Learning to fly an airplane is an expensive endeavor. Luckily, you don’t have to be a pilot to indulge your enthusiasm for aviation. There are a number of inexpensive avenues where you can explore the engineering and experience of flight.

You can start by being a passenger. While it’s not the same as sitting in the cockpit and piloting a plane, it’s something many people never get to do in their lifetime. With every takeoff, approach, and landing, you’ll appreciate the skills it takes to put a plane in the sky and land it safely.

If you want to experience what it’s like to fly your favorite aircraft, you can get a flight simulator, like the X-Plane simulator or Microsoft Flight Simulator (MSFS). X-Plane is ideal if you want to master IFR (instrument flight rules), which depend on electronic signals to navigate, not visible features. Microsoft options are heavy on VFR (visual flight rules), the use of visual references like landmarks to navigate. You can try MSFS for $1 on Game Pass, while X-Plane offers a free trial version. Also, be sure a flight simulator is compatible with your devices before purchasing one.

Another alternative is to fly a drone. Drone flying is becoming increasingly popular thanks to their versatility. If you enjoy an aerial view, a drone will provide it, and navigating a drone over and around obstacles will give you a sense of what pilots deal with every time they are in the air.

You can also take up plane spotting as a hobby. If there’s an airport near you, find a spot to watch planes approach, land, and take off. You can also visit plane-spotting locations, like viewing platforms. There you’re likely to meet other aviation enthusiasts.

You can also visit aviation museums. The Commemorative Air Force Base in Arizona is home to some of the oldest combat planes. Or if you’re into spaceflight, consider visiting the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum. Aircraft museums offer a rare opportunity to observe an aircraft inside and out, especially ones that no longer grace the skies, like the Concord.

Occasionally, planes you wouldn’t normally see in the skies come out of the woodwork, thanks to airshows. Take the EAA AirVenture Oshkosh, for instance. It takes place in Wisconsin every July, attracting different kinds of planes from all over the world.

Military airshows are also well worth attending. They showcase vintage as well as the latest military aircraft, and focus on heavily choreographed maneuvers. For something more than an exhibition, try the National Championship Air Races.

Reno, Nevada, will host the championship for the last time in October 2024 after six decades. Reno Air Races features different aircraft types - jets, biplanes, STOL Drags, etc. It’s like Formula 1 for planes, complete with the drama.

For behind the scenes information on flying or your favorite aircraft, consider listening to aviation podcasts. There, pilots and other aviation experts explore various aviation topics you might enjoy.

You can also collect model aircraft as a hobby. Another option is to collect aviation-themed accessories, like bomber jackets, aviation glasses, and propellers.

There is no reason to let the cost of training stand in your way of being a part of the aviation community. You’d be surprised at just how many inexpensive but fulfilling ways there are to explore your love for aviation. Even simply watching a documentary showcasing the design and construction of your favorite aircraft can be captivating.