Dude. You brought it up. Backpedal!

What I consider GA - Kid getting his license in a 152 (or equivalent) getting IR ticket, buying a Arrow, Moving up to a Saratoga, and then maybe buying a Baron or Meridian are days long gone.

Kids can't afford to fly and truly only the upper middleclass to rich are buying planes. They start in a Cirrus and end up in a Meridian, King Air, PC-12, or jet.

Instead, "average" people are now learning to fly at age 54 when the kids are gone and are buying an old Cub or something else LSA and are going no further. I'm not saying that is wrong, but it will not support the network of airports we have.

As for airports being "slammed" - sure - Aspen, Vegas, Miami, Chicago, etc are all busy with rich people. That is fine, but it is FAR from the normal. Lots of nice rural airports out there that previously had 150-200 flights a day that are now struggling to get 20-30 honest flights per day.

Those numbers look great. Show me what's bad.

That's not GA. Times change Todd. Been changing since the beginning of time.

Nobody lives in the country anymore. You're the oldest young guy I know. Live in the now man.

2000 a year comes no where near replacing the aircraft dropping from the registry every year. If that's great fine. But we are in a long term cycle of shrinking planes and pilots in the US.

Yeah, you are probably right, but I will stick with living in an area that is good to raise kids in and where I am comfortable.

As far as being old - It is a Tortoise vs Hare thing. You will see someday

I believe in exposing my son to everything. Crazies, Liberals, Hobo's, religious nuts, you name it. Sheltering your children from the realities world is doing them no favors. We flew to my farm today and rode motorcycles, shot guns and hung out with country folk. Now were back in Atlanta and just had dinner at P. Diddy's restaurant. You gotta show them everything. Your kids aren't going to want to stay in the country.

One thing that could help save GA is the fact that there are less pilots every year and the airlines will struggle to replace pilots. Airline travel could get much more expensive while having pilots with less experience as well.

I truly think to save GA we have to exempt all planes under 12,500 and not used for commercial purposes from the ridiculous requirements they must meet. Let Hyundai build a airplane as they see fit. Probably could get a 350HP plane with de-ice and a parachute for $250k new. If the wings fall off then nobody else will buy one. Problem solved.

It amazes me to no end that of some of the ridiculously old stuff that is "REMAN" when a new designed part of the shelf would be safer and 1/10th the cost, but since it is not certified it cannot be used. This needs to end. We need modern airplanes and people need to start taking risk. Big warning when you buy a plane:

"This aircraft is not safe and should not be flown by anyone. You will most likely die quickly if you attempt to fly this plane."

And every time you fly it this audio warning before the door will open:

"By entering this aircraft you agree that it is a POS and will kill you. If you are stupid enough to get in then don't be crying to an attorney when you end up in a wheelchair and with 3rd degree burns on your face."

There - those warnings good enough? Can we build an airplane now that people can afford?

I believe in exposing my son to everything. Crazies, Liberals, Hobo's, religious nuts, you name it. Sheltering your children from the realities world is doing them no favors. We flew to my farm today and rode motorcycles, shot guns and hung out with country folk. Now were back in Atlanta and just had dinner at P. Diddy's restaurant. You gotta show them everything. Your kids aren't going to want to stay in the country.

You say this all the time and I couldn't disagree more.

I'll pack some Kleenex Friday and dab my tears as my wife and I fly in style and comfort to Colorado for a weekend getaway. Just can't believe how stupid I am for owning this thing. Wish I was staying home with a remote in my hand instead of flying this worthless bucket of bolts.

Yeah, I would not get in that beater. You better sell it to me. Looks like a liability!

You say this all the time and I couldn't disagree more.

Tom, I'm glad you have come to your senses.

After next week, I'll have some extra room in the hangar, and it's the least I can do to offer to help out a BT brother and find a place for that salvage project.

I guess I look at this differently. During the Annual last week I replaced the left main tire. Now, after reading this thread, I just realized that I doubled the value of my aircraft.

Winning!