On Fri, 20 Aug 2004 03:36:15 -0500, Barnyard BOb -
wrote:

On Fri, 20 Aug 2004 07:32:43 GMT, Roger Halstead
wrote:

On 19 Aug 2004 16:09:22 -0700, (Mike) wrote:

I'm trying to get a good objective reading on what the actual hourly
cost is to operate a Kitfox, Avid, or RANS type aircraft with a Rotax
912/14 and 582. I know what it is to overhaul the engines, but I need
feedback from someone who has actually recorded the information and
can give me imperical information. Any takers???


As a "Wild Assed Guess" (WAG), I'd guess the Kitfox would run between
$20 to $30 per hours. We were flying a Cherokee 180 at $37 per hour
with 5 people flying it. Flying 130 hours per year the Deb was costing
me $79 per hour.

Roger Halstead
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

WAG is right.
Not enuff specific info from mike, because...

If the annual total costs are $2000 and you fly one (1) hour...
That COULD be $2000 an hour.

Amen!

As you say below, add insurance, hanger, interest... Of course for one
hour the gas and oil *should* be almost negligible compared tot he
other expenses.

Actual figures: Let's see. Insurance $1700, hanger 140/month=
1680/year and the annual ran $1750 this year, for $5130 fixed costs.
14 GPH at $2.80 = $39.2
So one hour would run me $5169.20.
10 hours drops the cost 5522/10=$552.20/hour
and 100 hours = $9050/100= $90.50 per hour.
If I could manage to get 130 hours as I flew for most years that is
10,539.6/130=$81.07

I did neglect the oil changes in there, or any likely incidental
maintenance AND the $10 per hour I add for the major. Yearly interest
if any should also be added as it's an expense that you never get
back.

As it costs me nearly $40 per hour for gas and a minimum of $10 per
hour toward the major and an oil change every 25 hours, The variable
cost per hour is a minimum of roughly $55.

Roger Halstead (K8RI & ARRL life member)
(N833R, S# CD-2 Worlds oldest Debonair)
www.rogerhalstead.com

Flying my RV-3 under my specific circumstances...
I never have had the hourly cost below $55 an hour
and I fly more than 100 hours a year. If I fly less hours
a year, have the hangar rent, insurance and the time
value of money increase, the hourly cost can rise....
DRAMATICALLY.


Barnyard BOb - over 50 years of flight