Calculating Aircraft Ownership per hour of??

[ChickenHouse]

172 will be a disappointment if you want cheap flying from short farm strips and to keep the costs down, but is a very capable touring aircraft with four seats.

Yes, Micro- and Ultralights will be cheaper in operation and on very short strips (<1,200 ft).
No, a C172 will be disappointing if you want to use four seats for touring, unless you have a 210 HP rocket. A C172 is a great touring plane for two, very usable for touring with three seats, but quite limited in range when using four seats and W comes into W&B. This would be solved by a C182.

[Rod1]

Step Turn - happy to go through with you but do not want to take over this thread. G has most of the points.

To give specific examples;

I rebuilt my prop last year (happens every 6 years). I built the prop from a kit originally - it is an electric VP prop which is connected to a CSC-1 to give CS. Total cost of the rebuild was £12 for lubricants and Hylomar.

The TOTAL cost of maintenance over 8 years has so far worked out at £430 pa. Oil is changed every year or 100h - cost £20pa. Filter is £10 a year. Plugs are around £3.5 each. She burns 18.5lph of Mogas.

Rod1

[BravoSierraKilo]

I can pick up an X-Air or Rans S6 with annual etc. for about €11,000EUR. They mostly come with 2 stroke Rotax 582 but id prefer a 4 stroke.


My dad who has a PPL is interested in splitting the cost down the middle with me so we can both keep ourselves fresh. I will most likely pick one up next summer.


At least with the microlight I can keep myself in the air while I decide what the next step is. If I decide that microlights are the way I will buy a composite microlight such as the Samba XXL etc. If I feel the need for GA I will be a good boy and save my cents and pick up a viable 4 seat touring aircraft after I explore every type available to me.


I am lucky to have a good steady career so that wont be an issue......although whether I go High wing or low wing is another discussion altogether haha

[Heston]

The idea of flying a micro to keep you in the air while you decide what to do next is a good one. Though you will like it so much you may never want to "progress" to GA.


A Rotax 582 in either an Xair or a RANS is perfectly fine. Don't believe folk who say you've got to go four-stroke in a micro.

[BravoSierraKilo]

If I do decide to go Purley microlight I will go composite for the extra, speed and comfort. As you know some composite microlights are pretty expensive but the maintenance is fairly low in regards to GA.

I don't have enough experience in microlights to say if a 2 stroke is better than a 4. I'm at the mercy of Google search to educated me!

[BravoSierraKilo]

Its a tad bit small and can only carry one

[BravoSierraKilo]

My god so fussy!

Good question by the way, would be interested to know myself.

[Genghis the Engineer]

The Speedtwin and Lazair are also twins on a PtF, although not sure how easy it would be to obtain an example of either.

OP - go fly something like an X'Air and chat to the owners. Shiny and composite does not necessarily equate with flying pleasure, but it usually does equate with purchase costs.

I've hundreds of hours with 582s, and rather more with 503s and 447s. All perfectly fine engines, but the 582 is certainly enhanced by a 3:1 or better 3.47:1 gearbox rather than the standard, and cheaper, 2.58:1 gearbox. The reduced propeller tip speeds make for a much more pleasant flying experience.



G

[BravoSierraKilo]

I have a lot of experience with motorbikes both 2 stroke and 4 stroke and I just feel uneasy flying a microlight with a 2 stroke engine!!


I had a conversation with my father who is interested in sharing the cost of Reims C150 and apparently my local priest is an avid private pilot (who knew) so he may also be interested in a share and if so I will go 172/Cherokee!


But I will still pick up an X-Air or Rans S6 as I can use them for evening and weekend fun when I just want a nice relating fly about my local area.