How often do you Fly?

[EridanMan]

I suppose one of the reasons that the forum is so off topic at the
moment is whether has most of us grounded...

Thinking along those lines though...

How often do the rest of you get out flying? once a week? once a
month?

I've found that since I purchased 4261J, I've been 'forcing' myself to
the airport more and more (at least twice a week)... I mean, after you
start spending so much for insurance, tiedown, and the rest, it seems
like an awfully big waste to not make it as much as possible...

I'm actually not complaining (at all), considering my workload at the
moment, I'd probably just as well be going home and passing out...
this way at least I have at least two hours every week where I
actually feel alive...;)

How about how guys... how much do you 'actually' fly? how do you fit
it into your day to day life?

[Shirl]

"EridanMan" > wrote:
> How often do the rest of you get out flying?

Once a week, sometimes more, and I usually find some reason to *have to*
go to the hangar every couple of days -- fixing, cleaning, polishing, or
just hangin' out (no pun).

[Denny]

I've been a renter and I've been an owner and I always fly more,
usually double, when owning compared to renting... Psychologically as
a renter you are always concious of that Hobbs meter running...
As an owner the only additional cost for an extra half hour is some
gas and a little oil... Owning is lots more expensive than renting,
but I prefer owning....
denny

[Michelle P]

EridanMan wrote:
> I suppose one of the reasons that the forum is so off topic at the
> moment is whether has most of us grounded...
>
> Thinking along those lines though...
>
> How often do the rest of you get out flying? once a week? once a
> month?
>
> I've found that since I purchased 4261J, I've been 'forcing' myself to
> the airport more and more (at least twice a week)... I mean, after you
> start spending so much for insurance, tiedown, and the rest, it seems
> like an awfully big waste to not make it as much as possible...
>
> I'm actually not complaining (at all), considering my workload at the
> moment, I'd probably just as well be going home and passing out...
> this way at least I have at least two hours every week where I
> actually feel alive...;)
>
> How about how guys... how much do you 'actually' fly? how do you fit
> it into your day to day life?
>
Off season once a month.
On season: daily, up to 27 days a month up to 8 hours a day.

Michelle

[Jay Masino]

EridanMan > wrote:
> How often do the rest of you get out flying? once a week? once a
> month?

Once or Twice per week, year around. Although, I don't have the
wanderlust of many pilots, and am more than satisfied with short, local
trips and practice work in the pattern. As a result, it's not that
unusual for me to log around 50 hours for the year.

> I've found that since I purchased 4261J, I've been 'forcing' myself to
> the airport more and more (at least twice a week)... I mean, after you
> start spending so much for insurance, tiedown, and the rest, it seems
> like an awfully big waste to not make it as much as possible...

Definitely. When I rented, some 15 years ago, I'd only manage to fly
once every 3-4 weeks.

Cragg! It seems like our planes may have rolled out of Vero Beach
fairly close together. My N# is 4269J, and according to the FAA site,
our serial numbers are only 10 apart.

--- Jay


--

Jay Masino "Home is where My critters are"
http://www.JayMasino.com
http://www.OceanCityAirport.com
http://www.oc-Adolfos.com

[Gary[_2_]]

I'm averaging about twice a month during the winter. That will go
back up in the spring, hopefully to once a week.

I belong to a club, and availability of our aircraft is quite good.
My flying time now is generally limited by weather, ski weekends away,
and my slothful reluctance to go out in the cold after work and mess
with the engine heater just to get in some night hours...

[Matt Barrow[_3_]]

"EridanMan" > wrote in message
ups.com...
>I suppose one of the reasons that the forum is so off topic at the
> moment is whether has most of us grounded...
>
> Thinking along those lines though...
>
> How often do the rest of you get out flying? once a week? once a
> month?
>
> I've found that since I purchased 4261J, I've been 'forcing' myself to
> the airport more and more (at least twice a week)... I mean, after you
> start spending so much for insurance, tiedown, and the rest, it seems
> like an awfully big waste to not make it as much as possible...
>
> I'm actually not complaining (at all), considering my workload at the
> moment, I'd probably just as well be going home and passing out...
> this way at least I have at least two hours every week where I
> actually feel alive...;)
>
> How about how guys... how much do you 'actually' fly? how do you fit
> it into your day to day life?


