[sokoloff]

There was a terrible "aviation winter" in the mid-80s with product liability concerns, economic issues (high interest rates), and a spike in fuel prices resulting in the bankruptcy of several manufacturers and other manufacturers stopping the manufacture of piston-powered airplanes entirely.

https://generalaviationnews.com/2015/05/31/analyzing-statist... has some decent (and short read) background on the overall trends.

To me, the more interesting question is "why were the 60s and 70s so good for GA?" De-regulation of airlines was probably one factor, but it can't be the only one.

I'm 45 and a pretty avid owner and pilot. For most airport activities (fly-ins, safety seminars, etc), I'm usually the youngest one in the room, often by a lot. I get the sense that wouldn't have been the case 50 years ago.

[douche]

> To me, the more interesting question is "why were the 60s and 70s so good for GA?" De-regulation of airlines was probably one factor, but it can't be the only one.

Lots of WW2 pilots still alive and interested in flying in the 60s and 70s, maybe? I'm just speculating, but the population of flight-trained people in the country has probably not been higher than then.

[sokoloff]

I know a lot of veterans got pilot's certificates with the GI Bill education benefit, so that was probably part of it (in addition to conversion of military pilot experience into civilian certificates)

[Merad]

RE your last paragraph, I think cost is a HUGE factor preventing more young GA pilots. What's the cost to get a PPL these days? In the range of $5000-10000? And IIRC, the total operating cost per flight hour, even for something like a C-172, is north of $100?

Even as a young 30s software engineer with a comfortable salary and a PPL on my bucket list, it looks like a terrifyingly expensive hobby. The vast majority of people simply can't afford it.

[sokoloff]

PPL is probably on the high side of that range.

Local flight school rents their 172s for $135-150 (depending on airplane), and based on my ownership experience, they're not making fat margins on that.

[robbiep]

expect $30,000 for PPL in Australia