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-   -   Cheap Shares vs Other cheap hours building (https://www.pprune.org/private-flying/560528-cheap-shares-vs-other-cheap-hours-building.html)

Scoobster 26th Apr 2015 11:04

Cheap Shares vs Other cheap hours building
 
I know there is no such thing as 'cheap' in aviation.. believe me I have just been released from "The Priory" after checking myself into rehab from the expense of my PPL :E

But on a serious note, I have found one provider in the UK that I can rent a plane from.. without messing around with Monthly Fees/Annual budgeting for ARC etc.

I have a few constraints at the moment and can only do this on a "as and when affordable basis" and to keep current. I also want to enjoy the previlege of my license and build some hours at the same time.. plan a few trips to the highlands (Scotland), lake district, local area (london flying), experience the first cross channel flight etc.

Are there any "Private Individuals" who are not part of a group that rent planes? Sort of like a car hire place but for Planes...

Would it be worth getting a few friends together, putting in maybe 5k each and buying a plane? - Don't think this will be feasible though as an ongoing maintenance plan needs to be in force.

Any other suggestions?

Thank You.

Scoobs.

Pom pom 26th Apr 2015 18:45

I did exactly what you're interested in with this chap at Bournemouth a few years ago, but it looks like he's still going strong:

Fly With Me Aviation - Aircraft Rentals Bournemouth

Enjoy!

Heston 26th Apr 2015 18:57

No way would I rent anything from an organisation that litters their website with greengrocers' apostrophes.

Scoobster 26th Apr 2015 19:43

If the chap at Bournemouth is the same one I am thinking of..

He came in non-competitive on a Wet Lease basis (close to 12k) for 80 - 100 hours with added landing fees on top and Bournemouth is a bit far out from Essex.

Has anyone bought their own plane for said purposes - with some reliable pilot friends whom you know personally?

I'm not sure how this would work - probably not as I would hope!

Scoobs.

josher 26th Apr 2015 20:51

if you can tolerate the journey to bournemouth you can certainly get to Popham and this group - www.152group.co.uk I was amember a good few years ago. They provided great low cost flying and were well managed. They are a a bit anal about care of the aircraft but that means that the a/c are always immaculate and you are not flying the tired looking a/c typical of many larger groups and low cost rentals/non equities

ChickenHouse 27th Apr 2015 07:07

The cost of flying only reduces if you fly frequently - simple rule of general commerce. Over the last years I had enough insight into GA to state that it is currently not possible to make a living on GA or even finance your living long term with any construction - they always eat up substance. This also means prices for hire are about what you need to only operate, not gain profit. Commercial rules apply also to group shares, so unless you find somebody keen on burning his substance money and cross financing your gaming, you have pretty much a constant money to spend for keeping your license current, either by owning or by renting.

xrayalpha 27th Apr 2015 07:25

Three little letters: LAA

Forget about ARCs etc and get yourself a permit to fly aircraft: ie a Light Aircraft Association kit/home built.

FleetFlyer 27th Apr 2015 07:49

Another vote for an LAA aircraft.
I'm in an LAA group and get all the flying I want for £50/hr + £50 per month. The plane is always available when I want it, and because the group is well managed we have not had any cash calls.

Why anyone would join a C172 group to fly VFR only for twice the price beats me.

xrayalpha 27th Apr 2015 08:47

FF,

Why?

Well, we had an air traffic controller down here the other day who had a PPL for a few years and had only found out about the LAA last year! !

So the answer to your question: Ignorance. And, perhaps, due to an astonishing lapse in PR by the LAA?

Scoobster 27th Apr 2015 10:22

Are the LAA the same/better/decent than say a PA-28, C-152, PA 28 Archer II etc?

I have found a 'strut' nearby so will make enquire.

I want to keep all options open for now and combine with PA-28/C-152 etc if need be.

S.

shortstripper 27th Apr 2015 10:30

Not that there's anything wrong with the aircraft you mention, but you'll find most LAA craft far more fun to fly.

SS

foxmoth 27th Apr 2015 12:48


maybe 5k each and buying a plane? - Don't think this will be feasible though as an ongoing maintenance plan
That is normally called a group! If you mean can you do this and rent it out as well, the answer is yes, provided it is a CAA aircraft and kept on the correct maintainance schedule.


