Or join the PFA, buy something on a PFA permit, and roughly halve that figure.
Or if you want to fly for fun on a budget, join the BMAA, buy a microlight, and halve it again. My 2-seat microlight, based at a small club strip, comes out roughly like this...
- Annual hangerage (derigged): £300
- Annual fee to inspector for permit: £85
- Annual fee to BMAA for permit: £70
- Annual expenditure on parts: £200 ish
- Annual maintenance cost, none, I do it myself.
- Annual club membership: £50
= Total annual fixed cost, £705.
Fuel and oil consumption is about 12 litres/hr on average at about 90ppl (including the oil, which I use the best I can get) comes out at about £11/hr fuel cost.
So, disregarding charts, personal kit and landing fees, this works out at about...
40 hrs pa = £29 ph
60 hrs pa = £23 ph
80 hrs pa = £20 ph.
Depreciation in my case is negligible. I paid £3,600 for it (including headsets, helmets, intercom, trailer and radio) in 1997. At the moment, identical aircraft are advertised (without the goodies) with similar hours at about £2,700 - £3,000.
Capability, very slow, a bit chilly, but lands anywhere and will do Popham - Rochester - Shoreham without refuelling (I've proved it) which personally I think is adequate. 12kn crosswind limit, total wind limit depends mostly upon which way your destination is. Legally limited to day-VMC, and the hours don't count for an ATPL.
Incidentally, I do fly light aircraft as well, I just prefer microlights for most recreational purposes.
G
N.B. And the license is cheaper. I'm told some schools will get you through the complete license for under £1,200 if you have your own aircraft to learn in, or about £2,000 if you haven't. Compare that even to a cheapie PPL(SEP) in the states !
Last edited by Genghis the Engineer; 5th April 2002 at 22:24.