Is anyone here a private pilot?

[SooperDave]

Wait, you take the train everywhere because you're afraid of flying, but you want to get a pilot's license?

This is illogical.

Yeah, I seem to remember him worrying about having anxitiey/panic attacks during a recent flight. Struck me as funny considering the username:\

edit: found it... http://208.65.201.106/showthread.php?t=2044152

 

[fatpat268]

A plane (used) will cost around 60K and up.

You can join a flying club to keep your hourly rental costs down.

You can rent a plane.

Hourly costs are based on engine time, not clock time.

Getting Uncle Sam to cover your costs is wonderful.
And if you work in the aviation industry; you can wirte off your flight school costs as a business expense.

However, I expect to never get the chance to go Mach 2+ in the civilian world.

You could if you bought one of these:

http://www.prideaircraft.com/flanker.htm

 

[EagleKeeper]

You could if you bought one of these:

http://www.prideaircraft.com/flanker.htm

Given that the Russian Trainers are pushing $400K - I would expect that they easily want close to $750 for the Flanker.

That is slightly above my budget. I only have 10-15 years left. After taxes, I could afford it at retirement.

So: wife & family or a toy? Decisions, decisions:hmm:

 

[Flammable]

no shit, i was planning on going to horizon also. Boston Area ATOTer here

 

[gaidensensei]

Wait, you take the train everywhere because you're afraid of flying, but you want to get a pilot's license?

This is illogical.

Yeah, I seem to remember him worrying about having anxitiey/panic attacks during a recent flight. Struck me as funny considering the username:\

edit: found it... http://208.65.201.106/showthread.php?t=2044152

You guys have crazy forum memory.

OP your turn to redeem yourself.

 

[novasatori]

Given that the Russian Trainers are pushing $400K - I would expect that they easily want close to $750 for the Flanker.

That is slightly above my budget. I only have 10-15 years left. After taxes, I could afford it at retirement.

So: wife & family or a toy? Decisions, decisions:hmm:

But do you really want to see the gas bill?
Only 24,000 lb/hr @ MIL power total...D:

 

[fatpat268]

Given that the Russian Trainers are pushing $400K - I would expect that they easily want close to $750 for the Flanker.

That is slightly above my budget. I only have 10-15 years left. After taxes, I could afford it at retirement.

So: wife & family or a toy? Decisions, decisions:hmm:

I dunno, $750k seems on the low end.

Hell, Learjets, Cessna Citations, and other jets go for 1+ Million. I know the sukhoi is no comparison to these, but I wouldn't be surprised if they were asking 5-10 million.

But, that's just a pure guess, I have no idea what a former soviet fighter plane would sell for.

 

[manlymatt83]

You guys have crazy forum memory.

OP your turn to redeem yourself.

I fly now. All the time.... was a fear I got over.

And I was never scared of small planes.

 

[manlymatt83]

no shit, i was planning on going to horizon also. Boston Area ATOTer here

Wanna do lessons together?

 

[skyking]

I dunno, $750k seems on the low end.

Hell, Learjets, Cessna Citations, and other jets go for 1+ Million. I know the sukhoi is no comparison to these, but I wouldn't be surprised if they were asking 5-10 million.

But, that's just a pure guess, I have no idea what a former soviet fighter plane would sell for.

They have no practical purpose other than to burn fuel, make noise, and make G-forces happen. They are licensed experimental and you can't use it commercially, you can't write it off like those bizjets you mentioned.

 

[dabuddha]

From what I've read, it's extremely hard for my peoples to get a license.

 

[Genx87]

I suggest getting your written out of the way. Then focuse on flying. Flying is the easy part. Min is 40 hours, but should plan for closer to 60. Planes usually rent for 70-80\hour wet and then you will have to pay an instructor.

 

[rudder]

Is it worth doing it? Would a budget of $5K - $10K be a good start or does it usually require much more than that?

Aircraft around me cost about $89 for an older Cessna 152. About $110 for a newer glass cockpit trainer. If you have the money and can fly 2-3 times per week, you can figure about 50 hours total. About 25-28 with an instructor at $40-50 an hour. If you can only fly once or twice a month.. it will take longer and you will likely need more instruction time.

A private pilot license is a license to learn.

If that is too expensive you can always look into a sport pilots license which allows you to upgrade to a private pilot should it not be what you need. Sport light aircraft are a newer category... kind of in between ultralights and small trainers. You are limited on where you can fly... but a lot more affordable if you just intend to toodle around the sky.

 

[rudder]

I've always thought of how cool it would be to own and fly a small plane. You need to rack up TONS of hours before you can actually fly alone though, it's pretty much a full time commitment, not so much a hobby. I went in a plane for my first time about a year ago and it was awesome, to be in the cockpit would be even better!

8-12 hours of instruction and you are soloing.

 

[Pegun]

Never knew they were so close and there's the ability to do that in the RI area. Interesting, I might look into it after I graduate and figure out where I can get a job.

 

[EagleKeeper]

But do you really want to see the gas bill?
Only 24,000 lb/hr @ MIL power total...D:

There must be a couple of buddies of mine still flying/running some USAF tankers.

I should be able to leech a sip or two from them:hmm:

They have no practical purpose other than to burn fuel, make noise, and make G-forces happen. They are licensed experimental and you can't use it commercially, you can't write it off like those bizjets you mentioned.

But the kick in the pants when you push the throttle to the stops is incredible.

 

[fatpat268]

They have no practical purpose other than to burn fuel, make noise, and make G-forces happen. They are licensed experimental and you can't use it commercially, you can't write it off like those bizjets you mentioned.

You're right, it's just type of this some rich guy would pay a boatload for. Cool, but impractical. Doesn't mean I don't want one though.

Also, sorry to OP for going off on a tangent there.

 

[skyking]

But the kick in the pants when you push the throttle to the stops is incredible.

I don't have that kind of cabbage, so I must rely on the pitch control for my thrills. "lower the nose and use whatever road you want for a horizon, WOOHOO!!"