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Was at Midway Airport watching planes for a few hours yesterday. Turned my head for a second and the next thing I know my youngest is in the cockpit of this awesome plane.
The pilots and instructors there are really nice people. I think my boys have become airport mascots. By the end of the day both had hitched rides on planes.
I have a feeling this love affair with planes is going to cost me a lot of money.

And you just thought your gun allowance was high

RPBrown wrote:And you just thought your gun allowance was high

Tell me about it. The oldest (13) has already started flight lessons. I'm not sure how I'm going to hold off the youngest (11) for a couple more years.
I did order what is supposed to be a really good glider simulator with stick and pedals from Condor. Hoping that keeps them occupied between real flights.

Not sure what lessons cost but I bet its up there pretty good.

My 11 yo grand daughter has gotten into motorcycles (imagine that) and has already picked out which one she wants

jmra wrote: I have a feeling this love affair with planes is going to cost me a lot of money.

Oh you have noooo idea! :) Hide your wallet.

As they turn into teens, hanging around the airport and becoming friends with the various pilot/owners will get them a lot of opportunity to do odd jobs (washing the plane, helping the pilot with routine maintenance, cleaning up barf off the passenger seats for the pilot , etc.) that will result in trade for flights/lessons. It is the way many kids get into aviation and save a little money with the trade-out. There is nothing a pilot loves more than talking about their aircraft, be it an airplane, glider or balloon. And don't forget about Civil Air Patrol as a way to get ground training.

RPBrown wrote:Not sure what lessons cost but I bet its up there pretty good.

Starting on gliders:
Glider $60
Instructor $40
Tow plane $ depends on release altitude.

I have a feeling all 3 of us will be getting our hands dirty this summer.

BTW, this is my view as I'm typing this.

I assume Carol is still the glider instructor out there. She is a great!!

Keith B wrote:I assume Carol is still the glider instructor out there. She is a great!!

We love Carol. Every time we come out she sits down with the boys and chats for a while. So blessed to live so close and to have some one like Carol teaching my kids.

What's that old saying? "You know how to make a small fortune in the plane business? Start out with a large fortune!" Or something like that.

Yes, I predict it's going to get $$$ for you! I got out pretty cheap, only a few grand before I decided to move on to another passion (boating, I know, could be more $$$)...I still think about getting back into flying someday. Living at a neighborhood airport community with your own hanger would be a blast! I've actually thought about renting a hangar for the toys...have a buddy that does that out at Hicks (actually two buddies).

Have fun!

BTW - that is a GORGEOUS biplane!

PUCKER wrote:What's that old saying? "You know how to make a small fortune in the plane business? Start out with a large fortune!" Or something like that.

Yes, I predict it's going to get $$$ for you! I got out pretty cheap, only a few grand before I decided to move on to another passion (boating, I know, could be more $$$)...I still think about getting back into flying someday. Living at a neighborhood airport community with your own hanger would be a blast! I've actually thought about renting a hangar for the toys...have a buddy that does that out at Hicks (actually two buddies).

Have fun!

BTW - that is a GORGEOUS biplane!

BOAT is an acronym for 'Break Out Another Thousand'. I have also heard that a boat is a hole in the water you put your money into. Same thing with a plane or other aircraft, just a hole in the sky. LOL Really no different than guns IMO. It all boils down to what toys and hobbies you can afford after taking care of your necessities. In this case, putting money into a hobby that could actually turn into an occupation for your kids is an investment in their future in my opinion!!

Flight lesson #1 - There are old pilots, and there are bold pilots. There are very few old bold pilots. End of lesson.

Keith B wrote:BOAT is an acronym for 'Break Out Another Thousand'. I have also heard that a boat is a hole in the water you put your money into. Same thing with a plane or other aircraft, just a hole in the sky. LOL Really no different than guns IMO. It all boils down to what toys and hobbies you can afford after taking care of your necessities. In this case, putting money into a hobby that could actually turn into an occupation for your kids is an investment in their future in my opinion!!

It is VERY true! My port side transmission grenaded last August...it could have been worse but due to having friends in the business it was only a few thousand...sadly the boat has only been ran a few hours since then, I've since discovered racing/track days in Corvettes...just got a new Z06 so there goes my wallet LOL...

Wife's family had a plane when she was a kiddo, they sold it before she got a chance to get in deep. I may have to scratch that itch for her. I can only imagine the fun it would be growing up with a plane (or two) in the family. Several friends were fortunate enough to have that lifestyle.

G26ster wrote:Flight lesson #1 - There are old pilots, and there are bold pilots. There are very few old bold pilots. End of lesson.

Quite true. There is a local family mourning the loss of 4 members right now because someone didn't think high wind would be a problem for his small plane.

I took my flying lessons from a retired insurance salesman whose flying license was signed by Orville Wright. He was a personable guy, full of stories, and observations, like insurance salesmen need to be.

One day, he shows up at the airport and asks, "Jimmy, what makes airplanes fly?"

So I launch into a complex explanation, my best Martha King imitation, and after about 15 minutes of blather about lift, drag, gravity and magic, he put me out of his misery saying, "Nope! It's money. If you don't have any, the plane won't fly!"