Anybody Fly?
 

Besides the airlines? Anyone have a pilot's license &/or airplane? I've been at it for about five years, own half of a Cessna 172, working now on the instrument rating. Any others??

It is something I am thinking about getting into in the next year or two. I like the Cirrus SR22, now I just have to figure out how to afford it.

I'm interested in the new sport pilot classification. Less training = less $$$ for me to spend to get in the air :D

I have almost all my ratings. They are:

PPL
Instrument
Commercial
Multi-Engine
CFI
I am just a stagecheck away from my CFII

I suggest that anybody that is interested in the Sport Classification to look really hard at the regulations behind it. Their may be a lot of restrictions involved with the rating that may hinder your enjoyment. I would suggest the freedom of a Private Pilot's license.

oh I have. my first goal is to get into the air as cheaply as possible.

After that, I can start working toward higher licenses.

The only real restrictions are in plane power, and no retractable gear, and only 1 pax, and I would guess they're not gonna let sport pilots fly at night ;)

I'm in pretty much the same boat, or plane, as Flatland Flyer. I should be getting the II sometime this semester. For the people looking at getting a sport license, I'd recommend just getting the full Private Pilot certificate and picking up a sport plane. The only real benefit I can see with getting a sport license is that you don't need a medical, and if you can pass a medical, why not just get the full thing?

I fly for an airline. Does that count?

My father flys, Hes got the private, instrument, commercial, and CFI is on the to do list.

He owns a '57 Cessna 172 straight tail. God I love gettin in the air, my license will shortly follow my fathers CFI... An instructer and plane right they, id me a moron not to!

Becasue the sport license costs less which is why they created it in the first place.

True that it costs less, but there are a few restrictions (taken from www.sportpilot.org):

no night flights;
no flights controlled airspace unless you receive training and a logbook endorsement;
no flights outside the U.S. without advance permission from that country(ies)
no sightseeing flights with passengers for charity fund raisers;
no flights above 10,000' MSL;
no flights when the flight or surface visibility is less than 3 statute miles;
no flights unless you can see the surface of the earth for flight reference;
no flights in LSA with a maximum speed in level flight with maximum continuous power (Vh) of greater than 87 knots (100mph), unless you receive training and a logbook endorsement;
no flights if the operating limitations issued with the aircraft do not permit that activity;
no flights contrary to any limitation listed on the pilot's certificate, U.S. driver's license, FAA medical certificate, or logbook endorsement(s);
no flights while carrying a passenger or property for compensation or hire (no commercial operations).

The first two are the ones that get me. I love flying at night and flying into controlled airspace is a necessity. You are certainly right though and I hope it brings in a lot of people who wouldn't think about flying beforehand. I just hope that you can train for a private pilot's license in a sport plane, I don't see why you couldn't.

EDIT: Personally, if I were to purchase a plane right now, it would be a sport plane because of cost and the fun factor of flying little planes.

No Just the airlines, but I think I would like to try it sometime!