Originally Posted by Brav989
If someone were to buy a used aircraft for around $40,000..How much would it generally cost overall to run it for 1 hour? Based on fuel/maintnence/whatever else would be needed?
Fuel, Routine Mx, Non-Routine Mx, Engine overhaul Reserve, Insurance, Annual, Hanger/Tie Down, Surprises.
In 1997 a good number to use to safely operate the aircraft and pay for all expenses, except for a loan payment, was four times the cost of fuel. It worked out pretty well. From 1996 - 1998 I owed a V-tail Bonanza (285 hp). I flew it 250 hours. It cost $100/hr average plus the cost of the loan. Fuel was $2.00/gal at the time. At an average of 13 gal/hr the cost is right at the number above. Knowing fuel is double that now maybe it's about three times the cost of fuel currently.
Just found my old aircraft cost calculator: for a single engine, fixed gear, four cylinder aircraft with a mid time engine and average avionics, figuring $4 gal for fuel, and 20% down with a $32,000 note at 9%, 120 months: here would be the total costs - 100 hours - $15,300 or $153/hr, 150 hours annually, $18,300 or $122/hour, or 200 hours annually, $21,300 or $106 hour. These cost do not include a monthly hanger or tiedown fee, but include estimates for everything else. I might be overestimating Mx by about $5/hr, maybe more depending on how much you can do yourself, how good of shape the aircraft is in, and how lucky you get.
Initial membership fees are charged to help reduce the published hourly rate of the aircraft. The average GA club pilot fly's about 40 hours annually during the first year. If you take the $1425 fee and divide it by 40 you get about $35/hr. Add that to the $65/hour (is that dry or wet? Bet it's dry...) and you get about $100/hr real cost (plus fuel). Remove the small profit for the club/FBO owner, add hourly fuel, and there's your real cost...guessing in the range of $115/hr.