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I think you're barking up the wrong tree....The principle reasons that
small plane flying is not growing as fast as it should....Lack of general
availability and too expensive. I'm 84, (that puts me next to the bottom
on your list). I grew up hanging on the airport fence and building model planes.
WW2 gave me a chance to fly, as an oberver, in 17's and 24's out of Geiger Field
and Harder Bombing range in Washington. Finally got to take lessons on a small
field in Basking Ridge, NJ in 1960. FBO Rick Decker and his son-in-law Herb
McCarthy. PA 11's through solo and PA 18's and a Pacer afterwards. You
could buy a good tail dragger Piper or a C140 for $1200 to $1500. Lessons
were $20 duel, $15 solo. I had to stop the day my "Equitable Insurance"man told
me "You've got a wife 4 kids and a mortgage. But, you have NO life insurance if
you take flying lessons".The town later closed the field by building the new
High school at the end of the runway. Now, I'm only responsible for
the care of a black lab. So, I want to go back to flying. I passed my class
3 in october. I've always been a fan of the Ercoupe since reading Stick and
Rudder. I follow your "Ups & Downs" on my computer.every day. But, now
instruction in a C150 is $115 an hour, with ground time with the instructor at
$40.an hour. An Ercoupe, a 60 year old plane, which cost $3000 when new costs
$24,000. An annual costs $800 and a MOH runs $8000 to $10,000. The Sports Pilot
innitative is not going to make private flying any more accessable in
the near future. Right now, there are very few instructors and fewer planes
available for Sport Pilot training. Boy, I don't want to be a gloomy gus. But, I
think you have to know the nature of the problem before you can try to
fix...If there is a fix. Al Barber [EMAIL PROTECTED].rr.com
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