Re: Light-Sport Aircraft Yahoo group the Blame Game

Abid,

Since you ask,,,

In 1999, I saw several trikes and fixed wings for less than 2000, I even thought
about purchasing a fixed wing, mostly due to the low price.
I was not positively impressed with the suspensions, etc.

I did finally purchase a titan trike by Northwing.
with rotax 503, pod, wheelpants, etc and northwing wing.
Total cost was less than 12k.

At that time, I was getting flight training from John Beaman. $50/hr.

Things have changed drastically since then, and not for the better.

R. Williams

---------- Original Message -----------
From: "apollonorthamerica" <apollonorthamerica@yahoo.com>
To: Sport_Aircraft@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Wed, 13 Oct 2010 15:59:38 -0000
Subject: Re: Light-Sport Aircraft Yahoo group the Blame Game

> Hi Richard
> come on man. Which 2 seater exempt trainer UL was $5000 in 2003. And
> which BFI was charging $50/hour including rental if the aircraft in a
> decently maintained trainer
>
> I know that in 2002 cosmos 912 trike with some options cost $40000 and
> it was not as good as trikes you get today with a 912.
>
> I remember us charging $125/hour in 2003 and kemmries charged $150/hour
> abid
>
> --- In Sport_Aircraft@yahoogroups.com, "Richard Williams" <rkwill@...> wrote:
> >
> > tade,
> >
> > IMO: you have missed the mark.
> >
> > The base line for flying expense is NOT GA/private pilot
> > The base line for flying expense is UL/no license.
> > A UL often cost less than $5000.
> > A license was not required nor needed.
> > Training was highly recommended.
> > Training was ~50hr, including the UL (wet) and instructor.
> >
> > Those numbers ($5000 and $50) are what you need to be comparing against.
> >
> > R. Williams
> >
> >
> > ---------- Original Message -----------
> > From: "tadel001" <tadel001@...>
> > To: Sport_Aircraft@yahoogroups.com
> > Sent: Wed, 13 Oct 2010 13:51:33 -0000
> > Subject: Re: Light-Sport Aircraft Yahoo group the Blame Game
> >
> > > I often hear the argument that SP did not make flying cheaper because
> > > the planes cost over $100K. People seem to be upset with the fact
> > > that aircraft cost over $100K and therefore, SP failed to deliver.
> > > First, if the dollar and euro were at the same 2004 levels, there
> > > would be many aircraft under $100K. To simply look at the dollar as
> > > the valuation mark is short sighted. Many of these LSAs listed in
> > > Euro are less than $100K.
> > >
> > > SP actually has made it a lot cheaper to fly. The numbers are
> > > actually about 50-60% cheaper. The average private pilot license cost
> > > $8,000 to $12,000. Our school can produce pilots between $3,500 and
> > > $5,000. So the person that couldn't afford a $12,000 license can now
> > > get a license for under $5,000. I would say that is a huge savings.
> > > That person can now rent an airplane. At a $7,000 savings on the
> > > license and an average rental rate across the country of $100/hour,
> > > that is 70 additional hours of flying (which is a lot for the average
> > > pilot in a year). Now if you own the aircraft, you need to think
> > > about insurance, storage, maintenance, etc... on a $60,000 aircraft
> > > that could be another $5K-$7K a year. So, that is renting a plane for
> > > 50-70 hours a year. I would say that SP has made flying a lot cheaper.
> > >
> > > I don't think the advertisement was "Sport Pilot Rule will make owning
> > > an aircraft cheaper for all." I think the advertisemetn was "Sport
> > > Pilot Rule will make flying more affordable." At 50-60% less cost to
> > > fly, I would say it did that.
> > ------- End of Original Message -------
> >
------- End of Original Message -------

------------------------------------

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