Don't get too worked up over the goobs on the AOPA boards.These are the same guys who like to have that stupid "eyes turned skyward" quote in their posts,argue about such fascinating subjects as "Is WD40 good for corrosion protection" or "Should I say "november 1234" or "Cessna 1234" when I talk to ATC ?".One of them is even posting after EVERY lesson in detail "today we did slow flight,blah,blah,blah...".They say they would fly for free,but a month of 4:30AM shows and they would rethink that.

Very true!

I did not say their mission was to keep it affordable for the masses, since it has never been the at the same level as say, going to the skating rink for an afternoon. Flying has always been an activity with higher costs than most others. My family has owned everything from crop dusters to Baron's; I myself have owned everything from a Beech Sport to an Aztec, and currently own a Skyhawk.... so, yes; I am familiar with the costs of ownership. If you're looking for plastic try Plane Plastics - interior plastic airplane and helicopter parts they typically have approved plastic replacement parts for most common GA aircraft and are much less expensive than OEM stuff.

In your case it sounds like you'd be better of joining a small club or even renting. If your not flying the plane around 100 hours or more a year then typically renting or joining a club will be much cheaper. That being said, if you look at the costs to own an operate a simple piston single in other parts of the world, then AOPA and the EAA have done an excellent job of keeping the costs at least somewhat reasonable. You can still to this day go out and buy a simple two seater to cart you and the misses around for less than the price of an SUV. The insurance for it will be less than for the SUV, leaving you with the cost of the anual and parking.... not a very bad deal at all.

I'm not sure what airport your based at, but when I walk around my ramp I see mostly late 60's to late 80's vintage aircraft, most owned by middle income folks. There are a few Barons, a few Cirrus, and a newer mooney or two, but the vast majority are certainly not the brain surgeon type. I imagine this would vary greatly depending on the airfield you're at. I wouldn't expect to find too many plumbers walking out to their plane at say Teterboro.

In General AOPA & the EAA do a well above average job. As for the membership fee... heck, their magazine alone is worth the price of at least being kept informed of what's happening in the GA world... and for owners such as yourself, the AOPA member discount on your hull insurance should cover the cost of membership.... if it isn't, change companies.

Back in my CFI days I would get sort of irritated with the part time instructors that held other full time jobs who would be blocked off most of the week. In my opinion it was bad for their students who's time to learn may be limitied and on top of that would have to coordinate a lesson with the instructor's available time. And no, I wouldn't fly with those students unless their regular instructor asked me to because of vacation, etc. or there was a personality conflict and the student wanted to change.

That situation with part-time vs full time is exactly where I'm at with just one difference. I don't care who is on my schedule and if they are my student or not. I'll still give them a lesson because it benefits me in two ways.
1. More money (if ya ain't flying you aren't getting paid)
2. More flight time.
Both of those things I could always use more of. I will try to contact the student's instructor and see where the student stands so the student's time isn't wasted and who knows maybe the will enjoy flying with me more and become one of my students

Well said sir

I agree, time to work together, not against each other, face it we all hope that aviation will one day rise again, truthfully most would not admit that they hate the idea of never flying again worse than they hate the state of affairs in aviation today.

What Harvard of reading comprehention and speling did yu atend? That English degree you have is going to be real valuable when you get furloughed again and have to send out resumes.....

Based on what/how you wrote the above, I wouldn’t worry about BURflyer’s English!

How could you even think of criticizing someone else’s writing ability when your own skills in the very department scream of your inability to do the same?

you can't be serious??????????? great sense of humor there. When's the last time you saw sarcasm or laughed?

to SPELL it out for you....I was using sarcasm to make fun of Bur's post. Hence the proper grammar and spelling in my second sentence. Normally I am not a spelling nazi, unless it is directed at somebody with "my crappy regional is better than your scabby regional" syndrome. Here is the real way to say it, just in case you don't believe me...

What Harvard bes yous going to where u bees lerns to spell lik that?