I little story about how Ham radio is why i am flying today. I am not a Ham. My dad was, including the MARS network. He got his First Phone back in the 60's. The local AM radio station needed an engineer so he moonlighted that in the evenings. I rode with him doing broadcast pattern checks sometimes. The station owner was a pilot that also owned the FBO, school and radio shop at the local airport. A deal was struck to operate the radio shop on Dads license in trade for PPL lessons.
Later, a '65 Mooney was bought. Dad wanted to upgrade the panel so I learned to rivet in the tailcone of that Mooney at 12 years old. He wanted to build a T-18 so off to Osh in 1971. I saw a slew of (from my point of view) geezers with airplanes.
A few years ago, I was one of those geezers when I flew my 7A to Osh.
On a side note, I inherited a lot of gear when he passed. The one piece I am having trouble dispensing is a QRO 1KW linear amp. Working. Contact me if interested. I am down to taking it to recycling so I'm more interested in a home vs the price.