For the airline and corporate guys, do you still fly GA in your free time? Do you own or rent? What plane do you have? How often do you take the plane up? Just curious

I own a plane, no it doesn’t always make sense on the financial ledger. That aspect does not keep me up at night.

I fly at least inside of every two weeks, move the oil around.

The older Son went to college for half a year, came home & said he’d like to switch to piloting. Having a family plane as he was growing up likely influenced that decision. I didn’t push it one way or another.

One can buy a nice plane if you can avoid spending $200k+ with divorce attorneys. I know, can’t be avoided at times.

A plane is a bit more special than that boat or RV.

I’ve just started flight instructing again just for giggles.
It’s amazing how bad of an airplane the C172 really is.

I think the 172 is an outstanding airplane.

I fly general aviation often, but prefer to get paid for it.

It’s the Lada or Festiva of the skies.
It gets you there but is not really good at anything else.
Handles like a wet paper bag.

I dunno. I've run 172's off dirt strips with full loads of passengers or cargo in the mountains, towed banners with them, all kinds of things. They're great training airplanes.

They're the Glock 19 of the light airplane world.

That’s what I said, a Lada...



Back to the original question, I fly light GA about twice a month.

If his goal is to be a professional pilot send him back to college to get his degree.

I disagree. Get the flying done. Get to a regional. Then do the cheapest online degree you can find.

It's what I would do if I had a do over. Then again, no online degrees when I started. Dammit, I'm too young to be this old.

Plane Coffee

FWIW, He does have a degree, full timing at a pilot mill now as a CFI.