Original Posted By: "Bill Church"
Subject: Re: Pietenpol-List: Aged Piet pilots>> There is an annual fly-in breakfast every spring at our small city in> central Alberta, Canada. If the weather cooperates, well over a hundred> aircraft will come to it. It would be interesting to do a survey of the> ages> of attending pilots. This year, the average age would have been close to,> or> over, sixty from what I and others observed. Where are all the younger> people? (Probably motorcycling, or boating, or charging around on ATV's.)How about video games? Flight simulators don't require a medical and $6000for a private license or $3000 for a sport pilot license, no preflight,maintenance, INSURANCE, hanger rental, bad weather to worry about, plus youcan fly any type of airplane you want, perform any aerobatics, fly anywherein the world, and shoot and kill people just like with War Craft or GrandTheft Auto, all with zero risk of death or injury (and you can pause and goto the bathroom or grab a beer any time you want).Now that I think about it, imagine the computer system and simulatorsoftware I could put together for what I have in my Piet so far (three 32inch flat panel surround monitors)? Just kidding.Its an instant gratification world out there for the younger people (and alot of the baby boomers as well), the more red tape you have to go throughto do an activity the less chance people are going to have an interest init. And I can't think of any activity or sport that requires more red tapeand money to get into than aviation. Plus with the bankruptcys and major paycuts going through the airline industry I wouldn't doubt that we will see adecreased interest among younger people into getting into aviation as acareer.Rick H.-- Rick Holland"Logic is a wreath of pretty flowers, that smell bad"________________________________________________________________________________