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From: wanttaja@ssc-vax.UUCP (Ronald J Wanttaja)
Newsgroups: net.aviation
Subject: Costs of Ownership:  A Case History
Message-ID: <595@ssc-vax.UUCP>
Date: Fri, 5-Apr-85 14:18:18 EST
Article-I.D.: ssc-vax.595
Posted: Fri Apr  5 14:18:18 1985
Date-Received: Sat, 6-Apr-85 04:13:38 EST
Distribution: net
Organization: Boeing Aerospace Co., Seattle, WA
Lines: 111

I've been doing some serious figuring the last couple days as to what
it actually costs to own my aereoplane.  Thought I would share these figures
with the net; if you aren't interested, just hit the 'ol break key...

TYPE/YEAR OF PLANE:  1965 Cessna 150E

In retrospect, a very good choice for a first airplane.  Mechanical everything
(flaps, starter (pull cable type)), and my A&P says 150s are the cheapest 
planes to annual and maintain.  It is a minimal aircraft, even Cubs and Champs
cost slightly more to annual.  The '65 is the last year of the straight rudder,
so it doesn't look like a newer model, but I like the look of the straighttails
(which, besides, are more effective than the swept rudder).

PURCHASE COST:  $6000

A tad higher than average, perhaps, especially for so old an airplane.  The
engine has about 1450 hrs on a 1800 TBO reman engine.  A bit high, but
compression is good, and the TBO is a recommended value; no problem
remaining in service as long as it runs good and the compression is up.
Might hurt a bit at resale time, though.  In balance, however, is a
three-year old Imron paint job... non-pilots are astounded to find the
plane is 20 years old.  My A&P says, "Take care of it, and you'll have no
problem getting your money back."

MISC. PURCHASING EXPENSES: $750

This included state taxes, registration, and a couple of little things I
wanted corrected from the start, such as checking the rigging.  One thing I
should have got was a pre-buying inspection by an A&P.  I was new to
aviation here, and didn't know where to go.  The A&P I found later charges
$50 for such an inspection; it would be well worth it.

So all in all, I paid a tad less than $7000 for a $6000 airplane.  I didn't
have to worry about finance costs (long-time readers of net.micro.cbm might
guess why...), so this was just an immediate out-of-pocket expense.

		      OPERATING COSTS

ACTUAL:

I'm going to go through my actual costs, then go thought a minimum-cost
optimum case.

Maintenance:   $500.00  (annual, a solenoid, new plugs, some other minor 
			 stuff at the annual)
Insurance:     $520.00  (Full coverage; liability and hull, air included)
Tiedown:        432.00  (12 mos. at $36/month - Auburn Muni A/P)
State Reg.       55.00  (B*stards have their thumbs in everything... but
			 $50 of that is deductable)
                ------
TOTAL FIXED:   $1507.00 (yearly non-flying costs)

Flying costs:  Didn't keep receipts, 60 hrs @ 7 gal/hr (including taxi,
etc), avgas at $1.75/gal (Crest Airpark)

TOTAL FLYING:  $ 735.00

TOTAL=         $2242.00

Per Hour (60 hours flown)= $37.36/hour

Now, I should add $5/hr to that for a maintenance kitty... but I don't do
it for my cars, and if the engine breaks, I'll sell the plane and take the
loss.

Now, the 152s around here rent for about $30/hour... So I pay about $8 an
hour for being able to go ANYTIME I want, stay as long as I want, and for
the privledge of sitting in the cockpit making engine noises if the
weather's bad :-).

Now, eagle eyes out there may have noted that I used AVGAS in my operating
costs... note that, using Autogas (I have the STC) the total flying cost
would have been $525 (assuming $1.25/gal).  BUT the total hourly rate would
have dropped only slightly; to about $34/hour.  At the number of hours I
fly, the gas cost is not a major factor!

LOW COST METHOD!

Maintenance:  $200.00  (Annual and one or two little things)
Insurance:     198.00  (liability ONLY!  Actually, I've found an insurer 
			that costs only $420 for the same coverage as last
			year)
Tiedown:       276.00  (12 months at $23/month, in the weeds at Crest)
State Reg:      55.00  (Earlier comments apply...)
               ------
TOTAL FIXED:  $729.00

Operating expenses, 60 hours/year:  $525 (using autofuel)

TOTAL HOURLY RATE:  $20.90/hour!

This is probably as sharp as anyone would dare cut it.  I hope to match the
maintenance cost shown, though (my A&P was thorough this year, so should
only have to worry about solenoids and oil changes), and I definitely
will go with the cheaper (full coverage) insurance.  I won't change
locations (Airports are equal distance from home) as I like Auburn far
better than Crest from the safety standpoint- Crest is a runway surrounded
by trees and powerline, Auburn is in open farm country.  And at Auburn, I'm
tied down on asphalt, with a security fence and security patrols.

Ownership has been a real eye-opener (not to mention a blast...) and is
probably less expensive than a lot of vices I could develop.

Comments?

					  Ron Wanttaja
					  (ssc-vax!wanttaja)

P.S. Right back at Norm... Gee, just take the spinner off, get the
mechanic to install extra-long prop studs, then go to the lawn-mower
place and buy one of those ropes with a handle...