To buy or not to buy?

[topflight]

I think I am ready to invest in a trike. After all the sh#t happening in this country it will be better for me to invest in a trike rather than investing in another house

I will only be able to buy it next year, but to get things started I have a couple of questions.

What is the operating cost for a trike (582, wet)?
What is the average cost for hangerage?
What is the annual license fee for a trike?

If you want to add anything else that might be important; please do so.

Thank you

[vernon11]

Hans Owns Microland, so he should be able to give you all the dope.
Good luck and well done on the discision.
When you do start, Fly safe.
Vernon.

[pietmeyer]

Topflight

Buying a trike is just getting a big black hole into which you just throw money constantly........but worth every penny. Cost is irrelevant when you you start flying. You make it work and best of all can always justify spending more money on your hobby

Enjoy and welcome to the dark side

[BOOMARANG]

I wil give you an idea on what I pay.

Hangarage R440
Fuel R1000 (I fly about two hours every weekend = 10l p/h + twostroke oil)
Traveling R700 ( Thats my cost to drive to airfield and back and I stay 56 km from field)
AP inspection R400 (once a year)
ATF R550 (once a year)

The rest , except for major servisec is mostly fuel filters, spark plugs, and small items that break and have to be replaced.
You may hit bad luck on a landing and pick up a stone that damage your prop and it can cost you R6000+. Or damage a tyre damage , ASI quits etc etc, but those are the unpredictable things that could set you back big bugs if they happen.

I would say that my flying cost me about R2500 + per month, but its worth every sent. What pietmyer says is true.My old buzzcom system still worked OK , but I spent a couple of thousand on a nice AIRMAGIC system. I'm constantly doing and spending on my trike and its my passion, keeps me happy and allows me to fly......a priviledge few have .

[pietmeyer]

So my advice is not to look too much into cost. By doing that I cannot afford to fly. When I have cash, I fly. If I am a bit short in cash, I fly a little less....until I have cash then I fly some more

[vernon11]

When you do buy and have your licence, and dont have the confidence to fly far. Derig. load onto the trailer, drive down to us at Port Edward, and have some of the most rewarding flying you could ever want.

Vernon.

[Tumbleweed]

If you're on a budget don't buy the cheapest crap that everyone says is a good trainer and spend forever trying to upgrade.

Rather find an ideal dormant Microlander with an awesome under-utilised trike and buy a share.

[V]

Hmm, if cost is important, then keep the triple-f rule in mind: if it flies, floats or f**ks, then it's cheaper to rent than to buy ...

Cheers,

V.

[cornell]

I think I am ready to invest in a trike. After all the sh#t happening in this country it will be better for me to invest in a trike rather than investing in another house

I will only be able to buy it next year, but to get things started I have a couple of questions.

What is the operating cost for a trike (582, wet)?
What is the average cost for hangerage?
What is the annual license fee for a trike?

If you want to add anything else that might be important; please do so.

Thank you

Don't buy a aircraft for a investment NEVER

[topflight]

Thank you for all the advice.

I have my license a couple of years now, but I do not spend a lot of time flying due to the cost of "hire and fly". It is probably still cheaper if you don't fly a lot...but who will fly a lot if they "hire and fly"...

I will probably look into the advice received from Tumbleweed...then I can share the costs with someone.

[pietmeyer]

Keep the followong in mind when going out to buy a flying toy.....This all happened to me

If your budget for a trike is R80 000, you will spend at least R120 000
If you find the perfect trike (R120 000 later) with all accessories on it, you will spend at least another R10 000 on better accessories
Now that you have all the accessories, you will have a flight suit made....to fit the trike of course
Once you have your flight suit and matching helmet, you need the same for the passanger
After buying the passanger goodies, you buy the same shit for you wife......"Why should I share a helmet with your buddies, I want my own"
If you plant to fly 1 hour per week, you will fly 3 hours.....why not?

Now comes the best part.....
After spending so much money on my hobby, my wife decided that everything I spend on my toys, she must get the equivalent funding towards her hobby
So now take all the cost mentioned above and double it

So, the final cost of flying.....Awesome and Priceless