Going inactive

On Apr 2, 9:29*am, "Jay Honeck" wrote:
I simply cannot afford to fly anymore. *I am
going inactive as a pilot until my financial situation is good enough
that I can justify it.

That sucks, Dean, but I've got an idea. *In fact, I'm executing it myself.

I've gathered together six fellow pilots (most of whom already own other
aircraft) and we're going together to buy an LSA Ercoupe. * Total investment
will be (at most) $4K per person. * Fuel burn will be 4 - 5 gallons of mogas
per hour.

Mary and I realized that burning 25 gph at takeoff in an airplane that
carries four people at 142 knots and can haul 1460 pounds is great when
you're traveling, but makes little sense when we're flying to a nearby
pancake breakfast. * Who cares if you're going more than 90 knots, when it's
the *flying* that is the point?

So, for less than the cost of a motorcycle, we're all going to get an LSA
aircraft. *In the long run it will save us money AND be a lot of fun! * You
might look into some similar set up?
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

Maybe after my wife starts working again... I am thinking that the
only way I could afford to fly then will be if I can get on my buddy's
insurance and fly his Kitfox. Right now I simply don' t have the time
or money to spend on flying...

Dean

6 people x $4k = $24k

Check Barnstormers...most LSA Ercoupes are closer to $30k...



"Jay Honeck" wrote in message
news:cDNIj.102710$yE1.42133@attbi_s21...
I simply cannot afford to fly anymore. I am
going inactive as a pilot until my financial situation is good enough
that I can justify it.

That sucks, Dean, but I've got an idea. In fact, I'm executing it myself.

I've gathered together six fellow pilots (most of whom already own other
aircraft) and we're going together to buy an LSA Ercoupe. Total
investment will be (at most) $4K per person. Fuel burn will be 4 - 5
gallons of mogas per hour.

Mary and I realized that burning 25 gph at takeoff in an airplane that
carries four people at 142 knots and can haul 1460 pounds is great when
you're traveling, but makes little sense when we're flying to a nearby
pancake breakfast. Who cares if you're going more than 90 knots, when
it's the *flying* that is the point?

So, for less than the cost of a motorcycle, we're all going to get an LSA
aircraft. In the long run it will save us money AND be a lot of fun!
You might look into some similar set up?
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

wrote:
Well, I just received an email from the local flying club stating that
the we rates for Archers is now $90 per hour.

Given that I haven't had a salary increase since 2001, the cost of
living has gone up over 22% since then, and my wife is back in school
getting her B.S. degree, I simply cannot afford to fly anymore. I am
going inactive as a pilot until my financial situation is good enough
that I can justify it. I doubt I will be able to fly again sooner
than autumn of 2009. This will be the first hiatus I have taken from
flying since I received my license in 1991...

Two hours of flying time pays for a season pass at the local ski
area...

Dean
Wow! Where can you get a season ski pass for $180? Around here it's
$500-$750.

Al
SFF/Spokane Wa
1964 Skyhawk

On Apr 2, 7:07*pm, Al wrote:
wrote:
Well, I just received an email from the local flying club stating that
the we rates for Archers is now $90 per hour.

Given that I haven't had a salary increase since 2001, the cost of
living has gone up over 22% since then, and my wife is back in school
getting her B.S. degree, I simply cannot afford to fly anymore. *I am
going inactive as a pilot until my financial situation is good enough
that I can justify it. *I doubt I will be able to fly again sooner
than autumn of 2009. *This will be the first hiatus I have taken from
flying since I received my license in 1991...

Two hours of flying time pays for a season pass at the local ski
area...

Dean

Wow! *Where can you get a season ski pass for $180? *Around here it's
$500-$750.

Al
SFF/Spokane Wa
1964 Skyhawk- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

Bogus Basin Ski Area, Boise Idaho. They go on sale in Feb for $199.00

On Apr 2, 11:29 am, "Jay Honeck" wrote:
I simply cannot afford to fly anymore. I am
going inactive as a pilot until my financial situation is good enough
that I can justify it.

That sucks, Dean, but I've got an idea. In fact, I'm executing it myself.

I've gathered together six fellow pilots (most of whom already own other
aircraft) and we're going together to buy an LSA Ercoupe. Total investment
will be (at most) $4K per person. Fuel burn will be 4 - 5 gallons of mogas
per hour.

Mary and I realized that burning 25 gph at takeoff in an airplane that
carries four people at 142 knots and can haul 1460 pounds is great when
you're traveling, but makes little sense when we're flying to a nearby
pancake breakfast. Who cares if you're going more than 90 knots, when it's
the *flying* that is the point?

