----[Please read http://ercoupers.com/disclaimer.htm before following any advice in this forum.]----
My 2 cents worth concerning the cost of flying.........
In respose to this chain of flying expences, I'm to tight to rent a
hangar or pay tie-down fees so I
own my own airport (grass strip). Thought it would be fun and less
expensive. Now all I have to pay is
HUGE insurance for liability, MUCH maintenance and upkeep on the ground
and the tractors and mowers,
property taxes, etc, etc, etc.
I thought I might build some more hangars and get other plane owners
to help share this expense but
the idiiots in charge of running this County won't allow me to build any
more hangars.
My airport dates back to pre-WWII, yet when this county 'position' was
established they zoned the
airport as 'agricultural' so now I can't build on it because I would be
"Further Escalating The Misuse
Of Agricultural Land". There are just to many 'enviromental wackos' in
the local government around here
for an honest person to survive.
Save the rights of bugs, worms and fish, but have no regards for the
rights of humans.
They can't close me down because it's 'grandfathered in' as an airport
but I can't build more
hangars to help support it. Yet they'll issue building permits to build
houses all around me on other
'agricultural' land. Maybe they think the more 'noise complaints' I get
the more likely I am to close
it down. SURPRISE.....I'll answer all the phone calls they can make but I
WILL NOT close my airport!
How's that for being a stubborn ol' geezer? Okay,I'll close now and take
the heat for my 'Attitude'.
I'm leaving for Arlington for the NWEAA fly-in, airshow, party and fun
late tonight. Three days of
airplanes, airplanes, airplanes, and not a phone to ring. GREAT!!!
Also, just a reminder, the last Sunday of September I'll be hosting my
7th Annual 'Walker Airport
Open House' and 'Oregon Ercoupe Erforce Fly-in Weenie Roast/Pot-luck'.
Last year we had 65 people
attend, I think a couple of dozen coupes, and miscellaneous other planes
representing four states.
Everyone is welcome so 'y'all come' now, hear?
Remember it's a potluck, (I furnish the hotdogs and soft drinks etc.)
and the 'Stealth Racer' from
Reno usually makes at least one 'low, fast and loud' fly-by. This always
turns a lot of heads but so far
it still remains 'unseen'. (Who flies this mystery ship?)
For you guys-n-gals who aren't used to landing on turf, I just hired a
company to bring out their
big 12 ton roller/compactor and he spent half a day just driving it up and
down the ruway to make it as
smooth as possible for the 'hard surface' pilots. It was a little rough
last year but it should be
noticably smoother this year. (Another privelage of being an 'airport
owner', I get to pay the bill
instead of complaning to the owner. This alone costs more than the total
cost of putting it on last
year.)
Lucky me, huh? Gee this is fun!!! What a great hobby we have!
;-)
Okay, so I'll close this 'novel', gotta get outside and get some work
done so I can leave for
Arlington tonight..
Come join us at Arlington this week-end and try and make it to Walker
in September. Prizes for
Oldest Pilot, Youngest Pilot, Furtherest Flown in, Furtherest Driven in
and best looking Ercoupe by
popular choice. (Don't forget to cast your vote while you're there.)
Bob Saville
N3396H 415C
Eugene, OR
Oregon Wingleader, EOC
"Oregon Ercoupe Erforce", Our motto........ "Keep Coupes Flying"
Ed Burkhead wrote:
> ----[Please read http://ercoupers.com/disclaimer.htm before following
any advice in this forum.]----
>
> I also have hangar and insurance.
>
> It costs me $2500/year to admit, humbly, that I own a plane. I suppose
it
> gives some status among my associates (respect or crazy, I don't know).
>
> Flying costs about $8-$12/hour for fuel and oil. (I suppose I should
include
> a budget for overhaul, but I don't.)
>
> If I put the money in a logical account at the beginning of the year as
> spent, I have to go fly often to get value out of my pre-paid
recreational
> account and bring the flying cost per hour down.
>
> Ed Burkhead
> N3802H, Ercoupe 415-D
> Peoria, IL
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Fred Hensley [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> Sent: Wednesday, July 11, 2001 6:57 PM
> To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]; [EMAIL PROTECTED]
> Subject: [COUPERS] Cost of flying
>
> ----[Please read http://ercoupers.com/disclaimer.htm before following
any
> advice in this forum.]----
>
> Has the group ever calculated the average cost of keeping their coupes
in
> the air. These are my "first" figures. Any comments????????
>
> Fuel 5gal.X $1.50 7.50
> Oil .50
> Maint. (Annual) 10.00
> Hourly engine reserve 7.00
> Hourly prop reserve 1.00
> Total variable cost / Hour $26.00
>
> Average Speed 90
> Average variable cost per hour $0.29
>
> Insurance /year 800.00
> Tiedown /year 450.00
> Annual check ride 100.00
> Total Fixed cost / year $1350.00
> Average hours flown / year 75
> Average fixed cost / hour $18.00
> Total variable cost plus fixed cost /hour $44.00
>
> Hope I didn't leave out any heavy expenses. This is bad enough on a
retirees
> check...
> Fred Hensley
> N2689H
> Punta Gorda, Fl (PGD)
> _________________________________________________________________
> Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com
>
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