Inside Flying!

[Bossier-Rob]

Now we're talking! So who flies? What do you fly? Own your own?

Me, I'm just a simple low time private pilot that pays WAY too much for local rental C-172s. The plan is to get a tailwheel endorsment as soon as I can find someone with a taildragger and a CFI cert to do it, then hoping(or wishful thinking) to luck up and find a Christen Eagle II. There are entirely too many friends around here going out after work and on the weekends having all the fun. I have got to get in on that asap! So what's your story?

8682=3150-Rob Maxwell.jpg

 

[SleepyC]

So be honest.. how much is it to get a private ticket. A simple one.

With the way the FAA is pushing, for me to keep my AV business I may need to get a private pilots license.

Also how long does it take?

 

[Bossier-Rob]

Today's rates, roughly $40-$50/hr for an instructor, and $125-$175/ hr for a rental 172. It can be cheaper if you find the right person and aircraft, but plan on the end dollar being around $10K. The sound of that stings, but paying as you go makes it doable. The timeframe depends on how often you can afford to fly. Once a week, probably going to be a year and a half. Twice a week, under a year. Three or four times a week, a couple months. Its a minimum of 40hrs, but usually takes 50-70hrs to get there. It's all in what it's worth to you and how bad you want it.

 

[SlowHuck]

I was fortunate enough to get my private ticket at a small county FBO who had a J-3 on the rental line. It was used routinely (thus reliable) and cost only $35hr wet. Although the check ride and certain training missions required the use of a Spam can (Cessna), It was the Cub that I had the most time in and taught me the most about flying. This was before 9/11 and resulting price increases in general aviation, so I managed to get the job done for under $5k. I think I had a bit over 70 hours when I finished. Many of those hours were off curriculum, spent emulating the great Charlie Kulp - falling leafs, deep stalls, spins, wicked side slips and one wheeled landings in the Cub.



Haven't danced with the clouds in years. I miss it a lot.

 

[SleepyC]

UGGGGG I'll be out of business in a yea if I can't fly.

I can't believe the FAA can't come up with something better. They are going to crush an entire industry.

 

[SlowHuck]

SleepyC;8757 wrote: UGGGGG I'll be out of business in a yea if I can't fly.

I can't believe the FAA can't come up with something better. They are going to crush an entire industry.

Don't despair. Between the AMA, manufacturers of AP equipment, and a large community of pro-level operators who have invested heavily in the discipline, the FAA will be pressured to accommodate responsible AP operations. Mandating commercial tickets is certainly not a reasonable solution. Waivers or new classes of licensing are (hopefully) in the near future.

 

[Bossier-Rob]

I started in 1993 in a 1985 C-152. It was $50/hr wet and instructors were 10% of the rental. This was in a USAF aero club. I had to quit just after my fourth lesson for eye surgery. I was told I'd never be able to fly. Found out that I could in 1998, so I started back. Same club, same plane, $62/hr wet, instructor fee was 15% of the aircraft rental. Acquired 36 hours and just before my first solo cross country, I made a young man mistake. I bought a new to me used truck and got hosed on interest. I couldn't afford the note, rent, and flight instruction. When I finally decided to quit saying "One day I'll finish" and got back after it. That was March of 2012. I had to do a little refreshing that ate up a lot of hours, and finished up with around 70 hours. It cost me dearly by not finishing back when and from all the refresher flights at today's rates in a 172. On paper, the cost is rediculous. In the cockpit, the feeling of living the dream is priceless. Worth every hard earned penny.

 

[SlowHuck]

Bossier Rob;8866 wrote: I finally decided to quit saying "One day I'll finish" and got back after it. That was March of 2012. I had to do a little refreshing that ate up a lot of hours, and finished up with around 70 hours. It cost me dearly by not finishing back when and from all the refresher flights at today's rates in a 172. On paper, the cost is rediculous.

I'm afraid to even ask, but what was the cost of a 172 wet at that time?

In the cockpit, the feeling of living the dream is priceless. Worth every hard earned penny.

No truer words ever spoken.

 

[Bossier-Rob]

In 2012, the FBO owned three 172s. The oldest was a 2002 172R, and it was $125/hr. The 2005 172SP was $145, and the 2007 172SP with a G1000 glass cockpit was $165/hr. They sold them all. A local outfit bought the 2002, a 1975 model, and a 2005 SP with air conditioning. The prices all went up. They've gone up more since. The 1975 172 is $145/hr, the 2002 R is $165, and the 2005 SP is $175. That's wet before 9.5% tax. Its rediculous and the sole reason I'm still low time. It costs you anywhere from $230-$280 for a joyride around the local area.

 

[SlowHuck]

Bossier Rob;8980 wrote: It costs you anywhere from $230-$280 for a joyride around the local area.

Ouch! My $40 afternoon hops in the Cub are but a distant memory. Gonna have to win the lotto to spring for any pleasure flying. Sigh.