[dmfdmf]

Its all about money. Planes are woefully expensive and the 60+ crowd has money or they aren't flying.

As I used to tell a buddy of mine who was a pilot; planes are for rich people, motorcycles are the poor man's airplane but we only get 2D's of freedom not 3D like a pilot. Similar arguments apply to boats, which is left as an exercise for the reader.

[dkatz790]

Flying is expensive - no argument there. But, most pilots are not wealthy. They are ordinary middle class people with a passion. The old timers at the airport are often in the same boat.

Many used planes can be purchased for the price of a non-luxury car. Maintenance is affordable if done right. With a partner, even more affordable.

Cost is one barrier, but not the governing one.

[BorisMelnik]

Time and money. I took many classes and it is basically going to take up a ton of your weekends. Depending on where you live it might be way more than this. I am lucky enough to have lived near a private airport where I knew a few people that owned planes and had one for rent.

It is also a very monotonous process. You basically learn by riding along, doing very small tasks one by one and by the end of your training you are basically flying.

Getting instrument rating is a totally different ballgame. I witnessed a plane wreck so I backed out after things got pretty surreal.