Mitty wrote:


You might want to check out local Civil Air Patrol squadrons.
http://www.cap.gov/ It's cheap (tax deductible, too) or free flying,
depending on missions. Lots of regulations and the necessity to
exhibit respectful admiration of the turf of multiple volunteer
bureaucrats is the tradeoff.



Tradeoff, indeed. That's exactly what I found when I investigated it,
years ago. When I discovered my current FAA credentials (Pvt/Instr)
weren't enough for them, and they wanted to give me their own written
and flight test, I lost interest quickly. Who do they think they are
that they trump the Feds? Had my own plane anyway, didn't really need 'em.