On 13-Sep-2005, "Howard Nelson" wrote:

At WVI 100LL is now $4.31/US gal. Might take couple of years to empty the
FBO tank at that rate .

Fuel cost for C182 now approx. $50/hr.

Think this might have an effect on the number of hours I fly and the
resale value of light aircraft used for pleasure?

C182 150mph @ 12gph = .30/mile fuel cost.

More like .34/mile for $4.31/gal avgas

Auto 60mph @ 3gph = .10/mile fuel cost

This would require $2.00/gal mogas -- not likely these days


Commercial airline .10mile total cost

For flights of around 400 nm (460 sm), where you would likely consider
flying a light airplane, typical 1-way ticket price might be around $150
(assuming round trip purchase with lots of restrictions). That comes out to
$.33/mile. However, if two are traveling (typical load in a light plane or
car for this trip) total cost would be $.66/mile.


An alternative is a more efficient airplane:

Piper Arrow 135 kts (156 mph) @ 9.4 gph = .26/mile fuel cost. (assuming
your $4.31/gal for 100LL)

A Mooney would do even better.

Also, note that a given trip by auto will typically be about 30% longer (in
miles traveled) than the straight-line flown by an airplane. Realistically,
that comes out to:

Auto 46 mph (straight-line equiv. going 60 mph) @ 3gph = .19/mile fuel
cost (assuming $2.87/gal for mogas)

--
-Elliott Drucker