So, for less than the cost of a motorcycle, we're all going to get an LSA
aircraft. In the long run it will save us money AND be a lot of fun! You
might look into some similar set up?


I had Ercoupe fever until I went to a seminar on them at OshKosh last
year and learned about intergranular spar corrosion. You might want
to look into it if you haven't. All Ercoupe spars (except for the
Alons apparently) were manufactured in one batch in the 1940s and
passed down from company to company. This corrosion results from
manufacturing defects, not environment, so there's no way to prevent
it. Nasty stuff, and virtually undetectable until the plane is no
longer airworthy. Pity, Ercoupes sure are cool (and relatively
affordable).

On Apr 1, 10:06*am, wrote:
Well, I just received an email from the local flying club stating that
the we rates for Archers is now $90 per hour.

Given that I haven't had a salary increase since 2001, the cost of
living has gone up over 22% since then, and my wife is back in school
getting her B.S. degree, I simply cannot afford to fly anymore. *I am
going inactive as a pilot until my financial situation is good enough
that I can justify it. *I doubt I will be able to fly again sooner
than autumn of 2009. *This will be the first hiatus I have taken from
flying since I received my license in 1991...

Dean, I have heard your story before and I am gonna tell you the same
thing I tell others. If you have been flying since 91 I am sure you
have alot of experience and ratings by now and it shouldnt be too
difficult to get to the point where you arent paying for your flying
anymore. For example, does your club need any part time instructors ?
What about the local FBO ? If you dont like instructing how about
charter. I know charter can be time consuming but with the growth of
all these light jets many charter pilots do not want to fly turboprops
anymore. Many charter outfits are having a tough time staffing entry
level positions in TBMs, and King Airs, etc.
Another thing you can try is looking for pilots who have just bought
airplanes and need some time for insurance or a checkout. Last year I
got some time in a SR20 and a BE200 flying with new owners. The down
low nap of the earth flying was a nice break from my day job.
Dont give up. Most of the stuff I have mentioned wont pay more than a
few hundred bucks a day, but having a mission or a purpose will make
flying more fun than just drilling holes in the sky.
FB

Jay Honeck wrote:

I've gathered together six fellow pilots (most of whom already own other
aircraft) and we're going together to buy an LSA Ercoupe. Total investment
will be (at most) $4K per person. Fuel burn will be 4 - 5 gallons of mogas
per hour.

So, Jay, its taken you years, but you are confirming my sage advice.
Allow me to refresh your memory...

http://tinyurl.com/6yuyxq


--
Frank Stutzman
Bonanza N494B "Hula Girl"
Boise, ID

wrote:

Wow! ?Where can you get a season ski pass for $180? ?Around here it's
$500-$750.

Al
SFF/Spokane Wa
1964 Skyhawk- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

Bogus Basin Ski Area, Boise Idaho. They go on sale in Feb for $199.00


And what Dean doesn't say that Bogus is about a 30 to 45 minute drive from
downtown Boise and has night skiing. Now that I've relocated here, the
family getting back into skiing.


--
Frank Stutzman
Bonanza N494B "Hula Girl"
Boise, ID

So, Jay, its taken you years, but you are confirming my sage advice.
Allow me to refresh your memory...

http://tinyurl.com/6yuyxq

Cool! However, you forgot to suggest that "six other pilots" part that gets
the overall price down to less than a trip to Mickey World....

:-)
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

On 2008-04-03 10:39:08 -0700, "F. Baum" said:

On Apr 1, 10:06*am, wrote:
Well, I just received an email from the local flying club stating that
the we rates for Archers is now $90 per hour.

Given that I haven't had a salary increase since 2001, the cost of
living has gone up over 22% since then, and my wife is back in school
getting her B.S. degree, I simply cannot afford to fly anymore. *I am
going inactive as a pilot until my financial situation is good enough
that I can justify it. *I doubt I will be able to fly again sooner
than autumn of 2009. *This will be the first hiatus I have taken from
flying since I received my license in 1991...

Dean, I have heard your story before and I am gonna tell you the same
thing I tell others. If you have been flying since 91 I am sure you
have alot of experience and ratings by now and it shouldnt be too
difficult to get to the point where you arent paying for your flying
anymore. For example, does your club need any part time instructors ?

Since I have an hour drive each way to the airport, instructing has a
hard time even paying for my gas to drive there, especially during slow
weather months.




--
Waddling Eagle
World Famous Flight Instructor