I've been off the forum for a while, but this is a question that keeps coming up in circles and I couldn't think of a more diverse group to get an answer from. It's been bugging me for a long time, because I come across so many people that would love to join the club but think they're not able to.
Now I realize some feel it's taboo to talk about money, but the reality is that money and perceived cost is what is prohibiting many would be pilots and builders from pursing aviation. If you're not comfortable with this, I invite you to stop reading right now.
There are a million magazine and AOPA articles to discuss methods of defraying cost. To a newbie, it's all just noise. Most goes over their heads or is too intimidating to wrap their minds around. If there's a more economically/educationally/life experienced diverse group to ask, I don't know where to find it. I talk with friends and fly with folks from all kinds of different economic situations/education levels/etc. Many have toyed with the idea of building an airplane or buying but have written it off almost instantly because of the preconceived notion it's something for another economic class they'll never belong too. Blue collar salt of the earth folks who think building a 10 for family adventurers isn't possible for them, to airline captains that think building an 8 is something beyond their reach. Perspective right? I know there are builders/owners here from all walks of life and I'm curious, for those willing, if you'd share how you attained your ultimate dream? Real world people experience to prove it's not something limited to the 1%. Maybe motivation for the lurkers/dreamers here to stop and say "hey that guys just like me. Maybe I can do this!" I'm sure everyone here has had that conversation, and the raised eyebrows, when people look at you and say "wait, you own an airplane?!" Then you stumble for words to explain we're no different. Mortgages, kids, car payments, it is possible.
This is not meant to be a discussion of the pros and cons of everyone's methodology. If you took a 401k loan to buy your engine, if you mortgaged your house to pay for your panel, if you sold a kidney to get your QB kit.... everyone has a different situation, and what works for one may work for another, judgement/advice free zone. Maybe you drove that 1988 Toyota another few years, passed up a vacation to buy a finish kit. No one is wrong or right. It's purely an opportunity for folks to share their story and motivate others, to realize it can be done. If you'd so be willing to share, as much or little as you like, how'd you do it? I've seen newly wed couples here in their 20's to retired public servants, all get there. There are a million ways to do it, and part of revitalizing general aviation is convincing would be pilots/builders that it really isn't unattainable. My hope is to be able to point out to friends and colleagues, that it isn't that cosmic, and it really is within your means.
Help get some dreamers off the fence and over the hump. Fortitudo in numeris.
Now I realize some feel it's taboo to talk about money, but the reality is that money and perceived cost is what is prohibiting many would be pilots and builders from pursing aviation. If you're not comfortable with this, I invite you to stop reading right now.
There are a million magazine and AOPA articles to discuss methods of defraying cost. To a newbie, it's all just noise. Most goes over their heads or is too intimidating to wrap their minds around. If there's a more economically/educationally/life experienced diverse group to ask, I don't know where to find it. I talk with friends and fly with folks from all kinds of different economic situations/education levels/etc. Many have toyed with the idea of building an airplane or buying but have written it off almost instantly because of the preconceived notion it's something for another economic class they'll never belong too. Blue collar salt of the earth folks who think building a 10 for family adventurers isn't possible for them, to airline captains that think building an 8 is something beyond their reach. Perspective right? I know there are builders/owners here from all walks of life and I'm curious, for those willing, if you'd share how you attained your ultimate dream? Real world people experience to prove it's not something limited to the 1%. Maybe motivation for the lurkers/dreamers here to stop and say "hey that guys just like me. Maybe I can do this!" I'm sure everyone here has had that conversation, and the raised eyebrows, when people look at you and say "wait, you own an airplane?!" Then you stumble for words to explain we're no different. Mortgages, kids, car payments, it is possible.
This is not meant to be a discussion of the pros and cons of everyone's methodology. If you took a 401k loan to buy your engine, if you mortgaged your house to pay for your panel, if you sold a kidney to get your QB kit.... everyone has a different situation, and what works for one may work for another, judgement/advice free zone. Maybe you drove that 1988 Toyota another few years, passed up a vacation to buy a finish kit. No one is wrong or right. It's purely an opportunity for folks to share their story and motivate others, to realize it can be done. If you'd so be willing to share, as much or little as you like, how'd you do it? I've seen newly wed couples here in their 20's to retired public servants, all get there. There are a million ways to do it, and part of revitalizing general aviation is convincing would be pilots/builders that it really isn't unattainable. My hope is to be able to point out to friends and colleagues, that it isn't that cosmic, and it really is within your means.
Help get some dreamers off the fence and over the hump. Fortitudo in numeris.
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