The Corolla and the Cessna 172 are the world's most manufactured car & aircraft respectively. Toyota makes more Corollas in a month than the total number of Cessna 172s ever made.
With fewer and fewer planes being made, the remaining planes continue to get more and more expensive. The world of general aviation shrinks each year, and as such the prices continue to climb.
Fortunately, there are a number of clubs where people pool their money into collective ownership of airplanes. Its roughly $150/flight hour (more or less, depending on the club's equipment of course). If I were to ever go into GA, I'd probably start with a club to get my earlier licenses.
$15,000 and a few months would be all you need to get your pilot's license and start flying (including the price of flight instructors / ground schools). Overall, cheaper than I expected. You wouldn't want to go into this hobby thinking you'd save money... at best you save time inside of a certain range (Cessna only cruise at 160mph, while commercial airlines cruise at 500mph. As such, GA flights need to be within 2 or 3 hours (or ~1 hour commercial flight) to even save time).
PS: A new set of paragliding equipment runs 10-15k, but it’s more like a jet pack than a traditional aircraft.
Trade-a-plane is like the eBay for GA.
If you get a Luscombe, make sure to fly it in favorable weather conditions only :)
I wouldn’t especially call Luscombes nice planes. I’m not a fan of their stall characteristics or ground handling. A J-3 is the most expensive airplane in the group for its capabilities. You’re paying a lot for that “Piper Cub” name.
I think Taylorcrafts are a good bang-for-your-buck. I’m also partial to Citabrias.
I’ve flown about 20 types of small taildraggers, for whatever that’s worth.
I’ve flown about 20 types of small taildraggers
GA flights need to be within 2 or 3 hours (or ~1 hour commercial flight) to even save time).
I read a story a couple of years ago where a group of SV execs and engineers live in eastern Oregon and commute by GA, sharing expenses.
There also used to be a regular small plane service between Peachtree/Dekalb and Birmingham, AL for BellSouth personnel operated by the company. BellSouth split it's HQ between both places.