AOPA helps hopeful pilots learn to fly for FREE

[gsxrpilot]

2 minutes ago, N1395W said:

How do you do that?  I couldn't find it.

 

[Hank]

11 hours ago, Tom said:

We simply have a lot of freeloaders who don't see themselves as freeloaders.

Surely it’s a short hop from overlooking luck’s role in success to feeling entitled to keep the lion’s share of your income

Since when is it wrong to feel "entitled" to keep the lion's share of my income? When I was 10 years old, mowing neighbors Grass, I felt entitled to keep ALL of my income. Now the Federal Govt helps itself to a third of what I earn before I even get it . . . And no, I'm neither "rich" nor happy about it, but the only way I've found out if it is to stop working, lose my home and work a lousy job with Govt assistance every month to eat, and I have too much pride in myself to act like that.

Now I need to go flying to calm down, but instead I'm going back to work so that I can continue to keep almost 2/3 of what I will earn. You, sir, are not welcome in my plane, truck, or home, all of which I have because I have worked hard for a long time. Maybe  even had some good luck.

[Sabremech]

Hi George,

I applaud AOPA's effort to get people involved in aviation. We seem to have plenty of programs to get kids and even teens flying but they don't make the income to impact GA. How about also focusing on the 25-40 age group who is getting settled in life or is settled and has some disposable income to actually purchase an airplane and then continue to fly? The group that can afford to fly is not being targeted by aviation groups. What are your thoughts?

Thanks.

 

[Andy95W]

Thanks Paul.

[Hank]

P.S.--I just renewed my AOPA membership on Wednesday. Nine years and counting. They aren't perfect, but who is?

[GeorgePerry]

Thanks for the kind words of support.  Nope, AOPA isn't perfect....far from it, and I've said as much in many of my posts.  But we are working hard to keep GA healthy.  If we do have a misstep let me know and I'll do my best to make it right.  

 

[Cruiser]

George, I have so many ideas on how to promote GA!

While it is great the AOPA is providing these scholarships, in all reality $156,000 is hardly going to make notice.

Here is an idea........ instead of an annual sweepskates giveaway airplane, why not do the same promotion but instead donate the airplane to a flight school, training center or move it around the country to be USED FOR TRAINING ONLY.  Anyone taking lessons gets to use the plane for free. this will greatly reduce the cost of basic training. Do this several years and you have a fleet of free trainers promoting aviation all over the country. Sounds like a GREAT IDEA

[Andy95W]

3 hours ago, daver328 said:

Maybe if I get my parts removed you could feature me? I must admit, I've never piloted an airplane wearing a dress and high-heels ...

Frankly I would respect him/her if he actually DID have the courage to have his parts removed. As it is, he has male parts and prefers women. I'm not sure how this differs from a guy in drag singing show tunes at a dive bar, but I've never seen any of them featured in the AOPA magazine for their courage to lip sync to Cher. 

It sure seems like a stunt to get publicity for a new reality TV show, which I think is offensive to true members of the LBGT community, let alone the ones who have been persecuted for who they are, such as in Orlando. 

[N601RX]

The flight school at our local airport has a program open to high school students where they can take an aviation class in high school free of charge. They will receive their pilots license just before they graduate. I believe it is currently limited to 5 students each year who have to be selected based on essays and other factors. 

[1524J]

54 minutes ago, N601RX said:

The flight school at our local airport has a program open to high school students where they can take an aviation class in high school free of charge. They will receive their pilots license just before they graduate. I believe it is currently limited to 5 students each year who have to be selected based on essays and other factors. 

Wow! That's a flight school putting their money where their mouth is. Walk the walk!

[prflyer]

5 hours ago, daver328 said:

George, 

In case there is some confusion, my sexual identity is currently as a male. My birth certificate says male and, currently,  my pronouns are "he," "his," and "him." If I decide next week to change my sexual identity, I'll be sure and post it right away, so AOPA can prevent me, a normal pilot from facing any hateful, unfair "discrimination" based on my current "sexual identity." Keep up the good work!

Maybe if I get my parts removed you could feature me? I must admit, I've never piloted an airplane wearing a dress and high-heels ...

David, no one on this thread has made any comment about your sexual identity.  So, its kind of hard to understand why you think anyone is confused about it when the last post before yours is George simply saying "thank you" to those that support AOPA.  Are you confused? You do seem to be protesting too much . . .

Can we now please get back to talking about Mooneys?

I'm happy to support AOPA, as well as EAA, and others that support general aviation.  There are too few of us as it is to be sniping back and forth at each other. We should be working together. 

George, thank you for work.  Keep at it.  All of us pilots benefit from it.

Fernando

 

[GeorgePerry]

11 hours ago, Cruiser said:

George, I have so many ideas on how to promote GA!

While it is great the AOPA is providing these scholarships, in all reality $156,000 is hardly going to make notice.

Here is an idea........ instead of an annual sweepskates giveaway airplane, why not do the same promotion but instead donate the airplane to a flight school, training center or move it around the country to be USED FOR TRAINING ONLY.  Anyone taking lessons gets to use the plane for free. this will greatly reduce the cost of basic training. Do this several years and you have a fleet of free trainers promoting aviation all over the country. Sounds like a GREAT IDEA

We are doing this. Flying club aircraft giveaway. It was announced at S-n-F