Planning is underway for the inaugural Affordable Flying Expo, slated for Nov. 6-8, 2025, on the SUN ‘n FUN campus at Lakeland Linder International Airport (KLAL) in Florida.
According to organizers, the event will be the “first aviation expo focused on the MOSAIC rule, providing attendees with unprecedented access to information and industry experts shaping the future of general aviation.”
The expo will feature a Friday Night Town Hall on MOSAIC, where industry leaders will share updates, answer questions, and provide insight into how the new regulations will affect the light sport community, according to organizers.
In addition, there will be hands-on workshops, demo flights, and forums “designed to educate, inspire, and prepare the next generation of aviators,” organizers said.
“MOSAIC represents the most significant regulatory change in sport aviation in decades, and we’re proud to make it the centerpiece of the Affordable Flying Expo,” said Jim Campbell, event organizer and Editor-in-Chief of the Aero-News Network, which is hosting the expo. “This event will provide a unique platform for education, dialogue, and community connection at a pivotal time for aviation.”
All profits from the Affordable Flying Expo will be donated to the Aerospace Center for Excellence, supporting STEM education and aviation programs for youth, he added.
Tickets can be purchased online at AffordableFlying.net/Attend.
There is nothing affordable about flying these days. Rental aircraft hourly rates are through the roof, it’s a wonder any flight schools are still open. A minimum wage job used to be enough to fly once a week for an hour or two. Now a person has to have practically a 6 figure income to fly. The least expensive machine at a local flight school is an old 1969 or 1970 Cessna 150, wet $109 per hour, at block rate, $115 regular rate. A person can get block rate if they’re willing to plop down $2500, not on a debit card or cash, on a credit card at 21% interest. A person has to be out of their mind to do that. Don’t get me started on a similarly old Cherokee Warrior $140 wet, on block. Light twins are outrageous and out of the question. I can afford a flight review, remaining current afterward isn’t possible. I’ve been priced out, like so many other flyers. It’s a sad scenario for those of us who love to fly, to only be able to look skyward when an airplane flies over and say to ourselves, that should be me.
There are ways to keep flying if you are persistent, Richard. It sounds like you are already a licensed pilot. Don’t give up flying. I recently bought a single-place homebuilt in flying condition for less than $10,000. Considerably less. It’s an all-metal airplane with a cruise speed of around 100mph. It’s VFR cross-country capable if you really want to do it. It’s compact enough that it sits in a hangar underneath the wing of a high-wing airplane in a T-hangar. Sharing expenses in some-one else’s T-hangar, burning $10/hour of fuel (Avgas) and doing maintenance and improvements on your own, you can easily be flying for $30/hour. With MOSAIC in place now, you can take a 16-hour course and perform the condition inspections of E-AB airplanes built by others. Get busy and do it if you really want to fly. If not, well, I guess you could continue lamenting the situation on the internet, but it’s not as rewarding as making flying a reality for yourself.