Any private pilots out here?

[grsthegreat]

I have a friend building a RV8 for his play toy. your right about it not being a cost effective transport over a long trip.

I used to take a turbo arrow IV for the weekend on hunting trips in calif. Id fly from van nuys to redding....a few hours each direction. maybe 5-6 total hours for the weekend (cant remember exact amount of time...been awhile), but split between 2 people, back in the 1980's, it was a cheap way to hunt over a weekend. It cost around $50/hr wet.

Now transport to 2011, man, no way could i afford this. Im just glad i flew while i could back then, cause now days my property, home, tractors, etc take all my money (hehe).

 

[Runner]

"...in the Cherokee 180 I can rent for $100 per hour."

Holy Cow!

Last time I rented, 20 years ago, it was about $45/hour. I had no idea it was that expensive these days.

Almost makes boating sound like cheap fun...

 

[V1Rotate]

Here in the northeast a Cherokee or a C-172 will cost you about 150 an hour to rent.

I also worked my way up through the ratings and now work as a corperate pilot flying jets. Back in the 90s I had partnerships in a few single engine planes and had tons of fun flying them all over the eastern part of the country. I don't think I would do that now because it's too expensive, but I don't want to discourage any one from living out their dreems. If you think you can afford it, go out and buy a plane, but before you do, learn as much as you can. Talk to other pilots and mechanics, also, there are some very good online pilot forums (much like TBN).

 

[Diamondpilot]

"...in the Cherokee 180 I can rent for $100 per hour."

Holy Cow!

Last time I rented, 20 years ago, it was about $45/hour. I had no idea it was that expensive these days.

Almost makes boating sound like cheap fun...

When I learned to fly in 1992 a Piper Tomahawk was $38.50 per hour. I saw one the other day going for $80 per hour. A Cessna 172 was $50 per hour, the same school was rent them for $155 per hour. I rented a Piper Seminole for $98 per hour and today they are near $300 per hour.

There will be a pilot shortage soon. Its just too expensive to learn to fly now day.

Chris

 

[scoutcub]

No experience with fixed wing, but I'm an ATP helo guy flying for the last 26 years. Do have a friend that owns 2 of his own planes, and he saves a LOT of money by having his A&P license as well.....

The only other thing I thought of is is it a possibility to rent/lease out your own aircraft when you're not using it? That would help defray the costs, and you could set the schedule when you want to use it.....but I don't know any of the particulars.
Like many other big "toys", planes can be very expensive ornaments if not used enough.
I've often thought about buying a helicopter, but am shaken back to reality when I look at the numbers.....
Good luck!

 

[Iowachild]

When I learned to fly in 1992 a Piper Tomahawk was $38.50 per hour. I saw one the other day going for $80 per hour. A Cessna 172 was $50 per hour, the same school was rent them for $155 per hour. I rented a Piper Seminole for $98 per hour and today they are near $300 per hour.

There will be a pilot shortage soon. Its just too expensive to learn to fly now day.

Chris

I did my primary training in a Tomahawk. In 1988 it was $35.00 wet, $55.oo with the instructor. Loved flying that airplane, just don't look at the tail wagging around during a stall!

Back to the OP, I am a member of The Warren Aviation Club now and it is the most economical way to fly in the area! Our 172 Is $83/hr wet.

 

[grsthegreat]

I did my primary training in a Tomahawk. In 1988 it was $35.00 wet, $55.oo with the instructor. Loved flying that airplane, just don't look at the tail wagging around during a stall!

Back to the OP, I am a member of The Warren Aviation Club now and it is the most economical way to fly in the area! Our 172 Is $83/hr wet.

i started with the Tomacrap also, and i made the mistake of looking at the tail during stalls........scary.

i jumped into the 180 shortly after that....afraid the plane would denigrate on me. Did most of my flying in the turbo arrow IV. now that plane i loved.

 

[Diamondpilot]

We all have our favorite plane. For me in the piston category its the Turbo Cessan 210. Turbo prop its the Pilatus PC-12, and jet its the Cessna Citation CJ.

These are just the ones I have flown. I have time in over 50 makes now but these stand out as good ones in my eyes.

Now that I think of it though there are lots of others. Like the C-182, Super Decathlon, Piper Arrow, C-172, Piper Seminole, Beech Barron, Piper Cheyenne, King Air 200, Beech Jet, Sabre 65, and the list goes on. I was told by a old timer once that airplanes are like pickups. There is no bad ones, just some better ones.

Chris

 

[Dennisfly]

I've been flying professionally for 38 years, presently in a Gulfstream. I've thought about owning at times, but never seriously. The numbers just don't pencil out.

My story of expense, inflation, and the value of the dollar, is that I started lessons in 1969 in a Cessna 150 which was $12 an hour and the instructor was $6. At the time, it seemed pretty expensive and I took a loan from my parents to finish the private license. After that, it was G. I. bill for the advanced ratings and it paid 90% at the time. Now, my annual five day recurrent training in the Gulfstream is about $13,000 at the lowest bidder. I will say its been a wonderful career with experiences that I never imagined when I was a kid.

My brother has a Cessna 180 which he owns free and clear, and he offered to let me take and use it at will, as long as I maintain it and pay all the associated expenses. I turned him down. I'd rather just be on my tractor than flying to the next town to purchase the proverbial $100 hamburger!

 

[mjw357]

C-182R is my personal favorite. Learned in C-152's, have flown Piper Cherokee and Cherokee 6.

You pay a lot for the convenience of having a plane in the hangar at home. For it to economically make sense (it never really makes economic sense though) you have to fly around 200 hrs a year. But if you got the dough and want to do it, why not?