View Poll Results: How many hours do you log per year in "just-for-fun" flying?
0-10 hours
10
4.42%
10-30 hours
52
23.01%
30-60 hours
75
33.19%
60-100 hours
42
18.58%
100+ hours
47
20.80%
Voters: 226. This poll is closed
How many hours do YOU fly per year?
Join Date: Oct 1998
Location: Wessex
Age: 55
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I looked in my log book the other day and found I've only flown 12 hours since march. At first I thought this was pretty poor as I have a share in a plane. On reflection though, the plane was off line for 3 months due to its star annual. I took a couple of months off due to a minor operation. So twleve hours in 4 months isn't as bad as I thought.
The reason March is important, my bi anniel is due then and I've just been grounded indefinately by the CAA
. At least with the hours flown all I need is a check ride and I've got another 2 years to sort the problem out before my license is invalid.
The reason March is important, my bi anniel is due then and I've just been grounded indefinately by the CAA
. At least with the hours flown all I need is a check ride and I've got another 2 years to sort the problem out before my license is invalid.
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: EuroGA.org
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drauk
With ownership, there is a case for saying the purchase cost of the plane is the cost of a hobby. Because if you looked at amortisation of everything you buy you would never buy anything, except possibly a house. I don't have a swimming pool but if eg you took the cost of putting one in and divided that by the # of yours you will use it, you'd never do it.
Having done that, the direct operating cost isn't that much. I fly a newish SEP retractable, fully airways and full of goodies, which cost 200k. The cost of fuel, engine fund, prop fund, 50hr 150hr annual and star annual checks adds up to less that hiring anything whatsoever from a local school.
With ownership, there is a case for saying the purchase cost of the plane is the cost of a hobby. Because if you looked at amortisation of everything you buy you would never buy anything, except possibly a house. I don't have a swimming pool but if eg you took the cost of putting one in and divided that by the # of yours you will use it, you'd never do it.
Having done that, the direct operating cost isn't that much. I fly a newish SEP retractable, fully airways and full of goodies, which cost 200k. The cost of fuel, engine fund, prop fund, 50hr 150hr annual and star annual checks adds up to less that hiring anything whatsoever from a local school.
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: UK,Twighlight Zone
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DRAUK,
Interesting math and not actually correct but a good try and yes the amount of money spent on flying is pretty high.
I dont have a decent drive to the airport and don't recall saying anything about 20 hours of rotary flying either! My Cessna costs me around £30 an hour on aggregate to run.
My hobby is flying and my holidays are flying and not having a 9-5 job gives me plenty of time. But at the end of the day it is not any of your business what I spend!
If you are calling me a liar do as you choose but there are several members of this forum who fly with me who can verify the hours flown! You know nothing of my personal circumstances or lifestyle!
Dutch I will ask the club if they mind there name being mentioned, but they have run some fantistic trips this year. The owners come on the trips and the spirit is fantastic. As members of the club we also put our own trips together. This year has seen Caan, Guernsey, Jersey, Calais, Ostend (x2), Edinburgh to name but a few!
Interesting math and not actually correct but a good try and yes the amount of money spent on flying is pretty high.
I dont have a decent drive to the airport and don't recall saying anything about 20 hours of rotary flying either! My Cessna costs me around £30 an hour on aggregate to run.
My hobby is flying and my holidays are flying and not having a 9-5 job gives me plenty of time. But at the end of the day it is not any of your business what I spend!
If you are calling me a liar do as you choose but there are several members of this forum who fly with me who can verify the hours flown! You know nothing of my personal circumstances or lifestyle!
Dutch I will ask the club if they mind there name being mentioned, but they have run some fantistic trips this year. The owners come on the trips and the spirit is fantastic. As members of the club we also put our own trips together. This year has seen Caan, Guernsey, Jersey, Calais, Ostend (x2), Edinburgh to name but a few!
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: London, UK
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bose-x, hey, come on, don't be defensive, it's Christmas. I've no reason to doubt you. I was just putting an estimate on the cost and time of all that flying - it sounds great if you enjoy it. Of course it isn't my business what you spend - I was just making an observation on what you'd posted. Like I said, good on you.
20 hours of rotary was just a guess, as of course were nearly all the other figures. Being close to the airport cuts the time spent, but not the cash (except for petrol to drive there, which I'd not counted anyway)!
£30/hour to run your plane sounds pretty good. Obviously if the plane is doing hundreds of hours a year the cost comes right down. What model is it?
IO540, true, I don't amortize the cost of my ownership either. But in this (tongue-in-cheek) analysis, the 20 quid I had allocated to this was a small part of the overall total, so it didn't make much difference. Evidently I over-estimated the cost of running bose-x's particular plane though and that makes a bigger difference.
20 hours of rotary was just a guess, as of course were nearly all the other figures. Being close to the airport cuts the time spent, but not the cash (except for petrol to drive there, which I'd not counted anyway)!
£30/hour to run your plane sounds pretty good. Obviously if the plane is doing hundreds of hours a year the cost comes right down. What model is it?
IO540, true, I don't amortize the cost of my ownership either. But in this (tongue-in-cheek) analysis, the 20 quid I had allocated to this was a small part of the overall total, so it didn't make much difference. Evidently I over-estimated the cost of running bose-x's particular plane though and that makes a bigger difference.
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Between LPCs
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I have done 103 this year, IMC, multi and cross countries account for the bulk as well as taking a Rallye 880 to 8000 ft, that took some hours I can tell you, took ages to get the thing back down!
