You might look into flying gliders. There are several good clubs in Virginia. Go to the Soaring Society web site for info on clubs.
Flying for some of us is not an option, it's a necessary part of life - a source of sanity.
The up front costs are steep, but what you will find is that after you reach a certain skill level and exhibit good judgement and professionalism, you will have all the flying you can stand, at someone else's expense.
Regardless of the current state of the airline industry, it is not dead, there will be much hiring in the future, and the pent up demand will be huge; but it will take 3 to 5 years.
It is possible to obtain a private license in 35 hours minimum through an FAR Part 141 approved school, but I have known only one person that made this time, and we were flying in a rural area at the time. But if your instructor is on the ball, and you do your job, which means studying the aeronautical knowledge required, and getting your third class medical certificate immediately after you start dual instruction, then a license in 45 to 50 hours is possible, no matter what area of the country you learn in. You must also fly on a fairly regular schedule to limit the amount of time required to relearn skills learned on prior flights.
If your instructor is not on the ball, fire him and get another one quickly. If you are even slightly suspect, fly with another flight instructor as a calibration point. Look for someone that is going to be around long enough to take you through the entire licensing process - try to find someone that has been instructing for several years, and that is not building time for an airline job. The time builders are obviusly competent enough to obtain a flight instructor certificate, but they lack seasoning and tend to be light on stick and rudder skills.
Find an instructor that will teach you how to spin an airplane (and of course, recover from spins!) - that is fully developed spins, with more than one revolution. If your primary flight instructor won't do it, find someone that will (and fire the first one). You will find a large degree of resistance to this from some flight instructors, and the FAA - they don't believe you need the knowledge to competently operate the airplane in every corner of its envelope! Spins are not dangerous, and they might be a little scary at first, but the knowledge and skill gained from recognizing the spin entry and recovering the airplane can save your life. Besides, it's fun. If you can take a short 10 hour course on basic aerobatics, that's even better - then you will really be on your way to being a fully competent airplane pilot, not just a driver along for the ride.
Learn to Fly - you will love it. It is impossible to find a better crowd of people to associate with than pilots.
Check out the Airplane Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA, the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA), and the Soaring Society of America (SSA)-
[url]www.aopa.org[/url]
[url]www.eaa.org[/url]
[url]www.ssa.org[/url]
The cost of flying helicopters will take your breath away, but if you can swing it , go for it. There is always a shortage of qualified helo pilots.