Our club has a $750 buy in rate, and $500 comes back to you if you leave.

 

Monthly dues were just decreased $10 to $39 a month.

 

Wet rates are:

 

C150 $75

C172 $85

C177 $95

Mooney M20F $95

 

The Mooney actually makes money at that rate, the Cardinal loses a little, but its rates are higher because of the $10k AD we had on seat track replacement.

 

We have a pretty active instructor that does a lot of accelerated PPLs and instrument ratings, 14 day PPL and 9 day IFRs. He flat rates his instruction so if it takes you 40 or 60 hours, you're paying the same rate for tHe instructor (plane rate of course is not flat rated).

 

He attracts a lot of "one month members" from all over the country that come for his course and that $250 we get from those folks helps fund the club as well.

 

We also get a fair amount of folks looking for a Mooney 10 hour checkout. Many are buying a mooney and want it for insurance purposes. Not many rental mooneys available at clubs or elsewhere, and none that I know of at our rates.

 

The clubs aircraft have fully funded engine and prop reserves (C172 just got a new engine and prop) and the aircraft are fully paid for. Club rates and dues include insurance, but not liability.

 

I flew just under 100 hours last year, finishing my Instrument, Seaplane (with traverse city air) and almost done with commercial. Plan to have CFI and CFII by May and then let others pay for some of my flight time and grab some of Greg's current student load. None of our instructors are looking to just build hours and head off to a 91 or 121 job. They have other careers and just enjoy flying.

 

At least in the States, there are some reasonable places out there if you do a little searching.....

 

....I've been wanting to buy a Mooney, but with access I have at the current rates, I'd be nuts to unless we move far enough away from the club. I have 50+ hours in the Mooney now and would like to be over 100 for insurance purposes in case I end up buying in the future.

 

Also have a Twin Commanche just south of here at $199 walk in rate and $179 block rate after 5 hour checkout.

Those are excellent rates and much lower than the local clubs in the NY area. Where is this club located?

 

These are also about half the rate that most of the schools charge for a 172S.

My PPL training is on hold (again) at the moment while I put together another large sum of money. TBH I'm considering investing same large sum of money into a new "super" FSX rig, at least with FSX I get to fly whenever I like. I agree with the sentiment here, GA is fast becoming an elite sport.........................but it's so much fun!!!!!!!!

Those are excellent rates and much lower than the local clubs in the NY area. Where is this club located?

 

These are also about half the rate that most of the schools charge for a 172S.

 

Muskegon Flying Club in Michigan. I'm in Grand Rapids now, but worth the 40 min drive for me.

 

Greg gets a lot of Boston customers, so I guess the rates aren't too great in the northeast.....

Me too.

 

I need special issuance of Medical, cause I take medication for Diabetes. Since I started on the oral medication, I let my medical lapse. If I really want to fly I can still get the medical with the special issuance since my A1c is around 7.0 with medication. But its the cost of flying that really is stopping me.

 

I have 40hrs on Instrument I would have liked to have completed that. I would like to add a Sea plane rating (I already have mutli engine and I have tail wheel endorsement) and then maybe some mountain flying training.

 

Oh well!

I flew with my friend owning a Piper Comanche for several years but like everything aviation related the cost steadily increased. All my flying is now done at home in my cockpit which requires no fuel, no insurance, no airport hanger fees and when I hit the Attendant button on my overhead, my wife comes running with a coffee. Ok - just kidding about that last part.

Not the same as being up there for real but it's still pretty nice!

If you plan to do it regularly I'd avoid the rental approach and just buy the aircraft.

 

Obtain PPL training/flights @ $10,000-$15,000

Skylane 182 used but excellent condition - 1985 (low hours) @ $90,000 (older ones with low hours $50K - $60K range)

Hanger rental at KCCR is about $500/mo

Figure you need to do at least one flight a month 20-30 gal fuel for short flight $200/mo

Maintenance: $3000/yr (without any major issues)

Other misc. fees: $50/mo

 

So entry is about: $70,000 - $100,000 (it's a buyers market)

Monthly cost (including maintenance): $1000

 

That's when things go as planned

 

EDIT: It's cheaper than auto racing as a hobby ... WAY cheaper.

Yes, nothing about playing with cars is cheap!

Trouble is once you're hooked its hard to quit. i used to do a lot more car stuff years ago but now just a spectator and going for drive now and then. Still follow it though.

If you plan to do it regularly I'd avoid the rental approach and just buy the aircraft.

 

Obtain PPL training/flights @ $10,000-$15,000

Skylane 182 used but excellent condition - 1985 (low hours) @ $90,000 (older ones with low hours $50K - $60K range)

Hanger rental at KCCR is about $500/mo

Figure you need to do at least one flight a month 20-30 gal fuel for short flight $200/mo

Maintenance: $3000/yr (without any major issues)

Other misc. fees: $50/mo

 

So entry is about: $70,000 - $100,000 (it's a buyers market)

Monthly cost (including maintenance): $1000

 

That's when things go as planned

 

EDIT: It's cheaper than auto racing as a hobby ... WAY cheaper.

 

You forgot insurance. For a low time student or PPL owner, you're in for a shock if you're buying a 182 and getting hull quotes.....

 

For $1000 a month, I can fly 11 hours a month renting......owning is not cheaper.

For $1000 a month, I can fly 11 hours a month renting......owning is not cheaper.

 

Agree, was NOT saying it was cheap to own, just cheaper than auto racing -- nothing wrong with renting, it's just not for me.

 

A new 2013 182T goes for about $400,000. It'll depend on how much flying one does ... there's also the option to group buy -- wouldn't recommend more than 4 people in the group (basically each owner gets the aircraft for one week of the month and cycle every month).

 

But like I said, it's a Buyers market right now.

As a former line guy at the local airport I've seen lots of people give up. It's sad to think about it really.

I'm doing a lesson here and there, pretty much given up on the dream of being a pilot so I'll do the next best thing and take the aircraft maintenance route.

If you just want get up in the air, there are a lot of alternatives. I'm going back to gliding in near future after years with UL and motor-gliders. The planes are a key issue. Our club sold the old Cessnas and Pipers and took a Thielert-Diesel DA40 instead. Price for an hour dropped from 180e to 100e.

 

Our hobby is a milk cow for the taxman. I spent already this year 500e for a medical, club memberships and aviation authority to get a print for that medical. And I haven't yet sat on a plane this year.

I'm seriously considering something nautical now, and physical at the same time... I always wondered if I had what it takes to do sea kayaking. Rowing always interested me as a "sport" but sea kayaking is more similar to aviation in that you can explore and actually go places.

 

Will be some upfront costs, and alot of fitness to gain, and knowledge too, but at first glance seems to be no limits on how far you can push yourself.

 

Something for me to think about in the long term

As a former line guy at the local airport I've seen lots of people give up. It's sad to think about it really.

 

The same can be said for golf, etc.