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Mark: There are schools out there that have old, however very well maintained and flyable aicraft. I would submit to you the places trying to "lure in new students" with old tired airplanes are not doing well as a business. It is up to the buyer to realize ther is more than one place to learn to fly.
jlowers: Money is a big concern to most pilots in training but you must consider the many thousands of us who found and are finding the money to do it. I recently had a conversation on a layover with the young man behind the bar and found he was working three jobs just to pay for his training.He was obviously sacrificing his social life for the time being as well, but he knew it was only temporary and had his goal of becoming an airline pilot clearly in sight. Not everyone trains to fly in the majors, but a careful study of any lifestyle will yield areas were spending might be reallocated to more flying lessons, or to make the ones scheduled a little easier to afford. As for sightseeing and charter, you open your business up to mandatory drug and alcohol testing, FAR p135, and certificate (as in airline, not pilot) requirements, which many FBOs/schools do not want to deal with.
jason: As hard as it may be to switch, you need to find a new place to learn. You pay too goodly a sum for the privlege of renting an aircraft to be treated as you are. Based on what you have to say about your instructors, you are not receiving quality instruction and it will end up costing you more in the long run as you must review, repeat, and relearn. Ask around the airport, you must have other options. Don't be afraid to pay a little more for wet rates or dual, you'll get what you pay for. If you can't switch, at least let the chief pilot/instructor or owner know of your predicament. And hang in there - there are many rewards for the sacrifices and hardships. I started out in C150s, was(still am) a CFI and have flown jet fighters and transports and had the time of my life in every airplane I,ve flown.
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