Your age bracket for aircraft owners

[nervman]

Hey, i was curious. I've owned my Piper Warrior for only a few months now and I always noticed (usually while at the mechanic) that all the owners I've seen are a little bit older than me, probably mid forties or later. I'm 30, but I've never seen any owners around my age. Makes no difference at all, but I found it interesting nonetheless. So are most of you owners here (not just pilots) in the 40+ bracket?

It does make sense though, after all if a person was married and had kids, now they're possibly off to college or out of the nest, maybe you're retiring and have a fair bit of disposable income and being an owner is very attractive. I, for one, can raise my hand to the fact that owning sure is expensive, much like I thought it might be.

[airfreddy]

hello:

I have found that most of the owners I know are in thier 40's and 50's I do have one student who is in his 30's that is looking at buying an airplane.

There are a lot of good aircraft for sale out there now so that may change since most of the 30 year old pilots have their own businesses.

I am finding that a lot of people who are in their 40's and 50's are now learning to fly. Now that the kids are gone they want to go after that dream now.

Airfreddy

[Zonno]

Most younger people could not afford to own (unless there parents are rich or they win the lottery), because chances are, wherever they are working, they probably haven't gotten enough yearly raises to their salary to be able to afford to own just yet. Plus, insurance might be higher or lower for younger owners.

[jonrood]

i am a small business owner and i own a little cessna. i am 33 years old.

[Pak Ratt]

43 here-- more years in age than hours in the left seat-- trying to follow the dream I've put off for 22 years...plan to buy a plane soon

[yota]

I am 39 and got thePPL in dec.2007.I am on my 2nd plane.

[CircumAviator]

I bought an airplane when I was 25... I am now 26 but I do not know any other people my age or many other females that have their own airplane.

I paid for it with no help from mommy and daddy. :-) (they did send me to school though which made a big difference. It allowed me to get a good job right out of college)

Once I started working it was simply a matter of setting priorities. I have some goals I want to accomplish in aviation and so I budgeted for buying an airplane. As soon as I got a full time job I started taking flying lessons and then aerobatics lessons.

I decided I wanted my own plane though for a few reasons.
First, there is no airplane on this island to solo in. There are CFIs but none wanted to put me on the insurance. Also I want my IFR rating and this airplane is IFR capable.
Long term I have a couple goals that will require me to build some (lots) of hours... One is to fly around the world solo in a single engine airplane. I want to do it before I am 33 as I think then I would break the record for youngest female and first black female to solo in a single engine around the world.
I am going to try and start looking for sponsorship to help with this goal (currently setting up a website).

The second goal I want to accomplish after the first one is to become a very good aerobatic pilot and compete and eventually perform shows.
I did not buy an aerobatic airplane at this point because of the higher cost associated though and because I want to accomplish my first goal first. I do have 50 hours of aerobatics in a citabria. Right now I own a cessna 170a.

Happy flying!
Margot

[Gimble]

Originally Posted by airfreddy

I am finding that a lot of people who are in their 40's and 50's are now learning to fly. Now that the kids are gone they want to go after that dream now.

I passed my PPC check ride shortly after my 40th birthday. However, with four kids at home, and all under 8, it will be a long time before the kids are gone.

I am close to the youngest owner I have met today. Most are 50+ if not 60+. However, in communities that are more closely tied to aviation ( like Colorado Springs, where are number of Air Force support companies are found ), the number of pilots and pilot age spread seems to be spread out quite a bit more.