Litwin wrote:
I am a student pilot with 18 hours of flight time, and have been told
that I am very close to soloing.

I would think that is very typical. I just soloed 10 days ago with 20 hours.

However, I have reached the point
that I am about to give it up, and not because, I cannot fly the
pattern, do landings, steep turns, etc., or even costs or medical.
This is why:

1. I have a competent, patient, and otherwise very good CFI. However,
he can never be on time, and as a busy professional, and despite many
discussions, I cannot live with this. Not 10 or 20 min late, but 1 to
2 hours late, and frequent.

Did you talk to him? Did you mention that being this late is a real problem
for you?
If this doesn't help or if you get a snippy reply then:
Dump that CFI! Not next week, not tomorrow, do it NOW.
You are the paying customer. If he doesn't even listen to you, then the
relationship is just not working.
It is your money, your time, your nerves. Not to mention your blood
pressure.

Unfortunately, the next closest airport with flight instruction is 65
miles from here, so my choices are non-existent, unless I want to
spend many hours on the road.

Well, not really. There are many free-lance CFIs around. There are also
flying clubs and other organization, wich are non-commercial. I would try to
find someone in that area before giving up flying because of a bad CFI.

Besides, untimely and tardy CFIs are a
common disease in GA so I hear.

Maybe, depends on your definition of "untimely and tardy" and "common
desease".
Personally I cannot confirm your observation for my flying school. People
are very courtiouos, usually punctual (with some leeway of course, you can't
plan every slight by the second), and if there a tardy CFI and any customer
would talk to the Chief Flight Instructor or the FBO owner, then you can be
sure that the CFI would have a very uncomfortable conversation with his
boss.

2. GA seems economically distressed. The aviation company that

That of course is a well-known fact. Has been for decades.

employs him has junk equipment, 2 days in a row now two different
planes would not start.

Happens. Those are old planes, beaten planes, what can you expect from an
industry that can barely survive.
However, I think the general attitude is more important, from both sides!

If you want a new plane with nice leather seats, the latest avionics, etc.
etc, then my FBO would be very happy to rent it to me for the lessons.
However, the price will be about twice as much as you pay for an old C-152
with torn seats and the paint worn down.

As for the attitude of the FBO: during my very limited flying experience I
grounded a plain 4 times because they were not airworthy. That's what a
preflight and runup are for. And once we had to cancel the lesson because
there was no other plane available. But that is your responsibility as a
pilot, nobody else can make that call. Now, the big question is how did the
FBO react? And at least at my place they take the plane out of service
immediately, take it to the shop, and it won't be back in service until the
problem is fixed (which usually was the case the next day). Now, if they
react grumpy, then you got a problem. But personally I never experienced
that, quite the opposite: they applogiced and were sincerely sorry that I
could fly. Or maybe that they couldn't make money that day, but to me it was
the same.

And never mind the lack of money to plow snow
or remove compacted ice on the runway. I just don't want to spend my
money in what looks to me to be a distressed industry that may not
even have a bottom line in some sectors.

You lost me. I though you were spending your money because you want to learn
how to fly?
Or do intend to spend your money to subsidice the aviation industry?

3. Living in the Great Lakes area, just how practical is all of this,
with 5 to 6 months of crappy weather being typical. It is perpetual
IFR, lots of icing, and when the plane will start, crosswind 2x or
more the POH limitations, and headwinds that leave driving a car
faster. Even scheduling 2 to 3 times a week, maybe only 50% of my
lessons could go forward, and even those sometimes were marginal
conditions. I am disappointed that this is not more practical.

In some areas winter is a challanging time. If this is putting you off so
much, then yes, maybe you should reconsider.

I learned many things, made better progress than I had envisioned, and
really enjoyed the few timely, good days that were available, and
really enjoyed the reading and learning. I had wanted to get my
private pilot certif. For business and pleasure purposes. The best of
luck to those of you who have better circumstances, I am really sorry
to have to give it up.

If you really like flying then I think you are giving up to early and for
the wrong reasons.
Some ideas:
- wait until summer when the weather will be more favourable
- find a different CFI (but not without talking to him first; maybe he is
simply not aware that timing is critical for you) or different means of
learning (flying club, ...)!!!
- maybe take two weeks off and take some lessons at a nicer location, e.g.
Florida or Hawaii. While I do not recommend those "Get your license in two
weeks" courses, there is no reason why you shouldn't enjoy a different
atmosphere and better flying conditions. For that time frame you could also
look more upscale flying schools with better/newer equipment, but of course
the price tag will be much higher, too.
- however, if your were getting into aviation because you want to make
money: run away as fast as possible as long as you have any left

jue