Total Cost of Ownership

Talking just dollars that will leave your pocket.

Inspections vary from $75 to $250 or so.

Insurance, full coverage, will run about 3% of insured value per year. Some companies will allow an off season "storage" rate where you will not have "in motion hull or liability coverage." Via Costello, "in motion" means from the start of takeoff roll to the end of landing roll. It has nothing to do with moving in the trailer or even towing around the airport. At least, that was the most recent word I had from them.

Spare parts. How much are you planning on breaking it?

Parachute re-pack will run around $100 each time it is done.

You will spend another $100 per year on other misc things, like polish, new yaw string, wing tape, etc. Just count on it. It will happen.

There will be things that come up every 3-5 years, such as hydrostatic inspection of oxygen bottle, replacement of tape on mylar seals, trailer tires, etc. If you figure $200 for a set of tires over 5 years, that is $40 per year for that. Double that to cover other time related items.

Property tax or state registration fee. Can be anything from $10 to $1000 per year for a $30K sailplane, depending on your state.

How much is it going to cost you to park the trailer at the airport?

Easy to get to $1500 per year.

That has been my experience.

Steve Leonard