From: al@qiclab.scn.rain.com (Alan Peterman)
Newsgroups: rec.aviation
Subject: Re: Flying saves money (sic)
Keywords: money
Date: 27 Aug 92 15:50:57 GMT
Organization: SCN Research/Qic Laboratories of Tigard, Oregon.

In article <1992Aug27.021247.2384@peck.com> geoff@peck.com (Geoff Peck) writes:
>This question comes up with some regularity.  For U.S. pilots, at least,
>it's interesting that if one takes into account the *full* cost of driving
>vs. the *full* cost of flying, on a per-mile basis, flying a typical light
>single is indeed comparable to driving a late-model car.
>
>Automobile (owned, driven ~15K miles/year)
>
>    Cost = $25K, residual value after 100K miles = $5K.		$0.20/mile
>    Fuel = $1.20/gal, 25mpg					$0.05/mile
>    Regular maint = $100/7.5K, $200/15K, $100/22.5K, $300/30K	$0.02/mile
>    Tires = $400 / 40K miles					$0.01/mile
>    Registration (California), 5 years over 60K miles           $0.06/mile [3]
>    Insurance, $1300/year, 15K miles/year			$0.09/mile [3]
>								---------
>								$0.43/mile
>
>Airplane (owned, 150mph class, flown a mere 100 hours/year -> 15K miles/yr)
>
>    Cost = $40K, residual value after normal use = $40K		$0.00/mile [1]
>    Fuel = $2/gal, 10gph					$0.13/mile
>    Maint = $1600/100 hour insp + $200/50 hour insp		$0.12/mile [2]
>    Reserve = $15K/2000 hr engine, $3/hour other                $0.07/mile
>    Registration (free) and Taxes (California, $500/yr)		$0.03/mile [4]
>    Tiedown: $76/month						$0.07/mile [4]
>    Insurance: $1300/year					$0.09/mile [4]
>								----------
>								$0.51/mile [4]

Now let's make some comparisons of comparable vehicles - either a NEW
plane to compare with the new car - or a similarily used car to the 
used plane...

Car - used -  8 years old, better model

Cost = 5K, residual value after another 100K = 1 K      	$0.04/mi
Fuel 								$0.05
Regular Maintainence - owner done				$0.02
Repairs - $2000 over time (ought to cover it)			$0.02
Tires $250 per 40K  (I can get Michelins for $50 at Costco)	$0.006
Registration (Oregon 5 yrs over 60K - $15/yr)			$0.001
Insurance (used car  $400/yr 15K/yr)				$0.026
								------
								$0.16/mi

NEW plane - Mooney 201 (hey I could do a Bonanza)
I'll use Geoff's 100 hr/yr for "worst case"

Cost = 130K, residual value after normal use 90K		$0.40
Fuel $2/gal 10 gph						$0.10
Maintainence  $1000 per year (cheap!)				$0.05
Insurance  $1500/yr						$0.075
Registration ($50/yr - no taxes!)				$0.002
Hanger (nice plane- can't leave it out at $100/mo)		$0.06
Reserve 15K/2000 hrs engine and $3 other stuff			$0.07
								-----
								$0.76

Hummm - lokks like a new plane costs more than a new car, and a
used plane costs LOTS more than a used car...This also doesn't
count in the cost of maintaining currency for the pilot.  Even
as a fairly active pilot (150 hrs/yr) I spent a considerable
amount of my flying time keeping current and proficient so many
of my hours were not spent using the plane, but just in proficiency
(which isn't to say I didn't enjoy them)...


-- 
Alan L. Peterman                                 (503)-684-1984 hm & work
                       al@qiclab.scn.rain.com
It's odd how as I get older, the days are longer, but the years are shorter!
Newsgroups: rec.aviation