Why General Aviation is Dying (And Nobody Stopped It)

General aviation was once within reach of ordinary Americans. Today, the average airplane is more than 50 years old, a private pilot license can cost $20,000, and a new Cessna 172 can cost around $600,000. So what happened? In this video, we trace the collapse of affordable general aviation — from the liability crisis and lawsuits that devastated aircraft manufacturers, to skyrocketing aircraft prices, maintenance costs, insurance restrictions, disappearing airports, and the uncertain future of 100LL aviation fuel. We also look at where pilots went instead: experimental aircraft, ultralights, paramotors, gliders, gyroplanes, and even flight simulators. General aviation hasn't completely disappeared. But the era when an ordinary middle-class American could realistically learn to fly, buy a small airplane, and keep it at the local airport may be disappearing. This is the story of how General Aviation became Gilded Aviation. Aircraft featured include the Cessna 150, Cessna 152, Cessna 172, Cessna 182, Cessna 206, Cessna 210, Piper Cherokee, Piper Tomahawk, Piper Archer, Piper Saratoga, Beechcraft Bonanza, Beechcraft Baron, King Air, Cessna Caravan, Van's RV aircraft and more.