Pilot numbers drop, but fliers hope to rejuvenate the cool. Piper PA-31-350 Navajo Chieftain, N59773. Riverwoods , Illinois.

( Joe Shuman - Chicago Tribune )

The scene of a small plane crash near Portwine and Orange Brace roads in northwest suburban Riverwoods.

Small plane crashes, such as this one last week in Riverwoods that killed three people, might discourage some people from learning to fly. The economy, time constraints and distractions of modern life also play a role. The number of Americans with private pilot licenses has fallen to its lowest level since the 1960s.

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(Sorry, I don't have $19.99 in my budget.  Perhaps someone visiting Kathryn's Report is a subscriber with Daily Herald and they may want to share the article with us.  Although, I doubt it - since this aviation blog receives very little support.  It is what it is.)

http://www.dailyherald.com/article/20111204/news/712049885/
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