Quote:
Originally Posted by nostatic
I know I would like it. That's probably why I haven't done it yet. Looks like $10K to get licensed using a school here at SMO. Plus my boss is a pilot...would be bonding. Great...something else to spend my house downpayment money on  |
I got my private in '93 for $2500 over a few month period. The key is to find a small airport with a young instructor who is working there strictly to build commercial time in a ratty old 150 or something or an old geezer who is giving lessons on the side just for fun. Taking lessons at an organized "flight school" flying brand new 172's is just like lighting money on fire.
Doing it in under six months, IMO, is the key to doing it in the fewest hours possible.
I got mine in around 45 hrs (the exact time is slipping my mind), the national average is probably up around 65 or so hours. Back then an old 150 was about $40 hr and the instructor was $20. I never paid for an official ground school as we kind of covered that prior to and after flights.
I would imagine a 150 could still be rented at $50-$60/hr and you might find an instructor in the $30/hr range if you do a bit of searching. OTOH, a newer 172 might be $100+/hr. For just your private rating, a 150 is just as good as a new 172 for learning to fly in.