Aviation kicks for the 1%

[montmil]

I hold a Private Pilot License and have always- well, almost always- enjoyed exercising the privileges.

The Federal Aviation Agency (FAA) provides my name and address to all manner of aviation-related businesses and services. Privacy issues? Another subject.

Today's mail brought an offer from a flight training facility based on Addison Airport in North Dallas.

Check those prices per hour starting at $595.00 and $695.00. Be advised, the engine run time Hobbs meter start ticking as soon as the engine lights off and that's what you get nicked with. I've flown into Addison many times. A busy place. I've also had to wait in line at the departure area for 20+ minutes before getting my clearance to take the active runway. That would be about a $225.00 wait in the T-6.

Slap me!

BTW, There are 300+ Chinese student pilots enrolled at a flight school here in Denton, Texas. Fixed wing and rotary wing, they are all over the place every day. Interestingly, they all are in country as employees of different Chinese airlines. Right. Come on over, lads. Get your Private through ATP tickets and return home for your advanced training in the Red Air Force.

Slap me, again!   Rant off.

Monte

Oops. Got myself a bit wound up and forgot the photo. Here tis...

[Bob_Roller]

A majority of the terrorists that were involved in the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks, were trained in the Phoenix metro area airports .

[Lucky_Lou]

Monte the main purpose for the Chinese may be to familiarize landmarks for future raids LOL.
Before WW2 in the late 30,s Germans bought a lot of isolated farms in the East of England built barns with the roofs painted red and yellow guiding planes onto London and other targets (True)
Our pilots twigged it though.
Lou  

[montmil]

As Indiana Jones would say, Nazis. I hate those guys.

[Lucky_Lou]

As Indiana Jones would say, Nazis. I hate those guys.

Yeh but they did have nice bikes......
Lou

[donbmw]

Most of them it is cheaper to come hear and learn to fly that it is in thier country.

Don

[nhmaf]

See, this is why I never took the introductory flight lesson my wife got me for my birthday 10 years ago - I knew that if I started down that path, it would be a very expensive one that would be hard to stop....
 

[travlinrebel]

Had the chance to get my private fixed wing in my teens, just would have to pay for fuel.  Did not do it, by the way fuel was 17 cents a gallon then. Sure wish I had done it now.

[Bengt_Phorqs]

Spitfire Beer - Downed All Over Kent, Just Like The Luftwaffe!
http://www.spitfireale.co.uk/spitfire-adverts/classic.aspx

I'd hate to think that in a few years from now a Shiner beer ad will read "Shiner Beer, downed all over Texas, Just like the Red Chinese air force."!!!

[DeeG]

700 an hour for a T6?  Not too bad, when you consider a Beech Duchess rents for $300/hour and a new Diamond goes for over $200.  And that Warrior that I used to rent for $27 an hour wet?  Now going for $125.  

As far as foreign students training in this country, they've been doing that longer than  I've been flying.  Why? Its cheaper and since English is the language of aviation, what better place to learn?  I have no problem with foreign students learning here.  Come to the US and spend your money here.  

I used to work at a Part 135 op in Burbank, CA.  Air charter to the stars.  Was I jealous that this TV star could afford to rent a Lear and two pilots for a week? Yup.  Was I mad? nope.  People like him kept better than a dozen of us gainfully employed.  

Flying is not cheap.  Never has been.  

[montmil]

...  I have no problem with foreign students learning here.  Come to the US and spend your money here...

...and fly those birds right into the Twin Towers. You are aware those terrorists trained in Arizona? But you are right about one thing- Osama bin Laden did get a bargain price for his jihadists. Just too bad about that collateral damage, eh?

[DeeG]

~sigh~

Perhaps we should stop renting moving vans to young, white, decorated U.S. Army veterans. Wouldn't want them blowing up any more Federal Buildings, now, would we?

[Ed Miller]

~sigh~

Perhaps we should stop renting moving vans to young, white, decorated U.S. Army veterans. Wouldn't want them blowing up any more Federal Buildings, now, would we?

I think some of the Tea Party people might like it.