The “Golden Age of Aviation” has long ended. We are no longer entranced by the exploits and accomplishments of people with names like Wright, Curtis, Lindbergh, Yeager, Bong, Doolittle, Post, Hartmann, Boyington, or Earhart. Folks no longer gaze into the sky to see the marvel that is an airplane crossing the sky, In short the magic is GONE. The folks that were impressed by these things are retiring or checking out from life altogether.

What we like to do in our spare time is no longer “Cool”, in fact it is “eye rolling boring” to most of the Iphone, Xbox younger set.

Pilot shortages, General Aviation decline and reduced AMA membership are the new normal. Sadly, the AMA needs to re-calibrate and return to their roots as a niche hobby organization like they were in the “olden” days, because their membership levels are sure to return to the levels they were in the 1950’s.