Cost of a VFR lighty?
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Location: Australia
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I've got a light experimental vfr single 4 seater with zero lame costs and I'm at around $7k for hangar and insurance and that's before I open the hangar doors to go anywhere, let alone put in any avgas!
Thread Starter
Thanks all for answers/comments etc. Much appreciated.
There was talk on another thread about a SIDS equivalent for Piper's, Beechcraft etc. has this developed any further? Also, how many hours is a SIDS inspection on average for a single engine Cessna? (just the inspection, no repair or rectification)
fury...
There was talk on another thread about a SIDS equivalent for Piper's, Beechcraft etc. has this developed any further? Also, how many hours is a SIDS inspection on average for a single engine Cessna? (just the inspection, no repair or rectification)
fury...
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Hmmmm
"It" hasn't been quoted.............., yet, so.
Very old analogy ex a Bloke who had done 'the' yards and then some.
"Ehhh- should 'it' fly/float or fornicate, RENT It/Power by the Hour the thing!!!!!!"
Rgds all
S28- BE
Beg your pardon- 'Whispering "T" Jet', you nailed it!!!!
"It" hasn't been quoted.............., yet, so.
Very old analogy ex a Bloke who had done 'the' yards and then some.
"Ehhh- should 'it' fly/float or fornicate, RENT It/Power by the Hour the thing!!!!!!"
Rgds all
S28- BE
Beg your pardon- 'Whispering "T" Jet', you nailed it!!!!
Last edited by Section28- BE; 16th Jan 2018 at 11:20. Reason: The 3-Holer did.............
Ah, such wonderful memories of the Royal Aero Club at Parafield circa 1973.
Apart from their fleet of Airtourers they also had a Fuji FA200-160.
At the time, I was a teenager teaching Reinhold W. to fly radio controlled model aircraft and he returned the favour by taking me G.A. flying. I'll never forget the fun aerobatics in the training area nor the toilet roll drops..
Apart from their fleet of Airtourers they also had a Fuji FA200-160.
At the time, I was a teenager teaching Reinhold W. to fly radio controlled model aircraft and he returned the favour by taking me G.A. flying. I'll never forget the fun aerobatics in the training area nor the toilet roll drops..
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With the way that some LAME's work it would be impossible to forecast any upcoming costs. You might get a clean bill of health, then in the next inspection you need $7,000 of corrosion removed from your tail section.
Owner maintenance in experimental helps alleviate some of this bill shock.
Owner maintenance in experimental helps alleviate some of this bill shock.
Join Date: Aug 2017
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Owning a lightie is easy.
Just pay the money. It's all about PASSION and the PRIDE of OWNERSHIP.
Bear with me here is my story
I gained my PPL at an early age and had no one to guide me on what to do next.
Ansett were after CPL's with 500hrs total and a morse endorsement.
I thought Airline pilots were intellectual gods, much smarter than me. I have since changed my opinion after coming across PPRUNE
By chance I was associated with a fledgling gliding club who wanted to purchase a tug. We all threw in a couple of hundred bucks and purchased a tug.
Free flying for me and a few hundred hrs on a challenging taildragger.
After starting a family I found aircraft hire expensive so decided to get a CPL.
Had the hours, just had to work around the syllabus.
Got the CPL and the school was able to give me charter and bank run flying on the side. Whilst bank run flying, I virtually trained myself for an instrument rating.
Got the instrument rating and carried on casual flying with little cost to me.
As time went by, circumstances changed and I was left figuring out what to do to continue with free flying. Got myself an Instructor rating using 2 mentors who had all the experience in the world.
Years later and circumstances changed again and it was time to purchase my first aircraft. I could no longer afford to write out big cheques for aircraft hire.
What to buy?.... the smallest and cheapest....i.e. a Corby Starlet.
Unfortunately during the test flight the Corbys engine would cut out on landing every time so I declined and went home.
The cheque for the Corby was burning a hole in my pocket.
I heard about a chap who specialized in sourcing aircraft from the USA and importing same to Australia. We exchanged pleasantries and he agreed to source something for me.
What I got was a rare vintage aircraft, and an absolute classic to boot, for the pricely sum of $12,000 USD. Much more or course landed on the Australian register.
Costs and charges? who cares. I do not do the sums.
Biggest operating cost for me is fuel. Insurance is approx. $2K Annual Mtnce is less than $2K. Hangarage?...was getting expensive so I built my own.
The only trap is unscheduled mtnce e.g. voltage regulators falling over, alternators etc. My battery cost $1600 including freight from USA . The last one lasted 5 years and I will do my best to see the current one lasts as long.
