Let me make this clear, particularly to FNG and PhilD who have made some unfair, unrealistic and unnecessary analogies.
I ASK my friends if THEY WOULD LIKE to come flying with me. I make it clear that WOULD THEY MIND paying an equal share of the cost of the aircraft. I am not TELLING them to come fly with me! When asked, they can reply "sorry, I cant afford it", or, "sure, lets go", usually its the latter. Surely there is no wrong in this???
Now that I have had my licence for several months, I am finding an increasing number or friends and colleagues are approaching me to take them flying. This would indicate that the majority of those who have flown with me appreciated their flight/s, and not objected to sharing the costs.
I think those who can afford to own/rent a 4 seater aircraft without cost sharing each flight are very fortunate. Unfortunately, this is not the case for me, but I certainly do NOT see this as a reason why I should be excluded from flying as PhilD, you suggest. Thats elitism. If necessary I can share costs with other PPL's or students in similar positions to me, or fly a turbulent or microlight.
In about 6 months or so, I hope to be able to afford a share in a cheap 4 seater. Or perhaps I could find work as a barrister and buy my own! Then it will be much easier for me to take my friends flying for free.
Until I have saved the money for my share in a plane, I will continue to fix my friends cars and computers and take them flying on a cost sharing basis. I'll let you know in 6 months time if I still have any friends.