In a previous article, (Boris) said:
I dislike driving this distance for a weekend. I am considering flying
occasionally as an alternative.

I drive up to Ottawa, Canada twice a month (also about a 5 hour drive) and
I hate the drive and love the flight.

1) Is 3K-5K a realistic estimate of the cost of getting VFR rated?

That's less than I paid, but here in the lake effect rain/show shadow of
Lake Ontario and in controlled airspace, it probably costs more than it
does there.

2) Being the Midwest, it is frequently cloudy. Is IFR a realistic
requirement to be able to return home safely on a given weekend?

Even with an IFR rating, you have to be ready to scrub several trips,
sometimes at the last minute, if you have the slightest qualms about the
weather - even an IFR rating won't get you through a thunderstorm or icing
conditions.

3) Is another 3K-5K realistic for an IFR rating?

Probably.

4) What plane would be suitable to hire for this distance, a grass
strip, 2 adults, 2 young children and some luggage?

Piper Warrior or Archer, Cessna 172, 182, etc.

5) What rate would you expect to pay per hour?

That is so variable and regional that I can't guess.

6) If the answer to (2) is yes, what is the rental availability of IRF
aircraft and is there a premium?

Again, you'd have to talk to your local FBOs.

6) What would the flight time be?

About 2 hours.

7) Can you generally leave your car at municipal airports free?

Generally, yes.

8) If I left on Friday afternoon and returned at dawn on Monday
morning, what additional charges are applied to the rental?

Talk to your FBO. I belong to a flying club because MANY FBOs don't allow
you to take planes for the weekend, either at all or at least during the
summer. Remember that to them, you're taking a plane away for 4 hours of
flying over 2-3 days when they could reasonably expect to rent it out for
8+ hours of flying. Even in the club, I have to book summer weekends well
in advance, and will book 4 or 5 weekends and end up cancelling at least
two of them.

Is this a realistic alternative idea for weekend family trips or a
pipe dream?

Flying the trip is something you might be able to do once in a while, but
unless you own a plane you won't be able to fly it as often as you like,
even if the weather cooperates.

I'm currently looking at getting into a small partnership on a Cherokee
140, but retaining my flying club membership just to increase my chances
of having something to fly for whole weekend trips.

--
Paul Tomblin http://xcski.com/blogs/pt/
Nazis are part of *every* government, everywhere, in all of human
history. They're just not always called that.
-- J.D. Baldwin