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From: wanttaja@ssc-vax.UUCP (Ronald J Wanttaja)
Newsgroups: net.aviation,net.misc
Subject: Cheeep Aviating (not about lost interest, no sireee..)
Message-ID: <660@ssc-vax.UUCP>
Date: Mon, 22-Apr-85 14:07:39 EST
Article-I.D.: ssc-vax.660
Posted: Mon Apr 22 14:07:39 1985
Date-Received: Tue, 23-Apr-85 07:22:01 EST
Distribution: net
Organization: Boeing Aerospace Co., Seattle, WA
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Xref: watmath net.aviation:1543 net.misc:7887


> What's the most inexpensive (Non-military) way to get your private
> pilots licence? And what's the best way to get cheep flight hours?
> 

There are, of course, two things that one must pay for... an instructor and
the use of an aircraft.  Ways to get aircraft use cheap:

1.  Block time rental.  Offer an FBO "X" dollars for "Y" hours of
guaranteed use of his aircraft.

2.  Flying clubs.  Many offer reasonable rates.  Beware, they may only
allow the use of their own instructors, though

3.  Joint ownership.  Actually, a form of a flying club, except you and
some (trusted!) friends go together and buy a plane.  If you read my
recent masterful :-) treatise of ownership, you can see that dividing the
cost among, say, four people would give very low cost flying.  BE VERY
careful, though; do research, and get everything done nice and official.

4.  Civil Air Patrol (CAP- but sometimes known as the Completely Ridiculous
Air Patrol).  CAP quite often has some of the advantages of Flying Clubs
with just minor inconveniences.  Back ten years ago when I was learning,
they rented a Citabria for $10/hr (wet) when the 150's at the FBO were
$18/hr.  Bird Dogs were $13/hr (sigh).  CAP can be a good deal sometimes,
as units are required to keep a certain utilization rate and many have
trouble making it, therefore rental rates are held down.

The cheapest way to get an instructor is to find one who will teach you for
nothing.  NOTE:  NO ":-)"!

I have had three CFIs offer to give me free instruction, just pay for the
plane.  Two of them were glider types (actually, I think the Boeing Soaring
Club gives free instruction to power types trying for the additional
rating), and the third was an old buddy of mine in a different state
(rats!).  Actually, my old buddy has three students... none of which he
charges.  He likes to fly, he likes to instruct, he can't *live* off
instructing, so he has a "real" job and teaches people to fly for the fun
of it.  Check around with flying friends; someone may know a similar
fellow.  CAP might be a good source for this sort of instructor.

It is not *impossible* to learn to fly cheap... I earned 40 free hours of
time in a Citabria by doing janitorial work for CAP.  A local A&P/CFI
charges $30/hour for dual in his Champ.  A last word of advice... for cheap
flying, stay away from the larger airports- go to the municipal and grass
strips.

                                    Ron Wanttaja
				    (ssc-vax!wanttaja)

Glory, Flying Regulations,
Have them read at all the stations,
Burn the hide of those who break one,
THE FORCE IS SHOT TO HELL!