So, whats it cost to learn how to be a pilot?

[Hawklore]

Just recreational.


I've always wanted to fly, and seeing everyone else soloing and getting ther PPL, who are 4x my age make me feel lousy.




What are the requirements?

Do you have to be mentally stable?

What about all that radio chatter, that tends to get me confused.

And all those gadgets!

[deSelys]

Originally posted by Hawklore

...
Do you have to be mentally stable?
...
 

Best question ever!!!

Don't worry, if you're qualified as mentally unstable, you've filled the first requirement to be a skydiver

[Hawklore]

Originally posted by deSelys
Best question ever!!!

Don't worry, if you're qualified as mentally unstable, you've filled the first requirement to be a skydiver

Ugh,

Everyone wants me to skydive.

No way in hell am I jumping out of a gliding aircraft that has a 90% chance of landing.

[RTR]

Do you have to be mentally stable?

That is kind of an odd question.


But, yeah I highly recommend being mentally stable before you start flight training. No telling what your mental status is gonna be after training though!

Radio chatter....you will get used to listening to the important stuff pretty quickly.

All those gadgets.....You'll get them all figured out pretty quickly too!

Cost...I think it's pretty close to $4000 or so for a private licence up here. Probably a bit cheaper in the US.

RTR

[nuchpatrick]

Hawk, I've been pricing it out here in Orlando which isn't too far from you.  It's looking like its going run @ 4500+ w/a Cessna 150 if you want to get rated for Instruments look to pay an extra 1500 to 2000.

[Golfer]

Those numbers are too low.  ESPECIALLY for florida

Plan on $7000.

[mars01]

Cost...I think it's pretty close to $4000 or so for a private licence up here. Probably a bit cheaper in the US.

WOW 4k maybe 5 years ago.  What is the price per hour wet where you guys are for a 152?  With gas prices increasing, airport taxes and insurance we are up to $92 and hour wet for a 152 and tack on 45 for the instructor.  

FAA regs need mandatory minimum of 40 hours total, figure 25 hours duel at $137 = $3425 + 15 hours solo at $92 = $1380 total at 40 hours = $4805.

Now the average PPL get their license at more like 60 total hours, figure 10 more duel and 10 more solo.  That will add $1370 and $920 to the $4805 which = $7095.  

So it is safe to expect at least 6k to get you license.  Expect to fly at least twice a week 2 hour blocks until you solo, then you should be flying at least once a week solo and if you can once a week with your instructor.  

The biggest mistake people make is letting to much time pass between lessons.  Then you end up rehashing everything you did the last session rather than building on it.

I would recommend, if you have the 6k and the time DO IT.  You will thank yourself over and over and over.  

[Hangtime]

Think 5 grand is a lot? for a hobby?

It ain't.

Relative costs of my 'hobbies'

Shooting:  great hobby. one of those 'indespensible skills'. Also hugely interesting for a history buff.. a great hobby for someone who has some mechanical smarts and is good with thier hands since every weapon can use a bit of 'smithing' to improve some aspect of it's character. And like most hobbies, it converts money into a skill. Assuming a normal 'arsenal' and about 5,000 rounds of ammo a year and range fees.. a cool 5 grand to get yer skills up to 'expert'.

Model Aviation: A great 'american pastime'. Lots of winter evenings on the building benches; lots of beautiful days down at the flying field tooling around the sky with your awsome model airplane. Like most of the 'great' hobbies.. a similar 'great' investment in time and cold hard cash. To get to the point of being rated a 'decent' pilot and obtaining expert building skills.. at LEAST 5 grand, and probably double that.

Ham Radio: An interesting world filled with amazing science fiction gadgetry and incredibly arrogant and miserable old salamanders crouched over thier 90 year old morse code keys. Hugely interesting capabilities, concepts and technology, large learning curve. But.. talking to the Astronauts direct, bouncing signals off of passing meteors, raising Auckland on the HF.. hey; that's cool. About 1 to 2 grand builds up a good 'shack' and the stuff you learn might save somebodys life.. like your familys in a natural disaster.

Sailing: A boat is a hole in the water into which one pours money. But, the skills learned are classed right up there with the other 'fine arts' like flying and shooting.. and again; the skill set you obtain can and probably will save some lives. You learn about weather on a personal level, how to tie some dandy knots, and you get to talk like a pirate. You become a 'skilled' at about  5 grand invested. Hopefully.

I'll let the other guys fill yah in on some of the other hobbies like motorcycles, skiing, surfing, etc... suffice to say that 5 grand to 'get in' is cheap for a skillset like flying... and it IS a hugely fun and rewarding pastime, worth every nickel invested every time you do it.

Charge ahead.. DO IT!

[Saintaw]

Jump out of teh plane: 20$ ... you get to fly as well!

[RTR]

Yep, sounds like my numbers are way off. (still living in the 70's hehe).

RTR

[Hawklore]

I've spent about 2,500 probally even more, into my WW2 reenacting hobby.

So is there any difference in cost helicopter vs. fixed wing?

[mars01]

LOL yeah about 200 bucks for the copter rental an hour.

[Maverick]

Originally posted by Hawklore
I've spent about 2,500 probally even more, into my WW2 reenacting hobby.

So is there any difference in cost helicopter vs. fixed wing?

Helicopter will be hideously expensive. Rates, dry, for a small Enstrom in AZ are about $250.00 + per hour, then add the instructor to it.

[B@tfinkV]

you might think that $4-7k is alot of money for a pilots licence, but you'd be wrong.



just think, most of us paid between $1-2k just to play this game.


In the UK you're looking at around £7-10k ($13-17k) for your PPL and in other countries this way round the globe it only gets more expensive till you reach the western USA again, if my judgment is correct.. France is cheaper to learn in the the UK though i think.



I have been working towards mine for 7 or so years, and only have 8 hours in small prop planes (with aerobatics and tow releases/landings under my belt in gliders) and i am coming up to 24 years old.


If you want a licence, starting 'next week' is too late, and unless you're very wealthy, or have a sugar daddy, it will take you a while.

[straffo]

I was about to write that Hang forgot cats among is hobbies list ... when I remembered it's the reverse ,Hang is a cat hobby, not the "contraire"