How many pilots, ever?

Jay Honeck wrote:


Well, the local newspaper is interviewing Joe tomorrow -- so
apparently *they* think it's a pretty rare achievement, too.


Well they could do a story here, every there months.

Don't mis-understand. It is an achievement. But the big achievement is,
we can teach anybody to fly; if somebody pays for it. Which is great
because it is a life altering experience.

Learning to fly is so systematized (is that a word?) that anybody can do
it. The real "rarity" is the ability to pay for it. Between you and me,
therein lies the dividing line. When you exclude the financial
considerations, it is something anybody's child could manage. And having
any kind of pilot's license does not make someone better than anybody
else. (My personal bugaboo.)

Where I sit, we have all kinds of children getting their ticket. And
they usually have millionaire parents. They arrive with a parent or in a
taxi. Go through the training in a normal amount of time. Then continue
on with horsey riding and marshal arts or archery. Don't blame the
messenger, it's the world we live in. We have a fantastic training
system. That's the big picture. My training, atpl, turboprop and
straight jet experience has not been hard, it's been fun. The ability to
pay is, at least to me, the achievement. And the cost these days, it is
a rare achievement. I also see people training, and straining at the
finances to keep going. I can't believe how expensive it is now compared
to 35 years ago. And there are no shortage of students of any age. ???

I have probably offended you and I apologize. I have always wanted to
pop into your hotel; I can tell you would prefer I not. Fair enough.

I have kids not appreciating what is being handed to them. (Not to say
yours wasn't.) You should be proud. Joe is a hardworking boy and he did
it! I hope it empowers him, to take on anything that interests him. Not
trying is the only failure. Getting a pilot's license is not the end,
but the beginning.

I have financed three ppl's for 17 year olds. And nobody owes me a
thing. You should be proud, and you are. I am too. I don't have any
children myself. If I did they would be flying along with getting their
drivers license.

Joe. More power to ya! You can take on anything you want.
And I hope you do! It won't make sense right now, but often we,
ourselves, are the only person holding us back. And that has been my big
mistake in life. Fear of failure. Talk with your parents and face your
challenges head on. Yes, hard work is hard, but it brings a great
feeling of security I can't explain here but I hope you come to know.

And Jay, I expect an online link, to the article.....