Where are all the young pilots?

[Hangar10]

potential young pilots are busy paying school loans, then comes love, marriage, and a baby in a baby carriage, and there isn't much point in trying to get them into flying until they are at least 45.

Join the military... earn a scholarship... or otherwise look for more affordable ways to earn an education or pilots license. Student loans aren't a necessary fact of life. The military isn't for everyone, you say? Well, neither is flying, or a variety of other things in life.

I will stand by this fact... where there is a will, there is a way. It may not be easy or cheap, but nothing worth doing ever is. It is possible to fly... even on a budget. Sure, I too would love to fly a P-51 Mustang... better yet, and F-4 Phantom... but that isn't likely to happen. You have to be realistic, you have to determine your needs//wants/goals, and you have to set realistic expectations based upon those goals. If you have determined that you can't afford to fly that $100 rental, well you are probably right... it's time to survey other options. Several have been offered in this thread.

By the way... love, marriage, baby and carraige... all decisions that have consequences and carry certain obligations. Not everyone chooses to have a family... not everyone chooses to live in a 4000sq ft house... not everyone chooses to drive a brand new car... and not everyone chooses to fly the $100 rental. Choices, we all make them.