The good old days

[steingar]

We were looking at the selection of an antique dealer at the fair, who had hundreds (if not thousands) of advertisements from yesteryear. What struck me about the aviation advertisements were their placement in LIFE magazine, TIME, the Wall Street Journal, and other mainstream publications.

I recall seeing the Andy Griffith show where Aunt Bea soloed. A mainstream television program showing aviation in a positive light.

Have pilots really moved from the mainstream and turned into a fringe group?

 

[Fearless Tower]

Have pilots really moved from the mainstream and turned into a fringe group?

I don't know if they are a fringe group, but the industry has indeed changed - airline pilots make less than alot of bus drivers and the tavelling public dresses like they are riding the bus.

Air travel does not have the glamour associated with it that it did way back in the days of piston propliners and the early jets.

 

[Florida Cracker]

Air travel has become so common and inexpensive, that people take it for granted and down grade the providers as a result, I think.

 

[Jay Honeck]

Many people today seem to be hanging on to whatever they've got, with little regard (except, perhaps, fear) for the future. To these folks, the thought of moving into flying personal aircraft is as remote as going to Mars.

It's sad, but that's the way it is in 2011. I hope to see that turn around, some day, so that more of us can enjoy the freedom of flight.

 

[silver-eagle]

In many cases, aviation as a hobby is an upper middleclass hobby. At $100 an hour, it's more expensive than say a sports car or motorcycle or a boat. There aren't a lot of certificated pilots (about 600,000), even the OLD OLD planes are expensive, gas is over $6 most places, regulations and TFR's are killing the hobby, new planes cost more than your average house and we're not even looking at the so called LSA. If product liability was improved, maybe the costs of all would come down and more would be flying. As it is, since I can't just slap a fuel injected IO-360 into my Piper at something less than 15K, the industry and flying in general, will be the hobby of the upper middle.

 

[roncachamp]

We were looking at the selection of an antique dealer at the fair, who had hundreds (if not thousands) of advertisements from yesteryear. What struck me about the aviation advertisements were their placement in LIFE magazine, TIME, the Wall Street Journal, and other mainstream publications.

I recall seeing the Andy Griffith show where Aunt Bea soloed. A mainstream television program showing aviation in a positive light.

Have pilots really moved from the mainstream and turned into a fringe group?

I've seen many of those old ads. They typically presented personal aviation as personal transportation, not recreation. On the roads of those days a light aircraft had a considerable speed advantage over an automobile. The improvement in intercity highway travel has eliminated much of that advantage.

 

[Everskyward]

I don't remember GA flying being popular when I was a kid in the 1960s. I knew exactly zero GA pilots.

 

[Maxmosbey]

In many cases, aviation as a hobby is an upper middleclass hobby. At $100 an hour, it's more expensive than say a sports car or motorcycle or a boat. There aren't a lot of certificated pilots (about 600,000), even the OLD OLD planes are expensive, gas is over $6 most places, regulations and TFR's are killing the hobby, new planes cost more than your average house and we're not even looking at the so called LSA. If product liability was improved, maybe the costs of all would come down and more would be flying. As it is, since I can't just slap a fuel injected IO-360 into my Piper at something less than 15K, the industry and flying in general, will be the hobby of the upper middle.

I agree.

 

[weilke]

We were looking at the selection of an antique dealer at the fair, who had hundreds (if not thousands) of advertisements from yesteryear. What struck me about the aviation advertisements were their placement in LIFE magazine, TIME, the Wall Street Journal, and other mainstream publications.

In the mid 2000es, Cirrus advertised in Golf and investment rags to bring non-pilots with little brains and big egos into aviation. Worked well for a while as a business plan, the pilot community didn't exactly thank them for it.

 

[Ghery]

I've seen many of those old ads. They typically presented personal aviation as personal transportation, not recreation. On the roads of those days a light aircraft had a considerable speed advantage over an automobile. The improvement in intercity highway travel has eliminated much of that advantage.

2 hours in a 182 from OLM to PUW. 5 1/2 to 6 hours if I drive. I'd say there's still a significant advantage to flying.

 

[Jack Spectre]

I've seen many of those old ads. They typically presented personal aviation as personal transportation, not recreation. On the roads of those days a light aircraft had a considerable speed advantage over an automobile. The improvement in intercity highway travel has eliminated much of that advantage.

I'll agree with that to a point. You can fly a 172 at 130mph as the crow flies and beat car travel time by 1/2 to 1/3. However, you have to drive to the airport and then somehow get a car at your destination. And, if the weather is uncooperative and you are a VFR pilot, you could be stuck for a few days.

To really get ahead of car travel you need a faster plane and an IFR rating...and then you are talking about a lot more time and money to invest.

It does really just boil down to economics. Not a lot of people are going to pony up $5,000 to $10,000 for a basic pilot certificate, that, once you get it, represents only the beginning of your expenditures.

 

[Rob Schaffer]

In many cases, aviation as a hobby is an upper middleclass hobby. At $140+ an hour, it's more expensive than say a sports car or motorcycle or a boat. There aren't a lot of certificated pilots (about 600,000), even the OLD OLD planes are expensive, gas is over $6 most places, regulations and TFR's are killing the hobby, new planes cost more than your average house and we're not even looking at the so called LSA. If product liability was improved, maybe the costs of all would come down and more would be flying. As it is, since I can't just slap a fuel injected IO-360 into my Piper at something less than 15K, the industry and flying in general, will be the hobby of the upper middle.

