An aviation thread!

[WacoFan]

So many threads about "airspace" and "avionics" and new items or engines for turbine contraptions - I want a thread dealing with actual aviation. Preferably a gas fueled, may instructing or pipeline or any other activities. Specifically, to the extent you are aware - how is the economy impacting your flying? I say this because one of my favorite things is sitting on my patio drinking my coffee and watching the planes in the pattern at the little airport I live incredibly close to. There was a small but pretty active flight school and the airport wasn't busy but was...steady. It is absolutely deader than a doornail now. Like days between seeing any traffic. Makes me wonder what y'all are seeing and how low end GA types are living.

 

[Wardogg]

So many threads about "airspace" and "avionics" and new items or engines for turbine contraptions - I want a thread dealing with actual aviation. Preferably a gas fueled, may instructing or pipeline or any other activities. Specifically, to the extent you are aware - how is the economy impacting your flying? I say this because one of my favorite things is sitting on my patio drinking my coffee and watching the planes in the pattern at the little airport I live incredibly close to. There was a small but pretty active flight school and the airport wasn't busy but was...steady. It is absolutely deader than a doornail now. Like days between seeing any traffic. Makes me wonder what y'all are seeing and how low end GA types are living.

Fuel prices are absolutely soul crushing right now.

 

[bp]

Fuel prices are absolutely soul crushing right now.

for 100LL? yeah theyre high but inflation adjusted not atrocious. when i was learning to fly I think I was paying 6.50-7/gal in 2011ish when gasoline prices spiked, local drome hitting $7 past month. youre def not finding the occasional $4/gal spots in the middle of nowhere midwest like you used to.

I’d like to hear from a CFI right now. I can’t imagine Joe the plumber is learning how to fly for fun anymore, seems like all the students I hear about either trying to learn how to drive a cirrus for a business depreciation or kids that only want to go to the airlines.

 

[DropTank]

The young and talented think: If I pay $250,000-500,000 to be an airline pilot, I'll be replaced by AI.

Can't say I blame them.

Everything is slower, even some of the corpies.

 

[trafficinsight]

Fuel prices are absolutely soul crushing right now.

And private equity bought Hartzell and now Hartzell is buying up everything and jacking the prices baseline 50% at least because they can.

Parts prices have all gone from expensive to comical. 2,000+$ for a rod end that used to be 30 or 40 bucks tops.