Do you have an engine and prop reserve out of that $45 an hour? How
about a reserve for insurance, hanger or tiedown rent, annual inspection
fees? I'm sure that the plane (being a 150) is paid for so that fee
doesn' apply.

I am worried that you are giving the guy too rosy of a picture of plane
ownerhship expenses. Maybe you are and if so these are very reasonable
numbers. It costs me over $1000 a month to keep and fly our Mooney.

Jon Kraus
'79 Mooney 201
4443H @ UMP

wrote:

Rom wrote:

Few questions:
1. Are my estimates around the right range?
2. What can a no-rating owner expect for insurance per year on a
C150/C152 here?
3. Maintenance... Tricky, I know... but what are the average cost on
annuals?...
4. What should I look for here?
5. Additional little questions:
a) hangar cost - what do you all recommend here? Hangar? Tie-down?
b) landing fees - how do these work
c) who do I talk to at a local airport (KAPA is closest to
Highlands Ranch) to find out about these?

Rom


The next time on a long driving trip, when you see an airport sign,
pull in and try to rent a plane. I did this in 2004 as a road trip took
me through all but two states west of the Mississippi. I found not a
single place where I could pull in and rent a plane. Some FBOs didn't
rent. Others did rent, but only if you were a local flyer. All of them
required a check-out ride which would take 1.5 hours or so, and after
jumping through that hurdle, they often required you to schedule the
plane days in advance. For long trips they required you to pay 3 hours
rental each day whether you flew or not. So . . .

I bought a Cessna 150 IFR equippped in the price range you mentioned
and have averaged 150 hours each of the last two years. I can fly when
I want, have the plane in exactly the condition I last flew it, fly for
days or land and tie-it down at some remote airport for several days,
and the total cost, including fuel, oil, hanger, all inspections,
maintenance, repair, insurance, and set-aside for engine overhaul is
still *less* per hour than the rental rate in this part of the world
(Missouri.)

For instance, my cost in 2005 (150 hours) including everything
mentioned above was $45.00 per hour.

I also think owning your own plane is a safety issue because I control
who flys and works on the plane. In addition I learn the quirks of that
particular plane.