Exactly what I'm trying to hold onto, even though the $$ are high. Now with three kids, income is getting tight, and the motorcycle that my wife loves to ride, vs renting a cessna that she mediocerly likes to get near, makes more financial sense at this point in time for us. My flight hours this year are way way down. Finding those <$100 options to fly anymore have really disappeared from our area over the past three years since I started flying the C152's and DA-20's.

 

[Frank Browne]

My very first experience of flying an airplane was due to an ad in Life magazine offering $5 first flight instruction by Cessna. It was Pensacola Regional Airport about 1968 or so.

 

[Gerhardt]

The times have changed. Neither my kids nor any of their friends are excited about flying. Few of my friends and colleagues are either. I think there are just too many other things to entertain people. And the view from above isn't that special anymore since they can get an overhead shot of almost any location via a computer.

Twenty years ago I had a lot of people asking for local joy rides. It just doesn't happen anymore.

 

[Richard]

I don't remember GA flying being popular when I was a kid in the 1960s. I knew exactly zero GA pilots.

As counterpoint, I was familiar with a whole bunch. Most every was an owner, not all were military. I remember 3 kids who were in highschool and becoming certificated.

And in '66 I watched the start of the Powder Puff Derby in Clearwater. FLA. Heaven to Betsy, there was a 3' tall chain link fence that separated pedestrian from the ramp.

 

[skidoo]

2 hours in a 182 from OLM to PUW. 5 1/2 to 6 hours if I drive. I'd say there's still a significant advantage to flying.

That is what I had thought too. But, I am realizing that there is about a half hour of pre-flight/prep before going, plus an hour or so after to clean all the bugs off. And then, there are often certain times of day (i.e. early mornings) that works best to fly vs any time for driving. Even so, I would rather fly when I can.

 

[LearDriver]

I have the opportunity to see aviation from the airline side and the GA side. On the airline side people seem more and more to have a sense of entitlement and are completely demanding. I have been yelled at by the pax due to all sorts of issues that have nothing to do with me or anything that I have control over. Its really nice to have a cockpit door.

On the GA side of things I see the 10 foot fences with razor wire on top as big obstacles to keeping people out of aviation. Non-pilots seem to have a real interest in GA when you talk to them. It has just become a really uninviting place at many airports due to all the security measures. If todays pilots don't make an effort to share what we have with outsiders, I worry that this type of flying will dye out over time.

 

[Pilawt]

I am realizing that there is about a half hour of pre-flight/prep before going, plus an hour or so after to clean all the bugs off.

That's called "quality time" with the airplane. That's when I just stop and stare at this wonderful machine with amazement and gratitude. I don't begrudge that time at all.

And then, there are often certain times of day (i.e. early mornings) that works best to fly vs any time for driving.

"any time for driving"? Not around any sizable metro area I know of!

 

[dell30rb]

People still think flying is cool! Took these girls for a first GA flight last week and they had a great time

 

[AEROBAT]

I find a lot of pilots are not interested in a basic airplane anymore. Too many want the upper end machines or nothing at all. If you look through Barnstormers there are a lot of decent tube and rag homebuilts for sale that cost less than the materials to build them never mind the prop and engine.

Even certified aircraft like the Chief or Tri-Pacer can be had for a very reasonable cost.

 

[skidoo]

snip...
"any time for driving"? Not around any sizable metro area I know of!

Oh...I did not consider that. I haven't seen a sizable metro area in a long time.

 

[Jay Honeck]

That's called "quality time" with the airplane. That's when I just stop and stare at this wonderful machine with amazement and gratitude. I don't begrudge that time at all.

Yep, we just got back from the airport, enjoying our new hangar. (Finally got one on the island, after waiting 17 months!) We quaffed a few cold ones, whilst sitting in front of the amazing machine that transported us safely to-and-from Oshkosh.

I still look at Atlas, after owning him for nine years, and marvel at the fact that a couple of regular folks like us get to own and operate such a marvelous time machine... If only we could share this amazing sensation with more people, but, alas, most of the world seems to drift through life in a fog.

 

[Everskyward]

I still look at Atlas, after owning him for nine years, and marvel at the fact that a couple of regular folks like us get to own and operate such a marvelous time machine... If only we could share this amazing sensation with more people, but, alas, most of the world seems to drift through life in a fog.

I don't think it's that people drift through life in a fog. Most of them have other interests which are just as meaningful to them. Either that or they don't have the means or the time to pursue an expensive hobby. Face it, you need some disposable income. That means you can be young with no family or other responsibilities, or, if you have a family, you and your spouse combined need to have an income which is above "average". It would be really difficult as a single parent. I think the first reason (interest in other things) is the most common, however.

 

[denverpilot]

I've met a number of folks who's only "interests" are in eating Doritos on the couch while playing video games. Now, hey... I'm all for them doing what they like, but man I'd hate that. They're usually completely and utterly in that rut so bad that they rarely leave the house other than to go to work, the gas station, and the grocery store.