I am now on my third aircraft. As I said its all about the passion.
I had a friend who owned a nice taildragger with warbird history. He certainly had more money than me. He did the ownership cost sums and promptly sold the aircraft. Would have been better off trading his late model Mercedes for a Toyota.
In my opinion aircraft purchased in the US are in much better condition and there is much more to choose from. Cant go wrong with a good C172 (check sids) and the Piper Archer is an honest aircraft. I am so twisted and bent I think a Piper Arrow is sexy from some angles.
To answer your other questions grab a copy of the ERSA which will show which airfields charge landings, which require PPR etc. Strips owned by mining companies are usually difficult to use.
Parking and hangarage at country aerodromes is usually no problem, its a matter of talking to the right people. Registration cost? ...nil as far as I know.
No enroute fees for VFR...not much service either. ATC may charge a terminal fee if you land. Avgas is approx. $2.20 per litre, varies a bit. ADSB not required for VFR but CASA likes the idea of you voluntarily fitting one.
A company in the US LEVIL has brought out a device, super cheap but I don't know if it meets Australian specs for a cheap VFR ADSB as yet.
To be quite frank if I had my own strip on my own property I would not tell anyone about it. Just use it privately,,,,why ask for trouble.
I could go on, but hope this helps. Its about the PASSION and PRIDE of OWNERSHIP
Just pay the money. It's all about PASSION and the PRIDE of OWNERSHIP.
Bear with me here is my story
I gained my PPL at an early age and had no one to guide me on what to do next.
Ansett were after CPL's with 500hrs total and a morse endorsement.
I thought Airline pilots were intellectual gods, much smarter than me. I have since changed my opinion after coming across PPRUNE
By chance I was associated with a fledgling gliding club who wanted to purchase a tug. We all threw in a couple of hundred bucks and purchased a tug.
Free flying for me and a few hundred hrs on a challenging taildragger.
After starting a family I found aircraft hire expensive so decided to get a CPL.
Had the hours, just had to work around the syllabus.
Got the CPL and the school was able to give me charter and bank run flying on the side. Whilst bank run flying, I virtually trained myself for an instrument rating.
Got the instrument rating and carried on casual flying with little cost to me.
As time went by, circumstances changed and I was left figuring out what to do to continue with free flying. Got myself an Instructor rating using 2 mentors who had all the experience in the world.
Years later and circumstances changed again and it was time to purchase my first aircraft. I could no longer afford to write out big cheques for aircraft hire.
What to buy?.... the smallest and cheapest....i.e. a Corby Starlet.
Unfortunately during the test flight the Corbys engine would cut out on landing every time so I declined and went home.
The cheque for the Corby was burning a hole in my pocket.
I heard about a chap who specialized in sourcing aircraft from the USA and importing same to Australia. We exchanged pleasantries and he agreed to source something for me.
What I got was a rare vintage aircraft, and an absolute classic to boot, for the pricely sum of $12,000 USD. Much more or course landed on the Australian register.
Costs and charges? who cares. I do not do the sums.
Biggest operating cost for me is fuel. Insurance is approx. $2K Annual Mtnce is less than $2K. Hangarage?...was getting expensive so I built my own.
The only trap is unscheduled mtnce e.g. voltage regulators falling over, alternators etc. My battery cost $1600 including freight from USA . The last one lasted 5 years and I will do my best to see the current one lasts as long.
I am now on my third aircraft. As I said its all about the passion.
I had a friend who owned a nice taildragger with warbird history. He certainly had more money than me. He did the ownership cost sums and promptly sold the aircraft. Would have been better off trading his late model Mercedes for a Toyota.
In my opinion aircraft purchased in the US are in much better condition and there is much more to choose from. Cant go wrong with a good C172 (check sids) and the Piper Archer is an honest aircraft. I am so twisted and bent I think a Piper Arrow is sexy from some angles.
To answer your other questions grab a copy of the ERSA which will show which airfields charge landings, which require PPR etc. Strips owned by mining companies are usually difficult to use.
Parking and hangarage at country aerodromes is usually no problem, its a matter of talking to the right people. Registration cost? ...nil as far as I know.
No enroute fees for VFR...not much service either. ATC may charge a terminal fee if you land. Avgas is approx. $2.20 per litre, varies a bit. ADSB not required for VFR but CASA likes the idea of you voluntarily fitting one.
A company in the US LEVIL has brought out a device, super cheap but I don't know if it meets Australian specs for a cheap VFR ADSB as yet.
To be quite frank if I had my own strip on my own property I would not tell anyone about it. Just use it privately,,,,why ask for trouble.
