Todays Cost of getting a PPL

"john smith" wrote in message
...
After reading John's (BucFan) posting and the revelation that he spent
$12,500 to get his PPL, I have to wonder how representative this is?
It certainly is daunting, to say the least.
Is this is true, it is certainly a factor in the decline in pilot starts
and completions.
Where you live:
What are the going rates for dual instruction?

What are the rates and aircraft being used for training?

I did indeed include "everything". Some of the items I did not list in the
initial post were the study materials I used for the written exam (I bought
the Sporty's DVD set), books (Rod Macados book, the FAA Airplane Flying
Handbook, Aviation Weather etc), charts and A/FDs, supplies (lap board, red
light head lamp for night flying), the written exam fee, checkride fee, and
a timer for xc legs ( I got sick of trying to use my watch). I am sure I
forgot some things, but you get the idea.

I use MS Money to track my bills and stuff, so when I started flying I
created a "flying" category and put everything in there.

A little more info. I live in North Alabama and flew out of one of the few
remaining flying clubs on an army base, the airport designator is KHUA. The
cost of airplane rental was:

C152 - wet this started out at 60.50 (I think) an hour and was raised to
65.50 early this year or late last year, I do not remember exactly.

Piper Warrior - I think this was 79.50 an hour wet. I can not check on it
because they sold the plane.

The instructor was 22.00 an hour.

Club dues are 35 a month, I think this was 30 a month when I joined and they
were raised last year. The fee increases were directly related to fuel
costs.

I ended up with 91.7 hours total. My dual time was 69.0.

Remember also, this was spread over 2.5 years, so if you average it out I
think it was about 400 a month. I had budgeted 500 a month for flying
lessons, but there were some months where I spent 0 and some where I spent
700 or so. Hope this helps!

John
PP-ASEL