Does anyone know school/flight club that rents airplane cheap? Planning to rent airplane for 1000 hours to get closer to 1500, can be shared time if cheaper. Currently I have Commercial pilot certificate ASEL, IFR rated and working on Multi rating.
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AZEL
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As the real estate agents say: "location, location, location."
Although 1000 hours... then buy > fly > sell seems far more logical.
luvflyin
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How far can you travel? It’ll help if you tell us where you are looking.
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logical, sure. But note the OP said "cheap"... sorry to be a downer. :-/
AZEL
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I took "cheap" to mean "least expensive viable option." (The "best option" being that Kermit Weeks hires you to fly his collection so it doesn't remain stationary.)
I could rent a certified 2-seat airplane for $85 near here.
And I've looked at a couple that I know of that are for sale. That would be a $20,000 - $50,000 outlay at the front end, but little CAR-3 airplanes tend not to lose value over time around here. Variable costs might be $20 – $30/hour (with a MoGas STC). With a $15 – $25/hour reserve that is $40 to $55 per flight hour.
Assuming 1,000 hours in two years, a Hangar at $3,000 – $4,800/yr, Annuals of $1,200 – $2,000/yr, and Insurance at $1,000 – $1,500/yr, that bring us to $12,000 to $16,500.
So, $40 to $55 per flight hour variable and $12 to $16 fixed is $52 to $61 per hour... the "least expensive viable option" (other than joining a soaring club) if you have the front.
Clip4
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How much is cheap? To get 500 hours you are likely at $40-50k.
Half Fast
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Nothing in aviation is cheap. AOPA recently did an interview with these folks, who may be the cheapest realistic option:
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MauleSkinner
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But imagine how much more hireable one would be with 1000 hours in the latter.
Half Fast
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Expensive airplane. More expensiver airplane.
Buy the cheapest thing that flys. Fly the snot out of it. Then sell. You will save yourself a lot of money.
AlphaPilotFlyer
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find a used simple experimental with mogas
Half Fast
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I'm not sure that will impress potential employers......
Gin Pegasus 3
[Product Details] A “do everything” wing that’s perfect for a least the first 2 seasons of your career The Pegasus 3 is a universal paramotoring wing for beginning and leisure pilots who want a confidence-inspiring wing that is also fun to fly, both with and without a motor. Details Equalized...
superflyinc.com
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Hmmm… I’ll deliver one, where ya located?
$65/hr, 1000 hr contract. High time engine 172, but purrs like a kitten, fresh annual.
For $100/hr will have a NEW engine.
Payable up front, signed FAA bill of sale provided at no extra cost…
Did I mention delivered?
Edit: what the heck, Oshkosh special… $50/hr 1500 hr contract. Just sayin…
$65/hr, 1000 hr contract. High time engine 172, but purrs like a kitten, fresh annual.
For $100/hr will have a NEW engine.
Payable up front, signed FAA bill of sale provided at no extra cost…
Did I mention delivered?
Edit: what the heck, Oshkosh special… $50/hr 1500 hr contract. Just sayin…
Last edited:
bonefishpete
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I'm not sure that will impress potential employers......
Gin Pegasus 3
[Product Details] A “do everything” wing that’s perfect for a least the first 2 seasons of your career The Pegasus 3 is a universal paramotoring wing for beginning and leisure pilots who want a confidence-inspiring wing that is also fun to fly, both with and without a motor. Details Equalized...
4 years ago my thought for a young pilot was to buy a C150 and fly every day until reaching 1500 hour mark. Today that won't work. Too many pilots facing too few jobs.
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I know someone who did that a few years ago. Actually, he bought a C150 and Mooney for longer trips. Still owns both and is flying for an airline.
Hmm, I notice that our OP who apparently wants to rent at an undisclosed location has not returned to harvest the helpful replies
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You may want to think about what type of experience you are looking to get, that might define the airplane. I would say that 1000 hrs in the same locality is not a good way to spend your money. If longer term rentals are not possible, you could consider traveling to different locations to rent from those locations to gain different types of experience.
AZEL
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True.
That depends, this is my third summer of ridge soaring the same geographical feature. I am enjoying myself immensely and gaining much experience. But, I would stop short of saying I was mastering the best 30-ish mile long part of the valley because each day is a little different.
You can't really wade into the same stream twice.
DreadPirateWill
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Flying club would be tough. We fly relatively inexpensive, to the point we've had a few folks interested who wanted to crank out hours. Problem is most of our 10 members fly 2-4 hours a month. Someone booking 20+ would put pressure on our rates as the maintenance would go up significantly. So we instituted graduated rates. More than 8ish hours a month without a special permission(flying to Oshkosh or something) doubles the rates.
For cranking out time, I'd say find a partner on a 150 and form a special purpose club - Hour Builders Inc.
For cranking out time, I'd say find a partner on a 150 and form a special purpose club - Hour Builders Inc.
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Why would flying more frequently put upward pressure on the hourly rates? Maintenence cost will go up, but if flying cost already includes the reserve for maintenance, then it should just be a wash. But pressure on scheduling will definitely increase, and members may not like that.
DreadPirateWill
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Couple ways.
One way we fly cheap is Mogas that we trailer in. You’d have to be willing to always tow the fuel trailer to refill if you’re burning most of it.
The main thing though is volunteer mechanic (me). Right now we fly about 300 hours a year. If I’m going from 6 oil changes to 15, a few mag rebuilds, and motor swaps every couple years, etc- I’m a lot less likely to volunteer in exchange for a couple hours of flight time. So price goes up, and it wouldn’t match the nature of our club. Other clubs maybe so, but they’ll be more expensive.
Either put in the work, or put in the dollars.
Of course scheduling is a significant concern too.