EI_Sparks

Okay, following on from this thread ,
How many hours do you log per year?

And how many of those are "on-the-job" so to speak, as opposed to "just-for-fun" stuff you paid for yourself?
(Oh, and if it's your own plane, how about you tell us that too?)

FlyingForFun

Something wrong with my PC, I can't vote in these polls. But then I'm not sure how I'd vote anyway, since I have never had a "normal" year, and I'm not sure exactly what I should include as "just for fun". So I'll have to write a post instead. Would be nice to see more posts on this thread to describe what kind of flying you all do, rather than just hitting a voting button!

I don't have my logbook with me, so all numbers are approximate, but here goes. Started flying in summer 2000. Logged about 25 hours in 2000, but that was only half a year.

In the first half of 2001 I finished off my PPL, which took another 30 hours or so. Between July and November, I was flying "just for fun" as often as I could, and logged about 40 more hours. This included about 6 hours on a tail-dragger check-out.

It was around October/November when I decided to start working towards my ATPL, so I spent the whole of December/January in America, hour-building. I do definitely count this as flying "for fun", but I'm not sure whether it fits the description of "just for fun." I logged more hours than the minimum required for the CPL training, in more varied types than I needed to, and I didn't get my Class 1 medical until after I returned from America because even if I failed the Class 1 I knew that I'd still have enjoyed my "flying holiday"- so yes, fun was the main factor, with hour-building coming a close second. In 2 months, I logged around 100 hours. This included a complex check-out on an Arrow, some more comprehensive tail-dragger training, aerobatics, multi-engine flying (I logged 5 hours, but didn't get the class rating, because I couldn't afford to keep it current if I did) and a night qualification, and a load of flying around Arizona and the South West enjoying the view!

Since February, I've only managed to log about 10 or 20 hours. In April I bought a share in my own aircraft - a Europa monowheel. Not too much time logged on the Europa yet though. It took a while before I could arrange a time when the instructor was free, but I did eventually get checked out. Since then, I've been fairly busy working on the ATPL exams. When I have planned on flying, the weather's often been crap. And the plane has been out of action for a few weeks while we've been fixing a few things on it, and now it's about to have a 100-hour check done.

I hope to be able to start logging a reasonable number of hours again next month, when the 100-hour check is complete, but with half of the ATPL groundschool studying still to do, it will probably be next March before I can get back to a "normal" level of flying again. I'd guess "normal" would be flying 2 weeks in 3 on average, weather permitting, and around 1 or 2 hours each time I fly, with an occassional longer trip. But who knows!

Hope that answers the question!

FFF
----------------

Whirlybird

I've done about 475 hours in just under 5 years; it'll be 500 by the end of this year. Split is approx 265 rotary, 200 f/w, 10 flexwing microlight. Although I have a CPL(H) and I'm hour building to do an instructors course, I consider it all "just-for-fun". The only reason for going commercial was to get paid to fly helicopters, as long term I can't afford it otherwise. I'll never recoup all that I've spent on flying; I started too late in life, and that's not even my aim. So I consider it all "fun" flying. Now when I actually get paid - OK, that might be different.

foghorn

Not enough

sennadog

Since commencing my PPL last October I've done 55 hours, the last 7 of which have been since getting my licence.

In future I reckon to on about 70 hours per year - it would be more than that if I could afford it but the great attraction of getting the PPL is the chance to visit and fly in other countries.

At the moment, with the help of some fellow Prooners I'm planning a trip to RSA in April which should result in 40 odd hours in two weeks, give or take but at £35 per hour it is very cheap. The places I'm planning to visit should be fantastic and now that Mrs.Sennadog is happy with flying (quite like the bumps yesterday but wasn't keen on inadvertently flying into cloud) it will make it far easier on the persuasion front.

Wee Weasley Welshman

899.9 unfortunately

Actually somedays it seems greedy to take the money. I still get that thrill when the throttle(s) move forward for take off - even if it is the fourth time on a 12 hour day in the seat.

I wouldn't do anything else for a job.

Just don't tell management.

WWW

Keef

Anything between 15 and 100!

When I was working for a living, that rather got in the way. Nowadays, I can fly when I like, and reckon on about 60 a year.

Total time 500 hours - I started in 1980, so you can see how it's developed!

AerBabe

I started my PPL in April 2000, and logged about 25 hours that year. 2001 I completed the PPL in another 35 hours. Since I've had my licence I've flown another 17 hours, and I guess I'll fly another 15 this year (depending on cash flow and time as usual!).

At the moment I'm experimenting with new types. I've got myself checked out on the club's cherokee, which is cheaper, and can fit in more cost-sharers! Next year I should have a job, so I want to fly Tiger Moths (don't we all?). So currently I'm getting taildragger time in a Chipmunk Excellent fun, and proper flying! I'm keeping the cherokee/C152 current, but can't afford to do much.

I would hope to log 50 or 60 hours per year, but I'm not hour-building (yet?), so it's not particularly important. It's just as useful for me to navigate for someone else, or do the R/T for them, even if I'm not logging the time.