From March to mid-November, two to three times a week. In 2006, it was 336
hours (that included a five week grounding after surgery, during which I
hired a temp Commercial pilot). In 2005, it was 418 hours.

It fits my life because 80-90% of those flights are business related. Most
trips are 445-500nm.

I've been "blessed" with our situation (family business).


--
Matt Barrow
Performance Homes, LLC
Colorado Springs, CO

[Matt Barrow[_3_]]

"Denny" > wrote in message
oups.com...
> I've been a renter and I've been an owner and I always fly more,
> usually double, when owning compared to renting... Psychologically as
> a renter you are always concious of that Hobbs meter running...
> As an owner the only additional cost for an extra half hour is some
> gas and a little oil... Owning is lots more expensive than renting,
> but I prefer owning....

I figure my cutout point is about 200-250 hours a year, after which owning
is cheaper. Then, it would be damn near impossible to rent the equipment
that we use for our typical mission.


--
Matt Barrow
Performance Homes, LLC
Colorado Springs, CO

[[email protected]]

On Feb 28, 10:44 pm, "EridanMan" > wrote:
> I suppose one of the reasons that the forum is so off topic at the
> moment is whether has most of us grounded...
>
> Thinking along those lines though...
>
> How often do the rest of you get out flying? once a week? once a
> month?
>
> I've found that since I purchased 4261J, I've been 'forcing' myself to
> the airport more and more (at least twice a week)... I mean, after you
> start spending so much for insurance, tiedown, and the rest, it seems
> like an awfully big waste to not make it as much as possible...
>
> I'm actually not complaining (at all), considering my workload at the
> moment, I'd probably just as well be going home and passing out...
> this way at least I have at least two hours every week where I
> actually feel alive...;)
>
> How about how guys... how much do you 'actually' fly? how do you fit
> it into your day to day life?

Typically at least once a month, but I decided to take this winter off
from flying since I have been very busy. I am planning on getting
current again in March or April.

Dean

[Shirl]

"Matt Barrow" > wrote:
> From March to mid-November, two to three times a week.
> In 2006, it was 336 hours (that included a five week
> grounding after surgery, during which I hired a temp
> Commercial pilot). In 2005, it was 418 hours.
>
> It fits my life because 80-90% of those flights are
> business related. Most trips are 445-500nm.

Just curious ... what airplane?

[Longworth[_1_]]

On Mar 1, 12:44 am, "EridanMan" > wrote:
> How about how guys... how much do you 'actually' fly? how do you fit
> it into your day to day life?

We fly as often as weather and schedule permit. We put in over
300hrs in 2005 (with several very long x-country trips) but got down
to over 200hrs last year. About 80% of our flights are local with ~
80% practice flights (shooting approaches, practicing maneuvers
etc.) and ~ 20% for hobby photography/sight seeing. The remaining
20% are long distance x-country from NY to MI, IL, MN, CO etc.
We are mainly weekend pilots with some weekdays or weeknights
flights (mostly in the summer).
We are planning for a 3 weeks coast-to-coast trip and will certainly
rack up a lot more hours in 2007.

Hai Longworth

[Kingfish]

On Mar 1, 10:59 am, "Matt Barrow" > wrote:

> I figure my cutout point is about 200-250 hours a year, after which owning
> is cheaper. Then, it would be damn near impossible to rent the equipment
> that we use for our typical mission.
>

Good point there... The rental fleet here in CT is essentially limited
to PA-28s and 172s with the odd Seneca thrown in. If you need to move
4-5 people and bags and still take full fuel a PA-32 is pretty tough
to beat. There used to be a pair of nice Saratogas available, one FG
and one RG, but those are long gone.

[Jay Honeck]

> How often do the rest of you get out flying? once a week? once a
> month?

We have flown twice per week since we bought our first plane in '98.
Weather (like the freezing rain we've been cursed with all week here)
eliminates some, but we plan two week-long flying vacations every year
that make up for it.

Of course, one of those is Oshkosh, where we actually fly LESS than
any other week of the year!