I can also verify Bose-x's hours, he likes to taunt me I do have a normal job so cannot commit the time to flying that I would like.
I can also verify Bose-x's hours, he likes to taunt me I do have a normal job so cannot commit the time to flying that I would like.
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: England
Age: 40
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Last year I probably did over 30 hours and got my PPL.
This year I hope to do about 20 hours if I have enough money. I can't wait for the summer, I really can't! It's going to be full of such fun things like aerobatics, turbulents, flying around clouds, going to 10,000 feet for the fun of it etc.!
This year I hope to do about 20 hours if I have enough money. I can't wait for the summer, I really can't! It's going to be full of such fun things like aerobatics, turbulents, flying around clouds, going to 10,000 feet for the fun of it etc.!
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: UK,Twighlight Zone
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Cessna 152, uses 20litres of fuel an hour according to my fuel scan 450 computer (yet more frivolous expenditure). The more you fly an airplane the cheaper it becomes per hour. Around 50 hours is the break even point for me as opposed to renting.
The cost of buying the plane is never included in the hourly costs. I own it outright and its unlikely to suffer any devaluation, in fact it is now worth more than I paid for it as I have rectified all of the faults so I would at least get my money back on sale.
You should see the bills for the IFR FM Immune avionics, new floor, seats, fuel gauages and god knows what else. Not forgetting of course very nice Bose Headsets!!!!
At the end of the day owning an airplane sets you free and is worth every penny. I rarely get weathered off, if the weather is bad in the morning I wait until the afternoon unlike rentals where you lose your slot.
Another great hour builder for me has been that I have 1000m of tarmac 300m from my front door and fly in the summer up to our site which is about 10 minutes walk from Hawarden! An hour each way 2/3 times a week!
I fly whenever I can, yesterday I flew 1:50 taking a friend up to the wash to look at the snow landing back after dark in perfect conditions. On Sunday I flew to Cambridge and did an ILS 2:30mins round trip.
Last week I started a Tiger Moth conversion in the morning and flew my plane in the afternoon.
Trust me it is very easy to fly a lot with your own plane and of course no work ethic!
The cost of buying the plane is never included in the hourly costs. I own it outright and its unlikely to suffer any devaluation, in fact it is now worth more than I paid for it as I have rectified all of the faults so I would at least get my money back on sale.
You should see the bills for the IFR FM Immune avionics, new floor, seats, fuel gauages and god knows what else. Not forgetting of course very nice Bose Headsets!!!!
At the end of the day owning an airplane sets you free and is worth every penny. I rarely get weathered off, if the weather is bad in the morning I wait until the afternoon unlike rentals where you lose your slot.
Another great hour builder for me has been that I have 1000m of tarmac 300m from my front door and fly in the summer up to our site which is about 10 minutes walk from Hawarden! An hour each way 2/3 times a week!
I fly whenever I can, yesterday I flew 1:50 taking a friend up to the wash to look at the snow landing back after dark in perfect conditions. On Sunday I flew to Cambridge and did an ILS 2:30mins round trip.
Last week I started a Tiger Moth conversion in the morning and flew my plane in the afternoon.
Trust me it is very easy to fly a lot with your own plane and of course no work ethic!
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: UK Work: London. Home: East Anglia
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For some reason the poll thinks I've voted, actually I haven't. I've done 145 hours in the last three years. Would have been more this year if not for us having to do an engine change on my aeroplane of choice, and some more recent serviceability issues which have kept the old dear out of the air for the last couple of months. Next year I expect to be doing about 50 to 60 hours including an IMC course, an a bit more touring as I now have access to an aeroplane which combines a decent cruising speed with generous endurance. It would be nice to crack the 200 hour total.
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Italy
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Started flying in 1980, very few hours each year at the beginning, about 30 these last 3-4 years, over 70 this year, but is exceptional (flew to Odessa, Ukraine).
Hopefully I'll pass the 500 mark in spring 2004.
Ciao,
AE
Hopefully I'll pass the 500 mark in spring 2004.
Ciao,
AE
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: Shropshire
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Just summarised my annual hours since I first started flying back in the summer of 98.
1998 – 13h 55m
1999 – 14h 00m
2000 – 23h 05m
2001 – 34h 30m
2002 – 34h 35m (plus approx 20 hrs in gliders)
2003 – 105h 07m
I am pleased to see that each year the total is greater than the previous and very much hope that things will continue in this vein.
1998 – 13h 55m
1999 – 14h 00m
2000 – 23h 05m
2001 – 34h 30m
2002 – 34h 35m (plus approx 20 hrs in gliders)
2003 – 105h 07m
I am pleased to see that each year the total is greater than the previous and very much hope that things will continue in this vein.
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Kilmacolm
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To date I've flown 510 hours total in nearly six years.
This year has seen around 120 hours added to my logbook.
Around 50 of these were gained in the Beagle Pup with the rest flown as part of the FAA CPL/IR course I took in Florida this summer.
2004 will probably see quite a few more as I'm looking to do an FAA ME Add-On and an FAA CFI & CFII course(s).
Best wishes and Happy New Year,
Charlie Zulu.
This year has seen around 120 hours added to my logbook.
Around 50 of these were gained in the Beagle Pup with the rest flown as part of the FAA CPL/IR course I took in Florida this summer.
2004 will probably see quite a few more as I'm looking to do an FAA ME Add-On and an FAA CFI & CFII course(s).
Best wishes and Happy New Year,
Charlie Zulu.
