Just for fun , Here are some actual numbers ......
Regarding costs , the Bonanza I fly occasionally
costs me $ 105 / hr wet
the 172 costs $ 51 / hr wet ( seems high )
the club Cherokee 181 costs $ 42 / hr wet
How does this compare ?
At these costs though , I feel that the experience and
satisfaction are well worth the cost of admission .
----------
> From: Ed Burkhead <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
> To: JR <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>; Coupe-list <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
> Subject: Re: New 'coupes
> Date: Saturday, October 02, 1999 4:53 PM
>
> Liked your cost analysis.
>
> I've been comparing by the Median Family Income.
>
> In 1947 (when my Coupe was built) the median family income was $1,700
> according to my Almanac. The Coupe sold for about $3,500.
>
> Now, in 1999, the national median family income is $39,000- ($42k in
> Midwest) and by that measure, a factory new Coupe would run about
> $78,235. That makes current low-end factory planes seem equivalently
> priced to what was paid for a Coupe way back then.
>
> Those people back then wanted their Coupes enough to invest TWO YEARS
> worth of median family income. That wasn't a cheap plane. And get
> this: Fred Weick told me that no one expected the fleet of coupes to be
> flying ten years after manufacture. He expected them to be superseded
> by newer, better designs. So the cost of buying was expected to be just
> for a 10 year use.
>
> I've had my plane for 20.7 years. Bought it for $4,500 in 1979.
> Overhauled it and recovered it for ~$6,500 in 1983. Got a _thorough_
> annual in 1998 to correct lots of airframe, rigging, and other items for
> $5,500.
>
> In the early years, I budgeted about $500/annual and often got one
> improvement within that budget. My last annual (a year after the big
> killer one) was $350 (with no upgrades).
>
> Flying isn't cheap. Your analysis of the cost of ownership matches mine
> pretty closely. I'd fly cheaper if I rented. It may come to that one
> of these days. In the meantime I do love my Coupe.
>
> --
> Ed Burkhead
> Peoria, Ill.
> N3802H
>
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