A private pilot's license costs around $3K

A used plane is $18K or more, a new one will run you $150K +

All of this plus insurance, fuel and maintenance.

My advice:

Save your pennies, go to college and major in something that makes big money and, more importantly, you like and go from there. Even if you can afford a PPL now, you can't get it until you are 17.

As for being a commercial pilot, take the same route, have a plan B, C and D and save save save! To get from student pilot to airline pilot will probably cost you around $50K.

Someone else can explain how you get the licenses, I'm tired and filled with numbers right now

Prices on flying lessons vary wildly from place to place. Im going to be spending about $2400 for a PPL, but an alternative place (also a closer place) would cost me $4000+. Ive heard some people who live in different areas say that it is costing them $20,000 or more. So before you start, shop around. Also, heres a good site for pricing used planes: http://www.controller.com/

Hello,

Its nice to see you have an interest in real world flying.  Prices to get a liscence can vary, depending on several things such as landing fees if applicable, price of aviation fuel, and the behind the stage charges from your flight school.  You can expect the private liscence to be around $5000+.  But of course, it depends on where you are, and can be lower or higher. 

How much does it cost for a plane?  Well... I don't own one, and Im not sure I will for quite some time.  I remember seeing a 172 for 200000 ish.  And it costs a lot to maintain aircraft according to the law as well.  But you dont have to own a plane to fly for fun

To be an airline pilot, you do not need to be in the air force.  Air force experience helps because you get your share of airtime as well, and its an economical way of doing it.  Just have to balance your lifestyle with money on that one.  I believe that once you get your Airline transport pilot liscence, which is thousands of hours away, you can start flying the larger aircraft

Hope this answers your questions 


Oh by the way, even though I never started early, I think when your around 15-16ish you can start learning to fly if you want, won't be getting your liscence right away but you can get some hours if you want to put some money into it.   

I like the use of (,) instead of full stops!, blimey what would my English teacher say! 

Jimbo

I don't know where you're from Naturenut but another way is to join a youth organisation. Many pilots in the UK started out in the Air Training Corps (ATC). This is run under the RAF but there's no obligation to join up. One of the advantages is the gliding courses & Flying Scholarships if you're good enough. You would be just the right age to join but would obviously have to wait until you're old enough before qualifying for any of this. I'm sure other countries have similar organisations. You would learn a lot about aviation & get used to a little discipline which never did any harm to anyone.  Another advantage is meeting people of your own age with similar interests. I highly recommend it.

ok, thanks!  yeah, i dont really want to be in the airforce, at least not now, it seems too dangerous, yeah, i live in US, thanks a lot for all the information on this, I always look at stuff and everything says contact someone, and i dont want to start getting on lists of like 20 different places, as it gets to be too much and they always come back, so thanks a lot for helping me out, you inspired me more to fly, and i cant wait to start, thanks!

of course you need to be 16 before you can join the military 

ya 18 to join enlisted, more (college time) to be an officer.

Well you can join the reserves/national guard in America at 17. But can't go active until 18.

Thats fine, You don't need to.     All in all, what it will get you is flight time at a lesser expense, however it doesnt always put you at an advantage or disadvantage if you do it.  Its really dependant on your lifestyle... Armed forces are not for everyone because it changes your life totally, some people like it, some dont.  The danger is always there, its really a matter of how much you are willing to take.  All in all, follow your dreams! 

well, hard for me to say as of now, as i am only 14, but yeah, if i were to join anything, it would have to be airforce, i wouldnt want to have to sit in a gunfight on the ground and watch pepole just being shot and bleeding to death, i would never want to see that, with airforce, it seems if you got in a fight you wouldnt be seeing them as much, and wouldnt feel the same, so yeah, if anything, airforce

I never been part of air force personally... but yah, the army can be quite traumatic 

Everytime I march i feel like saying "We arez da borg!"

i like the idea of flying extremely fast agile fighters, but i just cant imagine having friends shot down and stuff...

Honestly, these days that's not a common occurence. The planes are just so well maintained the advent of smart weapons has allowed the pilots to be much further away from the action. And if it gets close, the armour of the modern planes is very capable of protecting the pilot (the A-10 immediately comes to mind).

The pilot sits in "the titanium bathtub." It's probably the safest fighter you could possibly fly in, weighs a ton and slow as hell, but the "'tub" can take .50 cal hits straight on and you wouldn't even feel it (you'd sure hear it though!)