John Varndell

Can anyone beat this?
Started flying in 1987 and gained my PPL in 1988. Since then I have logged, and paid for, 5,980 hours of purely for fun flying.
Since 1989 I have had my own single, fixed wing, and added PPL(H) in 1996.
Currently I have a Piper Saratoga 2TC in which I flew to Sydney and back in 2001.
I've been a lucky chap!

skygazer

Makes my 5.5 hours look a bit tame!!! Mind you, I only started this year. I'm breaking the Visa card in gently.

PPPPP

If I can carry on spending at the present rate I should get 30 hours in this year

EI_Sparks

Hmmm. I was kindof hoping to get an idea for the difference in hours per year for people who only hire and people who own their own airfcraft
I also didn't anticipate the level of jealousy that reading this is giving me

Vortex what...ouch!

Don’t have my logbook with me but I have about 200TT. Type rated on the R22 (which I started on) Jetranger (which is almost better than sex and much more expensive) and the R44, which is cheaper than the Jetranger but better than a 22.

After getting my licence I did the other type ratings. Then did some mountain flying. Next was a trip to the West Coast of Ireland then up over Wales and Snowdonia. After that was some flying up and down the country visiting friends and a lot of confined area landings at previously unknown sites. Then another trip to Ireland with 4 other helicopters. Earlier this year 4 aircraft flew to the French Alps around Mont Blanc for some skiing and the most spectacular flying I have ever done. More recently took my girlfriend to the peak district and flew around there most of the weekend.

Next planned trip is to the Netherlands.

I have tried to do more than just visit another airfield for coffee and a sandwich every other weekend. Experience wise it has been fantastic. I have no qualms about transiting London or crossing international FIRs and such like. Flying has become a real joy as my ability and confidence has grown. Still a very long way to go though.

Paid for it all myself. About 55-60 hours turbine (ouch) and the rest evenly split between R22 and 44. Shocking when you add the cost of that lot up not to mention associated cost

bjs

I got the license in 1998 and total time is around 130 hours, not as much as I would like but I have to pay the mortgage too you know

stiknruda

So far just 86hrs this year BUT really want to fly on Chrtistmas Day, Boxing Day and over the w/e. Wx permitting, I should log another 2.5 hrs which will take me over the 800TT mark.

All of this year's flying is in Pitts Specials save for 10 hrs in my Pushpak. I really do not fly the Pushpak frequently enough to warrant retaining her but I am loathe to let her go as she is a dear old thing and many others derive great pleasure from her.

Sixty hrs in the Pitts that I built and a further 16 in other people's Pitts'. All paid for by me but there is a glimmer of hope re sponsorship for next year thanks to a Ppruner!

Safe flying for the remainder of this year and all of next.

Stik

S-Works

370hrs flown this year with 57 new airfields visited UK and overseas. 53hrs multi engine time and 61hrs Instrument time.

505hrs in the last 18 months. 21hrs this month. Additionally 80hrs ML flying in last 2 years but only about 6 this year.

I own a Cessna but also fly lots of different aircraft from singles to complex multis and Rotary.

Still doesn't stop me from making the occassional accidental "cut-up" in the overhead!!!!

IO540

That's pretty good time, bose-x & john varndell. I was going to make a point of visiting a new airfield every week but it didn't happen... I've found flying to really far away places is far more interesting than simply going to one grass strip after another, nearly wrecking the landing gear in some of them. I still managed to clock up 150 hrs in 2003 and getting as far as S. Spain.

But this poll is going to be limited to the very tiny pilot community which reads this forum. There are a lot of PPLs who do under 10 hrs/year, before they pack it in for good, but most of them won't be hanging around here.

S-Works

More than half my airfields were long distance foriegn trips. Did a lot with our club who ran lots of interesting trips.

It is a shame so many pack it in before they discover the joys of touring. My first touring trip was a club one that did Caan, Guernsey and Jersey over a few days, after that I was hooked! I owe my touring bug to them big time!

I hate the idea of flying the same hour a hundred times, I would much rather do a hundred different hours!

I have spain earmarked for next year and further into Germany. I also spent a load of hours flying around Florida and will be doing that next year along with a trip to the Caymans from North Perry in a DA40.

Kingy

Well it's going to be 90ish hours this year - not too bad but who's counting anyway...? Looking through I've done something like 400 landings in that time - over 380 of them into small grass strips and all of them in my own tailwheel aircraft. So, I'm quite pleased really and have never felt 'un current' throughout the whole year, which must be a good thing.

Here's to another years safe and fun flying.

Kingy (not dwelling on the huge cost of multiple aircraft ownership )

drauk

All us people who do a hundred hours a year seem a bit dull in comparison to bose-x.

Let's see. 505 hours in 18 months is 28 hours a month. But I reckon one probably spends at least 1 hour of non-flying time for every hour of flying time, or 2 if you have a decent drive to your airport. So let's call it 20 hours a week dedciated to flying.

An owned Cessna probably costs 80 quid an hour, plus an amortized 20 quid an hour to buy. 53 hours multi is about 10,000. 20 hours rotary is 4,000. Remaining Cessna time is 43,000. Landing fees 750. Your oft-mentioned Garmin 196, 800 quid. Medical, 100. Other things that I've forgotten about, a few more quid.

So, you spend getting on for a thousand pounds every single week and dedicate 20 hours of that week to doing it.

Good on ya'! You must love flying.