I could go on, but hope this helps. Its about the PASSION and PRIDE of OWNERSHIP
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If you do go ahead and purchase an aircraft, it’s like having a swimming pool in summer, you suddenly have new friends. They will want to hire/borrow it dirt cheap without any idea of the real cost. Then there are others who will ask to go for a ride. These aren’t worth starting the engine for. When you fly you want to do what you want. It’s okay to ask someone to go with you but they need to know you are flying it for your enjoyment, not theirs. A sixty degree bank may be normal for you whereas it can scare the crap out of a non-pilot.
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I just checked my records for my 18 year aviation spend. I keep very detailed records.
Hangar $62,000.
Insurance $8,900 (weren't always fully insured)
Physical aircraft outlay, inc appreciation and depreciation across five aircraft $48,000*
Fuel $48,250
Maintenance, overhaul + parts, tyres etc $11,800 (owner maintenance) - This figure is very low and it is correct.
Airways charges and landing fees $1,380
*Current aircraft value $60,000 (I made money on 2 of them)
$123,840 in total, not including aircraft purchase, but including fuel.
$273,000 to hire for the same hours at an average rate across 5 types.
Hangar $62,000.
Insurance $8,900 (weren't always fully insured)
Physical aircraft outlay, inc appreciation and depreciation across five aircraft $48,000*
Fuel $48,250
Maintenance, overhaul + parts, tyres etc $11,800 (owner maintenance) - This figure is very low and it is correct.
Airways charges and landing fees $1,380
*Current aircraft value $60,000 (I made money on 2 of them)
$123,840 in total, not including aircraft purchase, but including fuel.
$273,000 to hire for the same hours at an average rate across 5 types.
Join Date: Dec 2008
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I just checked my records for my 18 year aviation spend. I keep very detailed records.
Hangar $62,000.
Insurance $8,900 (weren't always fully insured)
Physical aircraft outlay, inc appreciation and depreciation across five aircraft $48,000*
Fuel $48,250
Maintenance, overhaul + parts, tyres etc $11,800 (owner maintenance) - This figure is very low and it is correct.
Airways charges and landing fees $1,380
*Current aircraft value $60,000 (I made money on 2 of them)
$123,840 in total, not including aircraft purchase, but including fuel.
$273,000 to hire for the same hours at an average rate across 5 types.
Hangar $62,000.
Insurance $8,900 (weren't always fully insured)
Physical aircraft outlay, inc appreciation and depreciation across five aircraft $48,000*
Fuel $48,250
Maintenance, overhaul + parts, tyres etc $11,800 (owner maintenance) - This figure is very low and it is correct.
Airways charges and landing fees $1,380
*Current aircraft value $60,000 (I made money on 2 of them)
$123,840 in total, not including aircraft purchase, but including fuel.
$273,000 to hire for the same hours at an average rate across 5 types.
Join Date: Jul 2006
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I received a phone call so I pressed submit a little early.
If I had to pay a LAME the figures would be quite different. There would be 20 extra annuals in there to budget for. I also did very well on my aircraft purchases, one I picked up for 78k and sold for $93k and another for 28k and sold for $42k... that doesn't happen often and it wasn't by accident.
It would only take one poor purchasing decision to absolutely destroy those figures above and kill off cost savings of owning an aircraft!
I could have done it for less by buying an older 172 and keeping the same aircraft for 20 years, but that could go either way with unexpected corrosion or similar. If it had a new engine I'd still be on the same one. I should have posted that the hours flown here are approximately 1700. I didn't want the same aircraft for 20 years and I didn't want a 172 so I went down another path. In hindsight it may have been a good idea, however my fuel bill would have been close to double that of above.
Once you go and spend more on the aircraft purchase on something left field you're on your own with costs, like a Bonanza or light twin... costs will skyrocket by comparison.
If I had to pay a LAME the figures would be quite different. There would be 20 extra annuals in there to budget for. I also did very well on my aircraft purchases, one I picked up for 78k and sold for $93k and another for 28k and sold for $42k... that doesn't happen often and it wasn't by accident.
It would only take one poor purchasing decision to absolutely destroy those figures above and kill off cost savings of owning an aircraft!
I could have done it for less by buying an older 172 and keeping the same aircraft for 20 years, but that could go either way with unexpected corrosion or similar. If it had a new engine I'd still be on the same one. I should have posted that the hours flown here are approximately 1700. I didn't want the same aircraft for 20 years and I didn't want a 172 so I went down another path. In hindsight it may have been a good idea, however my fuel bill would have been close to double that of above.
Once you go and spend more on the aircraft purchase on something left field you're on your own with costs, like a Bonanza or light twin... costs will skyrocket by comparison.