateur radio, remote control hobbies, bass fishing rig, you name it... big boy toys aren't cheap, but they can be affordable. The building approach (if you have the patience) not only offers you a much better understanding of the craft you plan to pilot, but it also allows you to start/stop as your budget dictates. You would be surprised how much entertainment (and education) your dollar will provide when you are scratch building. Not only that, but the old timers apparently love to help out the younger builders (parts, suggestions, material, etc.)... especially once they see progress being made (i.e. not just talking about it at Saturday coffee... actually making sparks and sawdust).

Perhaps I'm veering all over the place here... my main point is, embrace the spirit of our hobby. Do you think that all of those guys back in the 50s and 60s were buying Cubs, Champs, 150s, etc.? Indeed, some were... just as there are some doing the same today, but take a look at all the homebuilding that was going on during those years. Honestly, with the economy the way it is, I hope that more people will consider homebuilding rather than walk away from our hobby. Speaking of camaraderie, not only will you find it at your local airport or EAA chapter, but if you choose to build, you will likely find a friendly and knowledgeable support group (type group) online. Not only will they become your friends, but they know your project better than anyone else and can help you through any tough spots.

Just an option... one that many choose to pursue rather than fret over the fact that they can't fly three hours a week in the local rental. Let's just say you flew once a week in a $100 rental... that’s $5200/yr. A nice airplane could be built in just a few years on a budget like that, and operating costs shouldn't be anywhere close to that annual figure once you are in the air, yet you could still fly it whenever you want. Look a little further down the road and ask yourself what kind of flying you want to be doing. Do you have a desire to fly professionally? Buckle down and get busy training... now! Do you have a need to fly cross-country? I guess you better figure out a way to accommodate that. Do you just want to fly out for pancakes, go to fly ins and chase your buddies around the clouds? You could do that with a homebuilt... and then just rent that cross country machine when you need it, which in my case is never.

Oh, I also have an 8 year old son (started a little later than my 20s)... but fortunately he LOVE this stuff, and so does my wife.

I don't mean any of this to sound combattive... like I said, I've been right where you are, and I've come to the conclusion that aviation, while not cheap, is still available to everyone with a desire.

How bad do you want to fly? Just some things to consider.