“Into the Wild Blue," published monthly in Fly KC, focuses on issues of particular importance to current or would-be aircraft owners.  This month Chris is taking a look at some of the myths that have evolved about owning an airplane.

Myth Busters

Have you ever thought about learning to fly?  Are you an aircraft owner?  Chances are if you’re reading this paper you’ve probably given some thought to what it must be like to have a freedom few others enjoy.   Maybe you’ve even wondered if a business airplane might increase your productivity and add to your bottom line.  So, why haven’t you taken the next step?  Is it because you’re “too busy” or that you’ve convinced yourself that it’s just “too expensive.”  Or maybe you’ve let yourself listen to the so-called experts and decided that you couldn’t justify such a lavish perk.  Dreams like this are just mirages unless you act upon them.  Isn’t it time you dug a little deeper to see if an airplane, or learning to fly, might make sense?  Wouldn’t you like to know a little more about the possibilities – and outright pleasure – general aviation (non-airline aviation) has to offer rather than to casually dismiss it based on predictable naysayer misinformation?  You may find it’s not for you….and that’s OK.  At least you will have come to that conclusion based on sound evidence.  On the other hand you may ask yourself, “Why haven’t I done this yet?”

Let’s pretend that you would like to explore the opportunities private aviation has to offer.  Where do you begin?  How do you separate fact from folklore?  And most importantly, whom do you trust?  I don’t know what it is about aviation, but there is no shortage of “experts” who think they have it figured out just because they’re a frequent flyer, they have Microsoft Flight Simulator, or they saw a movie, or…..  You know the type.  Stay away from them.  They generally regurgitate the same old myths about aviation that have been around since Wilbur and Orville learned how to fly.  They’re long on opinion and short facts. 

This article is about tackling those long-standing myths so you can make up your own mind based on valid information.  Someone once taught me long ago that there are no experts in aviation, only those that refuse to keep learning.  Personally, I’d like to think that aviation will always have a lot to teach me.

Myth #1:  Private Flying is Just for the “Rich”:  Really?  Who says?  And just how do you define “rich” anyway?  Is the guy who bought into a 4-way partnership on a $30,000 airplane “rich?”  Not any more than the average used car buyer.  How about the manager who flies on his company’s airplane to meet with 3 customers in one day – half the time traditional travel would allow?  Is he rich? 

Airplanes can be expensive.  They can also be very cost effective.  If they’re used as a tool to increase business revenue then the expense probably makes sense…a lot of sense.  Many enthusiasts own airplanes that cost less than a new boat or SUV.  Some even rent airplanes to further reduce the expense.  Car company execs flying around to collect corporate welfare checks aside, financially sound reasons to own or use an airplane are not hard to find.

Myth #2:  It takes too much time to learn to fly:  You might be surprised.  The average individual can tackle their private pilot’s license in under six months for less than $10,000.  This is a pretty small price to pay for an unprecedented amount of freedom you’ll gain, wouldn’t you say?  Just think of the possibilities that open up to you when you can fly your friends and family to destinations that were previously avoided because of the time it took to get there.  Consider that flying is a life-long skill set from which you’ll gain enormous satisfaction and pride.  And I’ll bet you’ll get more happiness from a newly minted pilot’s license than you have from that undergraduate degree you haven’t used in 10 years.     

Myth #3:  Little Airplanes Aren’t Safe:  If I only had a dollar for every time I heard this line of pure bunk.  How did you reach this conclusion?  The sound byte driven news media?  Another one of those “experts” you’ve been listing to?  Modern general aviation aircraft are amazing for their capability and technological innovation.  Flown and maintained properly, there’s absolutely no reason a “small” plane can’t be as – or more – safe than a family car.    Just like drivers who don’t prudently maintain their cars or who drive recklessly, aircraft owners can be prone to the same foolish mistakes.  This is not the norm, however.  Good pilots understand limitations – theirs and their airplane’s – and they work hard to establish and abide by a safe decision making process.  With time, a good set of instructors, and dedication, you too can learn that process too.   

If you’ve ever thought of becoming involved with aviation – whether for business or for pleasure, why not take the next step?  There really is no time like the present, is there?   Why not talk with someone who’s involved in aviation and has found it to be life or business changing endeavor?  If don’t know who to contact or are trying to get past the critics, give me a call and I’d be happy to get you in contact with the right people.

Go flying.  You’ll be glad you did.

Chris Kirk is a Kansas City native and owns WildBlue, LLC, a Platte City, MO (Kansas City area) based aircraft sales firm that sells quality owner-flown piston and light-jet aircraft world-wide.  He is passionate about growing a vibrant general aviation community and believes in the possibilities it has to offer.  Feel free to contact Chris at 816.479.2723 or via e-mail at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it .