Cheap entertianment becomes very expensive
For the last several months, I have been taking my kids to the local general aviation airport to watch airplanes, takeoff, land, and to watch folks stop for their $100 dollar burgers. The kids love heckling the pilots who walk by with complements. "I like your blue airplane" and the like. It was cheap entertianment at it's best.
A few weeks ago, I started to become interested in flying. Now they have a Sport pilot certification that allows you to fly small airplanes with a lot less time investment than it takes to get a private pilot's license.
Even at half price, though, flying is a very expensive hobby.