Flying sure beats driving

[dmcummins]

I spent around $8,000 for my PPL. That was for everything including some rental insurance, and I bought some things I didn't need. I was also close to 60 hour before the checkride. I could have done it a little sooner, but scheduling put things back some, and I continued to fly.

I paid $94 wet for a 1980 C-172, and $45 for instructor.

[HardDrive]

Originally Posted by petrolhead611

( maybe the french are still looking out for messerschmidts to run from!)

Now that there is funny.

[HardDrive]

If you took the long view, what would the yearly maintenance (all inclusive) costs look like on a Cessna 172? What about the Beechcraft Debonair?

[Zeke]

Originally Posted by Hydrocket

My wife always asked me why I never had my pilots license, as I enjoy planes so much. It's because I would NEVER be content with "just" a Cessna 172 or similar plane. And now with jets coming out, I'd want an Eclipse or a HondaJet.

This is the same reason I never bought a powerboat despite living on a lake. I wouldn't be content with anything short of a 40+ foot Fountain.

I'd have to live in a cardboard box so I could afford the aircraft I'd truly want to fly....so it's best to have none at all.

I understand this completely. That's why I never bought a very good camera. I wouldn't be happy w/o a full blown studio.

I had one relative that had a pilot's license. About 2-3 years in he was flying a twin. This guy went broke at least 2wice.

@dmcummins, you do seem to enjoy flying. I've followed your posts from your first flight.

[dmcummins]

Originally Posted by HardDrive

If you took the long view, what would the yearly maintenance (all inclusive) costs look like on a Cessna 172? What about the Beechcraft Debonair?

I'm figuring around$20,000 flying 100-125 hours a year. Hopefully that will give me some room if something big comes up. That does not include any upgrades.

[cashflyer]

Originally Posted by HardDrive

If you took the long view, what would the yearly maintenance (all inclusive) costs look like on a Cessna 172? What about the Beechcraft Debonair?

A 172 is pretty cheap to own. I pay about $550 per year for insurance. I do my own annuals, but I know the local guy charges $500 for the inspection only. Maintenance cost extra, of course. Figure about 8 to 9 gallons per hour of fuel, depending upon how you fly and how aggressively you lean the carb. And set aside some money for an engine overhaul... about $15 per hour is a safe number IMO.




Seahawk - what are the white standoffs on your HH-60? Are these holding an antenna cable? I saw some recently on a military UH-1N, but have never seen these on a civie bird.

[Seahawk]

Originally Posted by cashflyer

Seahawk - what are the white standoffs on your HH-60? Are these holding an antenna cable? I saw some recently on a military UH-1N, but have never seen these on a civie bird.

It is a high frequency antenna for some neat comm gear. Good eye!

[NeedSpace]

here is another autogyro like the one above...this one is in massachusetts.

UFO Helithruster Gyrocopter | eBay

[petrolhead611]

To those folks who don't do something because they can't afford the absolute pinnacle of equipment: has it occurred to you that you might turn out to be a rubbish pilot or photographer or whatever, and the equipment will be wasted on you ? Of course, you will never know. Using basic equipment gives you a thorough understanding of the fundamentals,
and in the case of a deadstick could be a lifesaver. We have a local airfield with a 450 yard grass strip-good practice for an emergency. I remember renting a plane in the US and the CFI apologising that the runway was only grass( 2000 yards though)! I asked how many touch & goes in one pass that he expected me to complete on it to demo my landing ability

[cashflyer]

Originally Posted by petrolhead611

I remember renting a plane in the US and the CFI apologising that the runway was only grass( 2000 yards though)!

Wow... 6000 ft long is more than most paved runways!

[dmcummins]

We just got back from a little trip to Hot Springs AR. It took a little over 2hrs to fly counting the taxiing, runup, ect. It would have taken close to 8 hour in the car.

Here we are at 6700', 170-175mph, 11.6 gph.


Round trip it cost us $335 in fuel, plus $6 to tie the plane down for two nights. Rental car was $82.

[dmcummins]

Here is the ramp at Hot Springs. We drove the rental car to the plane and dropped off our bags. While the wife returns the rental, I load the plane and pre-flight. No TSA or lines to go through.

[cashflyer]

Glad to see you getting use and enjoyment out of it!

This may be an opportune time to reiterate that we have put our Cessna up for sale.
That's right, Pelicanites, you can join the ranks of the airborne elite like Mr. Cummins. Leave that TSA grope-fest behind and chart your own course to adventure!

Link to Cessna ad on Barnstormers

Photo:

[HardDrive]

Originally Posted by cashflyer

Glad to see you getting use and enjoyment out of it!

This may be an opportune time to reiterate that we have put our Cessna up for sale.
That's right, Pelicanites, you can join the ranks of the airborne elite like Mr. Cummins. Leave that TSA grope-fest behind and chart your own course to adventure!

Link to Cessna ad on Barnstormers

Photo:

Will you ferry it to Columbus, OH?

[cashflyer]

If you're paying for the gas, Yeah... as long as I don't have to walk back home.

My place to KCMH = 325nm. About a half-day trip with a fuel stop along the way.

[NeedSpace]

Originally Posted by bodmin

I'm in UK - this is my new toy. Being delivered this week!

So Bodmin? How about an update, how is it to fly? Any pictures?


This is a little geeky, I got excited because and airport I have flown into on flight simulator I saw on a video...

[NeedSpace]

Originally Posted by bodmin

I'm in UK - this is my new toy. Being delivered this week!

So Bodmin? How about an update, how is it to fly? Any pictures?


This is a little geeky, I got excited because an airport I have flown into on flight simulator I saw on a video...