KRviator Posted February 26, 2018 Share Posted February 26, 2018 Following on from musings in the Qantas cadet thread, it got me wondering just how many young people are coming through the ranks who fly for fun. It seems to me that most recreational pilots are on the wrong side of the 50-60 age bracket, and there are not an awful lot of people taking up flying for their own enjoyment at the younger end of the spectrum. My personal opinion is people simply can't afford it if you want to own a house these days, but that was also my experience 20 years ago when learning to fly out of Toowoomba... So, that leads us to the poll above, to see just what sort of demographic we have here on the RecFlying forums... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
biggles Posted February 26, 2018 Share Posted February 26, 2018 what about the 71 to 74 year olds ? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ClintonB Posted February 26, 2018 Share Posted February 26, 2018 Missed 40-45 too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Denny Fiedler Posted February 26, 2018 Share Posted February 26, 2018 41 but can't vote 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KRviator Posted February 26, 2018 Author Share Posted February 26, 2018 Strewth, that'll teach me to proof-read my bloody posts... And now I cant even put them in the right order! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GraemeK Posted February 26, 2018 Share Posted February 26, 2018 Ahh, might be time to start again - which one do I vote for if I'm 70? 65-70? or 70-75? 3 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ClintonB Posted February 26, 2018 Share Posted February 26, 2018 Depends what month your birthday is, round up or down on months 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Litespeed Posted February 26, 2018 Share Posted February 26, 2018 When you can buy a new Jabbawocky for a tenth of the price of a home in the boondocks of Sydney- it is housing costs and transport that are the big factors. If you don't buy you can rent but still pay a fortune and find it hard to get a deposit. The cost of living and poor wages are the big factors. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geoff_H Posted February 26, 2018 Share Posted February 26, 2018 I think that places to fly are more a reason not to fly.. Well let me explain. There appears to be a shift of people to the big cities. That's where the big paying jobs seem to be. But flying in the cities of Melbourne and Sydney is more expensive than the country and so a long drive is often needed to the country. Look at the airport demolition we have had in Sydney. From my northern suburbs of Sydney it is at lest an hour's drive to a suitable airport. Even Bankstown, and Warnervale are expensive. So after forking out a fortune for accommodation in the big cities the younger people just don't have the time and money for flying. My daughter would love to fly, but taking care of her daughter doesn't leave the time to travel. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
turboplanner Posted February 26, 2018 Share Posted February 26, 2018 There has been a change in the outlook of people over the last couple of decades or so. The wine industry has grabbed a chunk of the weekly budget. To a degree, this is offset by a reduction of cigarettes, but when you look at the weekly spend of a smoker these days, that group is pretty much out of affording most hobbies. Now the relaxation upmarket cafes have grabbed a slice of income big enough to prevent buying a home Millionaire tells millennials: if you want a house, stop buying avocado toast People have choices, but compared with the reality you pointed out Geoff_H, it's easier just to roll out of bed, jump in the car, and drive a couple of blocks down to the nearest coffee shop for an hour or so. Woolworths initiative of cooking chickens in-Supermarket, along with smart marketing from the chicken industry is having a serious effect on he sheep and cattle industries. The financial mix has shifted, with new competition for our dollars. There's an old marketing saying: "Sell the sizzle, not the steak" When was the last time you read, heard or saw any sizzle promoting going out there and flying? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kasper Posted February 26, 2018 Share Posted February 26, 2018 I’d be more interested in the age you learned to fly. That would really show if recreational flying was working to attract the working younger people or just the older retirement Age group who are using life earnings to do the flying thing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geoff_H Posted February 26, 2018 Share Posted February 26, 2018 I was 33 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rgmwa Posted February 26, 2018 Share Posted February 26, 2018 I was 59 and pleased to admit to being a working younger person according to the criteria Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
derekliston Posted February 26, 2018 Share Posted February 26, 2018 I’m a bit like that country song about the car with different bits from different years. I had my first lesson at 21 in 1968 and with gaps for mainly financial reasons, got my British PPL around 1980 or so, more gaps with a move to Australia in 1984 and still more gaps before I converted to Australian PPL, still flying but again for financial reasons, not sure for how much longer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
frank marriott Posted February 26, 2018 Share Posted February 26, 2018 26 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yenn Posted February 26, 2018 Share Posted February 26, 2018 I was 30.. that make over 50 years, but I had about ten with very little in the logbook. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gravity Posted February 27, 2018 Share Posted February 27, 2018 what about the 71 to 74 year olds ? Too old to fly, take up bird watching:oh yeah: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pmccarthy Posted February 27, 2018 Share Posted February 27, 2018 18 but that was a long time ago. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SSCBD Posted February 27, 2018 Share Posted February 27, 2018 The real poll question that also should be included is, how many are flying without a current RAA pilot cert - or GA license or BFR. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rgmwa Posted February 27, 2018 Share Posted February 27, 2018 The real poll question that also should be included is, how many are flying without a current RAA pilot cert - or GA license or BFR. No point. The poll result would be zero. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spacesailor Posted February 27, 2018 Share Posted February 27, 2018 15 in the A,T,C. About 1957, cousin went on to get license, I was told "will never be a pilot" & still not succeeded. BUT I'm not dead yet!, egmwa: Lots By RPT, and if any " GOOD LUCK" to them. ( Have had a fair few offers of illicit flying fields) spacesailor Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
biggles Posted February 27, 2018 Share Posted February 27, 2018 Too old to fly, take up bird watching:oh yeah: 'Bird watching' is, and always has been my main past-time, but I still manage to get the Jab up fairly regularly. . Was speaking to Lilydale CFI this morning who indicated that they are currently flooded with students, managing to keep 5 or so instructors fully occupied . He was doing a doctor charter into YBNS in a Beechcraft twin, which meant him hanging around filling in time ..... Bob Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Top Gun Jabiru Posted February 27, 2018 Share Posted February 27, 2018 'Bird watching' is, and always has been my main past-time, but I still manage to get the Jab up fairly regularly. . Was speaking to Lilydale CFI this morning who indicated that they are currently flooded with students, managing to keep 5 or so instructors fully occupied . He was doing a doctor charter into YBNS in a Beechcraft twin, which meant him hanging around filling in time ..... Bob And I'm one of those students :) 28 this year and finally flying, after being told by doctors for years it would not be possible. I was told I wouldn't even be able to drive a car when I was a kid (early eye issues) and I stupidly believed them without question. Now I have learned my eyesight is more than sufficient for a Class 2 Medical and maybe even a Class 1. Currently re-assessing my career options and may dump the current path and go for CPL. YLIL is the perfect place to learn in my books. Can't wait to try out the new J160 :) 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alf jessup Posted February 27, 2018 Share Posted February 27, 2018 what about the 71 to 74 year olds ? Your still only a pup Bob 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alf jessup Posted February 27, 2018 Share Posted February 27, 2018 I’d be more interested in the age you learned to fly. That would really show if recreational flying was working to attract the working younger people or just the older retirement Age group who are using life earnings to do the flying thing. I was 23 when I first started flying but was only 21 hours in to GA when we had the recession we had to have in 1987 2 kids, mortgage something had to give Took it back up at 40 in 2004 and been hammering it since Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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