I too was an airport kid, at least in my latter teens. Started flying at 15, ran out of $, picked it back up a year later, and got my PPL on 17th b-day. Had a great CFI who taught several younger folks how to fly. After PPL I started working for the flight school just cleaning things up in exchange for aerobatics & formation flying instruction in the Citabria, what an awesome job!!!.. that is still the best rigged Citabria I've flown to date.
I think there are kids out there who are interested in it, but as many have pointed out there really needs to be a mentor (or two or more) who are interested in showing younger folks what its all about; I too have seen that "Dr. with the 310" syndrome, no thanks!! Seems like the EAA consistently does a good job with the young eagles events and what not.
Personally, I am really thankful to have had a good CFI early on who was familiar with teaching younger folks, and then later on, a great mentor who gave me the job sweeping the floor, cleaning the airplanes, helping with the annual inspectioins, and what not.
I think there are kids out there who are interested in it, but as many have pointed out there really needs to be a mentor (or two or more) who are interested in showing younger folks what its all about; I too have seen that "Dr. with the 310" syndrome, no thanks!! Seems like the EAA consistently does a good job with the young eagles events and what not.
Personally, I am really thankful to have had a good CFI early on who was familiar with teaching younger folks, and then later on, a great mentor who gave me the job sweeping the floor, cleaning the airplanes, helping with the annual inspectioins, and what not.