:-)

It adds up to 150 - 200 hours per year.
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

[EridanMan]

> Psychologically as a renter you are always concious of that Hobbs
> meter running...
> As an owner the only additional cost for an extra half hour is some
> gas and a little oil... Owning is lots more expensive than renting,
> but I prefer owning....
> denny

I _completely_ agree, and I'll even admit that its pretty illogical,
but owning, despite how (obscenely) more expensive than renting it is,
really returns more 'valuable' flying experience to me(I can just
relax and enjoy the flight and not worry about a clock ticking over my
head).

As I said, it also tends to spur me to get out flying more than I used
to when I rent (the "Well, I'm paying for her anyways, lets get the
most of my money!"...

I think its the purely psychological - the ownership costs are all
sunk into my fixed budget, which I plan out and can tolerate. When
I'm renting, the substantially lower renters costs are coming out of
my 'fun' budget, which I am much more aware of, and hence the costs
are more painful (even if they're substantially less).

[Shirl]

"EridanMan" > wrote:
> I _completely_ agree, and I'll even admit that its pretty illogical,
> but owning, despite how (obscenely) more expensive than renting it is,
> really returns more 'valuable' flying experience to me(I can just
> relax and enjoy the flight and not worry about a clock ticking over my
> head).

After owning, it isn't the clock ticking that makes renting undesirable
for me -- it's the question marks about maintenance. Yes, I know rental
aircraft are required to be inspected more often, but having worked at a
place that rented airplanes, I also know that unless it is *required*,
it isn't always done, and not every ongoing maintenance item is divulged
to renters. You can ask to see the maintenance records of airplanes you
rent, but it's still impossible to really *know* the maintenance history
or have any control over it like you do when you own...not to mention
knowing being in control of who else flies it.

[Ol Shy & Bashful]

On Feb 28, 11:44 pm, "EridanMan" > wrote:
> I suppose one of the reasons that the forum is so off topic at the
> moment is whether has most of us grounded...
>
> Thinking along those lines though...
>
> How often do the rest of you get out flying? once a week? once a
> month?
>
> I've found that since I purchased 4261J, I've been 'forcing' myself to
> the airport more and more (at least twice a week)... I mean, after you
> start spending so much for insurance, tiedown, and the rest, it seems
> like an awfully big waste to not make it as much as possible...
>
> I'm actually not complaining (at all), considering my workload at the
> moment, I'd probably just as well be going home and passing out...
> this way at least I have at least two hours every week where I
> actually feel alive...;)
>
> How about how guys... how much do you 'actually' fly? how do you fit
> it into your day to day life?

I can empathize with your position. But, I fly everyday as an
instructor and average 800 hrs per year. Sometimes I have to keep my
eyes closed when I wake up at 0500 and tell myself..."This is going to
be a fun day with your students. Remember, it's new to them." then I
get up, have a cup of coffee while I help my wife get the baby ready
for nursery school and we each head off to our respective jobs. Really
takes some serious self discussion when I hit 8 hours on the job, and
know I'm going to keep on saying...."Right Rudder please?" right up to
dark and looking at a 12 hr day at the airport.
Must be something fun about it all or I'd have quit 20-30 years ago?
Most likely will top 24,000 hrs this year at the present rate. Weather
has me on the ground today so I get to do housework, vacuum, laundry,
pick up the baby, etc. I wouldn't change anything in my life. Really
been blessed with this little guy and it makes it all worth while.
Ol Shy & Bashful

[JGalban[_19_]]

I try to fly once a week. Occasionally, other commitments will result
in a two week gap. If it's been more than two weeks, that's when I
will "force' myself to head to the airport and take the plane up.
Airplanes do not like to sit idle. In the old days, I used to have a
lot more maintenance issues when the plane was allowed to sit for long
periods of time.

John Galban=====>N4BQ (PA28-180)


--
JGalban
Posted at www.flight.org

[Hawkeye]

I rented aircraft at places like that. Once I rented a 172 that you
had to open the window just to be able to hold onto the door to close
it. The passenger door had the window sealed shut, so you had to close
it from the outside after your passenger got in. I complained and
refused to rent that particular airframe. They had the stupidity to
raise their rates, everyone stopped renting from them. Eventually they
finally broke down and sent their aircraft for major refurbishment
complete with all new interiors. Guys were willing to drive 50 miles
to rent a brand new 172 at a much higher rental rate, than fly their
trash. The learned eventually.

