@Pilot lad
What schools did you time build with in CA & AZ? What places in FL did you look into that CA or AZ prices beat? What year was the DA42 you flew? Most of the international pilots I trained with either went to Deland Aviation in Deland, FL or Berichi Aviation in Pompano Beach, FL. Berichi Aviation has a 2016 c172 w/g1000 and autopilot @120/hr WET with tax included. For the multi-engine guys, they have a 2016 DA62 with all the options @345/hr WET with tax included. They buy and sell new airplanes every two years so they are the only ones with new aircrafts and they are dirt cheap. You have to schedule far in advance because they are always packed with students. Very cool instructors, they are all laid back. Only place that beats their prices (but has very old airplanes and also has a packed schedule) is Deland Aviation. They have a c150 @ 85/hr WET plus (100 hour block pricing, pay up front). They also have a few c172's (1976-1984) @ 105/hr WET plus tax (115/hr without block pricing). However, a pilot I flew with there from Spain had multiple in-flight failures. Their planes are very old and poorly maintained. The mechanic/owner 'Bob' and his son are the worst with customer service. They limit where you can fly and give you problems if your late. They don't care about the weather. The AI on the c172 frequently was INOP. And we had a total electrical failure when flying back from Georgia. We also had a radio failure in the Class B @ MIA just before landing. Go with Berichi Aviation, they don't limit you if you pass the checkout and show your a professional (or at least pretend you know what your doing).
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