Any pilots??

[JohnnyB]

My current project is finishing the lower level of our house. Already thinking my next project is going to be an ampibious kit plane....piper or zenith kit. Anyone been down this path....

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[CantRepeat]

No, but in the words of James Belushi in the movie About Last Night,

I once nailed two airline stewardesses at 36,000 feet. You know what? It was fun. I had a fun time!

[ProStar190Fan]

While I have never built a plane, I am a CFI and commercial pilot with multi-engine and instrument privilages. Would be a really cool project, post a lot of pics.

[blackcreek]

I have been flying since 1980, airplanes make owning a boat look really inexpensive.

[maxpower220]

What airplane ratings do you have? If you are starting from scratch, you may be very surprised at the cost of getting licenses. Oh, and just because you have a license, that doesn't mean you know what you are doing. Just ask JFK Jr. Amphib adds a whole new dimension to the fun.

[Traxx822]

I beg to differ. I own a Cessna 150M 1975. With my gas milage and VFR needs. My boat costs way more than my Cessna. And as far as I go with flying. If it wasn't factory built ... i'm not flying it. I'm sure you have heard the saying. Theres old pilots and there is bold pilots however no old and bold pilots. Cause they are all dead. I hope you know what you are doing and have an A&P in your hand.

Dropped a recent photo of my plane. And I don't want to hear no bs about FAR's in here

[Gnargnar]

Again...atta boy traxx

[JohnnyB]

While I have never built a plane, I am a CFI and commercial pilot with multi-engine and instrument privilages. Would be a really cool project, post a lot of pics.

Probably at least a year off of getting serious about this......been doing lots of reading on certification s, etc. you are right.....might not be affordable

Of course from the time I was 10 until I was 30, I only dreamed of owning an mc....


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[blackcreek]

I beg to differ. I own a Cessna 150M 1975. With my gas milage and VFR needs. My boat costs way more than my Cessna. And as far as I go with flying. If it wasn't factory built ... i'm not flying it. I'm sure you have heard the saying. Theres old pilots and there is bold pilots however no old and bold pilots. Cause they are all dead. I hope you know what you are doing and have an A&P in your hand.

Dropped a recent photo of my plane. And I don't want to hear no bs about FAR's in here

A 1975 Mastercraft with 5000 hours on it is probably pretty inexpensive also. The boat doesn't require an annual or 5,000-10,000 bucks in extra training costs just to operate it. There is a good chance you can keep your boat at your house like I do and avoid tie down or 300 dollar a month hangar fees. If I want to work on my factory made boat I don't need an A&P and I can usually find any of the GM or Ford engine parts at the local wrecking yard or NAPA.
A fair comparison since boats and airplanes operate at fairly constant high horsepower levels would be engine size. My 100 Hp boat is going to be much cheaper to operate than the cessna 150 overall. Bump the horsepower level up to 300 and the chevy motor trounces the IO 540 airplane motor in overall operational costs.

[Traxx822]

A 1975 Mastercraft with 5000 hours on it is probably pretty inexpensive also. The boat doesn't require an annual or 5,000-10,000 bucks in extra training costs just to operate it. There is a good chance you can keep your boat at your house like I do and avoid tie down or 300 dollar a month hangar fees. If I want to work on my factory made boat I don't need an A&P and I can usually find any of the GM or Ford engine parts at the local wrecking yard or NAPA.
A fair comparison since boats and airplanes operate at fairly constant high horsepower levels would be engine size. My 100 Hp boat is going to be much cheaper to operate than the cessna 150 overall. Bump the horsepower level up to 300 and the chevy motor trounces the IO 540 airplane motor in overall operational costs.

My engine cost 12k new. the engine is 100hp. The plane weights 1075lbs empty. lasts 2400 hours before needed overhaul My plane has 1000 hours so the plane will outlast me and the time that I own it. it flys 400 miles on a tank and sips 5.5 gallons an hour. Tie down $75 month at city municipal airport in Chicago. I fly almost every morning. My airplane never exceeds 2500rpm. Horizontally opposed engine, lead gas, dual spark plugs give full burn, $5.50 / gal. 100mph avg. speed & Insurance $650/year and annual inspection $600. This year I rotated spark plugs & two oil changes about $300. My cost a year with fuel is around $3000. My boat destroys that in fuel alone. $250/ weekend. (that's $5k in 12 weekends) plus toys, drinks, upgrades, repairs, & my slip @$850/year. I bought my plane so I didn't have to rent one during training. So my total cost with fuel was $3800 ish to get my license. Sorry but for under 20k you can be flying a nice plane. And there is nothing wrong with a 1975 plane. Most the planes at my airport are older (say 1950-1980) and cost between$50k- $100k. Age has no bearing on planes. A p-51 mustang, which you cannot get parts for, nortoriously break down because of being such old technology are over 1million. You talking 1950's plane. I'm actually looking to upgrade to a 4 seater Piper arrow 3 1978. (about $55k) Or Mooney H20 (preferably) (about $50k).

I want more people to get into general Aviation. Its a common misconception that it is too expensive to own and operate your own aircraft. I sacrificed a new Silverado for the plane so I drive a work truck that has no AC. But I have a plane and an MC ;-0

[johnlanguab]

Those are encouraging words! I too, was thinking of trying to find a Cessna 150, 152 or 172 to get my pilot's license.

I keep getting frustrated with the costs or annuals, overhauls, and general maintenance. However, the $3k a year number is definitely doable. I didn't know the overhaul interval was 2400 hours on the 150's. That's a lot of hours!

