On Fri, 16 Apr 2004 01:29:18 GMT, Angus Davis
wrote:

On 4/15/04 5:27 PM, Boris wrote:

1) Is 3K-5K a realistic estimate of the cost of getting VFR rated?

Probably closer to $5k, or even higher, depending on things such as
buying headsets for your entire family, etc.

Where I learned to fly, the cost was $145 with an instructor and $99
solo. That seems about average, doesn't it?

The absolute minimum amount of time of training necessary to be
allowed to take your flight exam is 40 hours, right? I do not know
what percentage of that would be dual and what would be solo, but I
think the 40 hour figure is way low as most people these days take 20
and more hours just to get to the point where they can solo. 60 or 70
hours seems more reasonable before trying for the exam.

I'm guessing that there needs to be 20 to 30 hours of dual. Taking
the high end, that's $4350. Leaving 40 hours (again, taking the high
end) of solo time to build skills and do cross countries at $99/hour.
That's $3960. That totals $8310 for the ticket, not including
incidentals like headsets and gadgets like GPS's and handheld radios.

At the low end, assuming Boris takes to flying like a duck takes to
water, you have perhaps 20 hours of dual at $145/hour for $2900.
Another 20 hours of solo work at $99/hour for $1980 for a total of
$4880 to get the ticket.

My impression is that not many folks manage to get their license in
the minimum time so $5,000 looks like the absolute minimum, using
those average training costs you might expect.

Does that seem realistic?

Corky Scott