Average Costs

[WingingIt74]

Now that I've picked a paint scheme and done things backwards, what are the costs associated with a S7? I figured just to let a Cessna 172 sit, the minimum per month would be $500 (hangar, insurance and annual).

SLSA:
LSA:
Annual:
Insurance:
Opperation/Hour:

Thanks,
Travis

[carsonvbaker]

Travis, mine works out to about $50 / hr. No hangar, no annual (I perform) and $10 / hr engine overhaul fund. Insurance cost not included.
Vic

[WingingIt74]

Thanks!

What should an annual run?

[avidflyer]

The annual conditional inspection on my Avids ends up being $240. 4 hrs @ $60 per hr. If you build and get the repairman's certificate, you can do your own. Take care, Jim Chuk

[WingingIt74]

Thanks. For some reason I have $3000 stuck in my head, I wonder if that's for a Bonanza A36. I'm trying to decide if I want to buy my Grandpa's first plane, early 70's Cessna 172, or build a KitFox. Trying to compare apples to apples.

[SkySteve]

My last annual cost $160. Done by an AI.

[RobS]

Flying a 1959 172A and my last annual was $2800. That included:

Reaming the valve guides, lapping the valves, new springs, etc. on two cylinders
New ignition harness
Replaced rudder bushings
New exhaust riser for one cylinder
Added a vernier mixture control
and repairs of a few minor squawks
Labor was $1800, parts $1000.

[avidflyer]

With my Avids, the AnP gives me a list of things to fix and I do them myself (that is if he finds anything to fix) I should have mentioned another cost that you asked about: insurance. I pay $377 per year for liability ins. Take care, Jim Chuk

[WingingIt74]

I was talking with a pilot friend of mine about a Cessna. He told me, if you go to a dealer about it is about $2500 and if you use local mechanic at your hanger or his about $1000 per year.

Why is a KitFox so much less, just curious? Is it because it's less complex and a newer aircraft?

[HighWing]

A quick story. A freind was giving rides in his Aeronca. On one landing to drop of and then pick up another passenger there was a rattle in one of the wheels. A check found that one of the clips that helped secure the brake rotor was missing. I asked him if he had spares in his hangar. His response, "I can't fix this, it needs an A&P".

So, in short, you can do all maintenance. You can follow your A&P around and note discrepencies and fix them yourself. In my opinion, there should be no labor charge in the annual condition inspection. Then if you build yourself, that part will be a parts only deal as you will do the rest including the log book endorsement.

Lowell

[WingingIt74]

Anyone have an idea on insurance for a low time newbie pilot? Is a KitFox good for a newbie pilot?

[akflyer]

Annuals on a certified plane every year are all about how you maintain your plane. To say that an annual will cost XXX each year is not really being honest with yourself. A plane is kind of like a boat. All through the year you are doing little things here and there to maintain it, the nickle and dime stuff, but every 6 or 8 yrs you better be ready to dig in your pockets for the big ticket items.

Alot has to do with how you take care of your plane. If you do nothing but gas it up and fly the crap out of it all year, then be ready for a big hit come annual time. If you maintain it and keep up on the little things, it can easily prevent a huge cost down the road. My last inspection done by the AI was under a hundred bucks.. hardly worth his time to come look at my plane. We ended up trading out R/C stuff for it (I gave him a heck of a bonus).

To say that an annual at Cessna will be 2500 is kinda bunk.. They may charge 2500 for a basic annual, but then comes the additional parts and labor that rack up VERY fast!

[mr bill]

Over the last 15 years, my 1975 Skyhawk II annuals cost $250. I did all the work and the IA did the inspection, AD research and log books. Insurance was $1200 per year and hangar was $1700 per year.

[SkySteve]

Pretty cheap hangar rent

[Jerrytex]

Travis,

I just got insurance on my recently completed KF IV. I am a low time pilot too. It costs, $1496 a year through Falcon. You can do payments for a small fee. My policy is full coverage with hull valued at $28,000. The coverage is somewhat reduced during phase one but kicks in fully afterwards.

[896tr]

A Cessna 172 vs. a KITFOX????? What's there to compare?