Some basic questions about ownership
Ahh, well maybe it all depends on what value you place on availability and flying the aeroplane you want to fly.
I do know that if we sold the Cub today we would have had our flying for the cost of the fuel and insurance, as we have done the maintenance ourselves in the hangar of a friendly engineer, and the aircraft has actually been an appreciating asset that the tax authorities ignore.
So, cost price less resale value has covered the fabric, the annuals, and an engine rebuild.
Yes, we have spent time getting grubby and/or covered in nitrate and butyrate dope. We probably can't justify owning on a bean counters abacus. So what! The fun we have had nobody can take from us.
It's OK to spend money on your favourite toys. Regret what you have done if you must, it's better than sitting on your money and then regretting never having had fun.
I do know that if we sold the Cub today we would have had our flying for the cost of the fuel and insurance, as we have done the maintenance ourselves in the hangar of a friendly engineer, and the aircraft has actually been an appreciating asset that the tax authorities ignore.
So, cost price less resale value has covered the fabric, the annuals, and an engine rebuild.
Yes, we have spent time getting grubby and/or covered in nitrate and butyrate dope. We probably can't justify owning on a bean counters abacus. So what! The fun we have had nobody can take from us.
It's OK to spend money on your favourite toys. Regret what you have done if you must, it's better than sitting on your money and then regretting never having had fun.
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: Netherlands
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If we compare LAA ownership with C of A ownership then I have saved around £70,000 over 8 years compared with my old AA5B.
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: Midlands
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When I got the Grumman it had a bare metal strip and repaint, a repair which had been bodged was fixed properly and the panel was extensively updated. None of these costs are included. Optional upgrades to the kit machine are also excluded.
Fuel £22500
Maint £37200
Insurance £4400
Hang on strip v Parking at airfield £6400
The above are not completely fair on the LAA machine as it is faster so actually traveled further. This however had zero impact on my hours flown. It also excludes the hike in C of A maintenance when CAMO's came in which I understand has now subsided somewhat. The Grumman was sold for almost the same as it cost excluding the avionic work. Again this is not taken into account.
Rod1
Fuel £22500
Maint £37200
Insurance £4400
Hang on strip v Parking at airfield £6400
The above are not completely fair on the LAA machine as it is faster so actually traveled further. This however had zero impact on my hours flown. It also excludes the hike in C of A maintenance when CAMO's came in which I understand has now subsided somewhat. The Grumman was sold for almost the same as it cost excluding the avionic work. Again this is not taken into account.
Rod1
Jodel DR1050 aircraft were on a C of A, and we were existing from Annual to * Annual with the "Engine Fund" contunually disappearing in maintenance. With no increase in hourly or monthly charge, we now run on an LAA Permit, at a profit, and the engine fund is more than proportional to the engine hours to TBO - with "on condition" likely after that. (We're already "on condition" due to engine years at present.)
Join Date: Mar 2014
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Any CofA plane with a Rotax 912 up front would also save you fuel 
How safe is it to buy a pre owned home built kit plane? A factory built feels more safe, but is that gut feeling justified?
How safe is it to buy a pre owned home built kit plane? A factory built feels more safe, but is that gut feeling justified?
Join Date: Apr 2003
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"How safe is it to buy a pre owned home built kit plane? A factory built feels more safe, but is that gut feeling justified?"
Zero difference provided you get qualified people to inspect the aircraft who know the specific type. In the example given above the AA5B had been imported from France & given a UK C of A then sold by a reputable company. When we got it striped for paint a repair showed up which was not up to standard. The co that imported it paid for the work, which would have run into many £1000's, so we were very lucky. The cost of any such mistake on an LAA machine would of course have been much lower.
Rod1
Zero difference provided you get qualified people to inspect the aircraft who know the specific type. In the example given above the AA5B had been imported from France & given a UK C of A then sold by a reputable company. When we got it striped for paint a repair showed up which was not up to standard. The co that imported it paid for the work, which would have run into many £1000's, so we were very lucky. The cost of any such mistake on an LAA machine would of course have been much lower.
Rod1