Are the LAA the same/better/decent than say a PA-28, C-152, PA 28 Archer II etc?
This very much depends on the aircraft, some will be a lot cheaper and more basic than the ones you have mentioned, others may cost more to buy but will run rings round those aircraft at a much lower running cost - have a look at the performance of the RVs - RV7 for example https://www.vansaircraft.com/public/rv7perf.htm cruise at 140kts+, better load and range than a C152 and are aerobatic if you get the right one.

As Shortstripper says, they will almost all be more fun than the Spamcans you refer to!

Buttino 27th Apr 2015 13:01

Have you looked at the North Weald Flying Group? There's a monthly fee but it's not too bad.

North Weald Airfield Flying Group Essex | Air Experience Flights

ChickenHouse 27th Apr 2015 19:29

One more thing - what is your mission profile? If you only hover for yourself, LAA may be an option, even though I doubt they are cheaper on the long run. Maybe they look cheaper on new purchase, but will they last as long as the old workwhores?

xrayalpha 27th Apr 2015 21:04

Buy a Zenair 601 with 200-400 hours on it with a Rotax 912, fly 100 hours a year, sell it with 400-600 hours and - if you have serviced it well and kept it clean (we all know cleaning an aircraft helps you find defects early!) - you'll get your money back.

Yes, you will have servicing costs of anything from £100 a year to maybe £1000 a year, and then you get your money back!

Or buy a Cesspit and pay 7k a year for a CofA or whatever it is called nowadays, and then really struggle to sell it, and run the risk of a major mandatory mod that will cripple you.....might be cheaper just to scrap it....

ps. Weightshift microlights now do 100 mph, LAA (and some microlights) will do 140mph (Statute) ! So no hanging around floating in the sky!

shortstripper 28th Apr 2015 10:48


ps. Weightshift microlights now do 100 mph, LAA (and some microlights) will do 140mph (Statute) ! So no hanging around floating in the sky!
No good for hour building though!

But what you say about buying, flying and selling is very doable :ok:

SS

Scoobster 28th Apr 2015 16:31

Mission Profile - Fly around and see what aircraft I like... Visit different airfields, take friends family up.. and see what else there is other than a C-152, PA-28, DA-40!

Build some good flying experience and enjoy it for a bit.

I had a look at Vans Aircraft site....

I did read somewhere about the Zenair 601 being re-called due to a wing falling off (or something along those lines) !

What would be a good LAA Tourer?

Maoraigh1 28th Apr 2015 18:09

There are 2 Europa monos on AFORS. One is said to be on Ebay. If you can get hangarage, and do simple maintenance, a wood-and-fabric tailwheel aircraft could give very cheap flying. Jodels, Condor, etc. Long lasting aircraft if looked after. Continental O200 or C series engines.
Or an Evans VP1 - and build many hours on short flights into a strong wind.

FleetFlyer 29th Apr 2015 13:18

@Chickenhouse -Yes an LAA administered type will last just as long as a CofA aeroplane.

The aeroplane I fly was built in 1946 and has been in continuous use ever since. It's the design and manufacture of the aeroplane and how well it's looked after that governs whether it will last, not the airworthiness authority involved.

I'm sure there will be Glasairs flying until the fuel runs out, but there may be fewer MCR01s remaining due to the less robust nature of their design, necessary for the low weight their designer needed to achieve.

As for cost, you can have a very similar aeroplane to mine, a taildragger Cessna 140 on a permit or a C150 on a CofA. Their construction is very similar if you get a metal winged 140. The 140 will have the same 0-200 engine and will achieve the same numbers. However the 140 will cost you £300 for the annual permit renewal whereas the 150 will cost you £5K and upwards for its annual. This is assuming neither need any work doing. If the 140 needs work and you're handy with the spanners then you can do many things yourself. On the CofA machine you can change the oil and that's about it, everything else is at £££££££ rates from certified engineers.

Like I said, if you don't need IMC capability, you'd be nuts to go with a CofA aeroplane these days.

Scoobster 29th Apr 2015 14:01

FF- Are permit to fly aircraft not suitable for IMC operations then?


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