Where are the T-34Cs going?

[Swanee]

A few of us in my reserve unit have talked about this several times, where several of us could see being able to fly recreationally 40 or more years ago but not today mainly due to cost. Where it used to be an upper-middle class hobby in the past it is firmly in upper class territory nowadays and once the baby boomers stop flying, the last generation it was still affordable to 'the masses', I think general aviation will be in big trouble.

Get into flying sailplanes. Once you get good at finding and staying in lift you can stay aloft for hours on a single tow. (usually around 30-40 bucks).

 

[Jublov]

Yup. Among the many various "fronts" GA has been battling, with the help of AOPA, I really respect the work that Harrison Ford has done to get the message to those that can help. It's also tough to argue with a dude who played 2 pivotal characters in my childhood story-time who also has a passion for what I do as an adult (and before).



Seriously dude, you probably need to start talking less and listening more. I get it, you love aviation and you've done some flying before the military, but just because you can roll a T-6 simulator and make a landing doesn't mean you have a full grasp of the world around you.

I'm apologize, that was a little bit distasteful.

 

[Gatordev]

Well I don't have two of those three and the other I inherited. Even with the 'cheaper' options you pointed out I still couldn't afford it, especially when I live in a high cost area (have to with my career) and have a family to fund. The simple fact is that general aviation is still a lot more expensive than it was in its heyday. Sure, there are ways to do it but for me and many of my contemporaries it just isn't worth the pain nowadays as evidenced by the decline in general aviation the past few decades.

Cost is certainly part of it, but there's also fewer Private Pilots out there to help off-set the initial "buy-in" cost of newer airplanes. That's why EAA and AOPA each have their various introductory flight programs.

I'm with Wink...buy a used airplane and the initial cost isn't anywhere near what a new one is. Buy smart, and you can get something that's relatively quick and judicious on the fuel (~10 gph). For a little more money, you can go the Experimental route and have most of the plane built in 2 weeks under supervision. I'm very fortunate that I can piggy back on my dad's plane right now, but he's paying around $100/hour (maybe a bit less right now with gas prices) and is a 4-place, can do 130 knots at 9.5-10 gph while carrying two full-sized adults, a dog, and a bunch of camping gear (or whatever). That's not bad for what it gets you. The next big expense will be NEXTGEN compliance, but that's still a few years off and may not matter in the long run.

If you can't afford any of that, then I get that and none of that matters. I think cost-of-living is reason #67 that I'm not interested in living in your area.

 

[Flash]

...I think cost-of-living is reason #67 that I'm not interested in living in your area.

Well, it is home for me....

That does bring up another thing that comes with living in a big city metro area, my airport options are a lot more limited than elsewhere.

 

[mb1685]

The flight school/FBO I used to work for did a two-week data-gathering "experiment" sponsored by Phillips 66 in which they sold 100LL for $1/gal (limited to a certain number of gallons per customer per day, only aircraft flown in under their own power, etc.). As a line guy, that was a very interesting and exhausting period of time, especially given that it was a small municipal (now regional) airport that usually didn't have a whole lot of flight operations per day. I'd really like to see some of the numbers and the survey data from that.

The company is also now expanded their business by buying older 172s, putting diesel engines in them, totally redoing the interior and giving the exterior a new paint job, and selling them at decent prices. They seem to be making a nice buzz in the GA world.

 

[Jublov]

How old were the 172s, 60s, 70s?