[Voodoo]

My engine cost 12k new. the engine is 100hp. The plane weights 1075lbs empty. lasts 2400 hours before needed overhaul My plane has 1000 hours so the plane will outlast me and the time that I own it. it flys 400 miles on a tank and sips 5.5 gallons an hour. Tie down $75 month at city municipal airport in Chicago. I fly almost every morning. My airplane never exceeds 2500rpm. Horizontally opposed engine, lead gas, dual spark plugs give full burn, $5.50 / gal. 100mph avg. speed & Insurance $650/year and annual inspection $600. This year I rotated spark plugs & two oil changes about $300. My cost a year with fuel is around $3000. My boat destroys that in fuel alone. $250/ weekend. (that's $5k in 12 weekends) plus toys, drinks, upgrades, repairs, & my slip @$850/year. I bought my plane so I didn't have to rent one during training. So my total cost with fuel was $3800 ish to get my license. Sorry but for under 20k you can be flying a nice plane. And there is nothing wrong with a 1975 plane. Most the planes at my airport are older (say 1950-1980) and cost between$50k- $100k. Age has no bearing on planes. A p-51 mustang, which you cannot get parts for, nortoriously break down because of being such old technology are over 1million. You talking 1950's plane. I'm actually looking to upgrade to a 4 seater Piper arrow 3 1978. (about $55k) Or Mooney H20 (preferably) (about $50k).

I want more people to get into general Aviation. Its a common misconception that it is too expensive to own and operate your own aircraft. I sacrificed a new Silverado for the plane so I drive a work truck that has no AC. But I have a plane and an MC ;-0

Flying aircraft is how I make my living. This does not in any way make me an expert with respect to either building a kit/homebuilt aircraft or from commenting on the above poster's experience with his 1975 plane. It all comes down to what you intend to do with the machine -- and the more you intend to accomplish with the machine then the more capabilities both you and the machine will require. Capabilities cost money, and in the case of aircraft or piloting privileges, they may cost alot of money.

If your intent is to fly "around the patch", bag a few landings in good weather and do some sight-seeing then perhaps this can be accomplished with a low aircraft budget, like the one described above. And in this case, you will need the minimum pilot privileges which will have the least cost to obtain.

However, if you see yourself flying longer distances (height and speed requirements), in congested airspace (avionics requirements), with a few passengers and luggage (load capacity, bigger engine (s), more fuel) in less than good weather (avionics requirements) then we are talking a whole new ballgame in terms of aircraft capabilities and pilot licensing requirements. In fact, the avionics alone can easily exceed the entire cost of the airplane mentioned above.

Flying is alot of fun. The key to longevity is to first obtain the requisite skill, commensurate with your intended activities, and then to consistently maintain your proficiency -- to the level at which you are rated.

Building an aircraft sounds like a fantastic project and I wish you all the best -- lots of folks do it successfully. Even though I have a veritable sh1tpot of flying experience, if I was to build an airplane, I sure as hell wouldn't be the first to fly it -- I'd hire a test pilot.

Voodoo

[mikeg205]

My engine cost 12k new. the engine is 100hp. The plane weights 1075lbs empty. lasts 2400 hours before needed overhaul My plane has 1000 hours so the plane will outlast me and the time that I own it. it flys 400 miles on a tank and sips 5.5 gallons an hour. Tie down $75 month at city municipal airport in Chicago. I fly almost every morning. My airplane never exceeds 2500rpm. Horizontally opposed engine, lead gas, dual spark plugs give full burn, $5.50 / gal. 100mph avg. speed & Insurance $650/year and annual inspection $600. This year I rotated spark plugs & two oil changes about $300. My cost a year with fuel is around $3000. My boat destroys that in fuel alone. $250/ weekend. (that's $5k in 12 weekends) plus toys, drinks, upgrades, repairs, & my slip @$850/year. I bought my plane so I didn't have to rent one during training. So my total cost with fuel was $3800 ish to get my license. Sorry but for under 20k you can be flying a nice plane. And there is nothing wrong with a 1975 plane. Most the planes at my airport are older (say 1950-1980) and cost between$50k- $100k. Age has no bearing on planes. A p-51 mustang, which you cannot get parts for, nortoriously break down because of being such old technology are over 1million. You talking 1950's plane. I'm actually looking to upgrade to a 4 seater Piper arrow 3 1978. (about $55k) Or Mooney H20 (preferably) (about $50k).

I want more people to get into general Aviation. Its a common misconception that it is too expensive to own and operate your own aircraft. I sacrificed a new Silverado for the plane so I drive a work truck that has no AC. But I have a plane and an MC ;-0

Thread jack - Fly every morning? and boat on weekends? That' some rough livin' now I am gonna have to hook up with ya...

Now resuming our interrupted thread....

[mikeg205]

No, but in the words of James Belushi in the movie About Last Night,

I once nailed two airline stewardesses at 36,000 feet. You know what? It was fun. I had a fun time!

great scene!!

[Traxx822]

Thread jack - Fly every morning? and boat on weekends? That' some rough livin' now I am gonna have to hook up with ya...

Now resuming our interrupted thread....

Thread Jack
Yea pretty much every morning. I'm up at 5am to get my guys ready for the day and I have weekend crews too so usually after I gas em up and send them out the door to go to work I have about 2 hours free time and I go watch the sun come up behind Chicago.

Back to biz
Voodoo - well said I'd enjoy building it. Would never fly it. My plane is just that. For sight seeing and light commuting. Anything over a hour and a half and your done flying my plane trust me. But thats perfect for Chicago to Madison WI or Lafayette IN is only an hour +- with wind. Hence why the C-150 is called the commuter.

Glad to see you are undertaking a cool project though. Keep us posted