[Matt Barrow[_3_]]

"Shirl" > wrote in message
...
> "Matt Barrow" > wrote:
>> From March to mid-November, two to three times a week.
>> In 2006, it was 336 hours (that included a five week
>> grounding after surgery, during which I hired a temp
>> Commercial pilot). In 2005, it was 418 hours.
>>
>> It fits my life because 80-90% of those flights are
>> business related. Most trips are 450-500nm.
>
> Just curious ... what airplane?



Until last December, a Beech B36-TC converted to a turbo-normalized IO-550.
Until mid_January, we lived in Montrose, CO (elev 5600) and had to cross the
mountains on every trip, so that's were the turbo came in.

I did find, though, that the extra two seats were excess; only a dozen or
some times did we ever use five seats.

Now, I'm getting ready to close on a very nice four place.

--
Matt Barrow
Performance Homes, LLC
Colorado Springs, CO

[Kingfish]

On Mar 1, 9:20 pm, "Matt Barrow" > wrote:
>
> > Just curious ... what airplane?
>
> Until last December, a Beech B36-TC converted to a turbo-normalized IO-550.
> Until mid_January, we lived in Montrose, CO (elev 5600) and had to cross the
> mountains on every trip, so that's were the turbo came in.
>
> I did find, though, that the extra two seats were excess; only a dozen or
> some times did we ever use five seats.
>
> Now, I'm getting ready to close on a very nice four place.
>

What are you looking at? Cirrus or Columbia maybe?

[Matt Barrow[_3_]]

"Kingfish" > wrote in message
ups.com...
> On Mar 1, 9:20 pm, "Matt Barrow" > wrote:
>>
>> > Just curious ... what airplane?
>>
>> Until last December, a Beech B36-TC converted to a turbo-normalized
>> IO-550.
>> Until mid_January, we lived in Montrose, CO (elev 5600) and had to cross
>> the
>> mountains on every trip, so that's were the turbo came in.
>>
>> I did find, though, that the extra two seats were excess; only a dozen or
>> some times did we ever use five seats.
>>
>> Now, I'm getting ready to close on a very nice four place.
>>
>
> What are you looking at? Cirrus or Columbia maybe?

A Columbia 400 is at the top of my list, but if the guy wants to cut a deal,
I have to get it done in the next week or so. March is the time of year I
start flying out to look a potential development sites. We have prepared
portfolios for over 60 properties to go out and eyeball. Of those, we'll
probably pick 20 or so. Getting up to speed is going to take, I figure, at
least five days of "all day' classes.

I've been itching to get into something with turbines, both for the safety,
capability, and the much greater area we can cover. A lot will depend on
the real estate market coming out of the doldrums. It's not THAT bad, at
least the areas I cover. We're also trying to expand out light commercial
development.

Thing is, in looking at a lot of different alternatives, I've found our
mission and loading would best be served by an Eclipse 500. I see the
Eclipse 500 as a replacement for the light piston twin. Unfortunately, even
if I popped for the deposit, it would be two years before I could get
delivery.


--
Matt Barrow
Performance Homes, LLC
Colorado Springs, CO

[Kingfish]

On Mar 4, 4:08 am, "Matt Barrow" > wrote:
>
> I've been itching to get into something with turbines, both for the safety,
> capability, and the much greater area we can cover. A lot will depend on
> the real estate market coming out of the doldrums. It's not THAT bad, at
> least the areas I cover. We're also trying to expand out light commercial
> development.
>
> Thing is, in looking at a lot of different alternatives, I've found our
> mission and loading would best be served by an Eclipse 500. I see the
> Eclipse 500 as a replacement for the light piston twin. Unfortunately, even
> if I popped for the deposit, it would be two years before I could get
> delivery.
>

TBM 700/850 maybe? If you're thinking twin - Cheyenne, King Air 90?
There are many good choices on the used market. I fly a Pilatus for a
charter company and love the airplane, although it sounds like it may
be more than you need.