Hi there. i hope all is well.
i am interested in purchasing a microlight but can someone please advise me on the operational costing of the aircraft.
I do know they sip between 10 to 13 litres of fuel per the hour.
When does the engines need an overhaul? and what is the average price of a new engine?
the wing some people have advised a change after an average of 1500 hours and costing about 25 000 installed. is this correct?
Thanking you
microlight operational costs
Re: microlight operational costs
Morning Zlr007,
Welcome to the forum.
I difficult question to answer, because every WCM aircraft is different but here are some of the costs. I am assuming you are talking about a trike (WCM) and not a CCM?
Admin Costs:
Aeroclub Membership (annual) R300
Misasa Membership (annual) R330
Radio Licence (annual) R80 ??
Annual Inspection R 500-R1000 (Very much dependant on the AP doing the work
)
RAASA Authority to Fly (Annual) R250.00
Hangerage:
This is very area dependant and varies depending on the actual building type and whether you share with other aircraft. At Microland we all pay roughly R480 a month.
Running costs:
Well, this is where it gets rather complicated. You see every trike type will have a different running cost depending on set up, engine type and also age of the aircraft. Fuel burn depends on the engine, as well as what type of flying you are doing. For example, an Hour training session (up downs with full throttle climbs etc etc) on a 582 Rotax like mine you will burn about 15-17 litres an hour, about R180/hr. However, straight and level cruise, we burn about 12L/hr. (About R138 or so).
Then there's the regular maintenance. Like anything mechanical, things break, crack, perish and filters/jets ,seals ,gaskets and mountings go from time to time. Services are really non events compared to certified aircraft and usually dont cost more than R1000 every 25 hrs on average.
What is far more important (in my opinion) than working out what the "running cost" is, is providing for it. Everything on your plane has a lifespan. Prop, wing, airframe, engine and extra's. The biggest problem I see with some pilots, is that they do not make provision (financially) to cover the costs of unforseen maintenance. Just because the book says your wingsail will last about 1000-1500hrs (for example), does not mean that it will! Its exactly the same for virtually every other component too. I know many pilots who are grounded right now because they did not prepare financially for an engine overhaul/wingsail replacement etc etc.
I co own ZUDBP, an Aquilla 582. (Pretty much the Toyota Corrolla of the microlight world!) Aquilla's and windlasses are by far the most common trike type flown in SA with various engine options. Stef and I each pay into an account monthly, an amount based on R150 per hour flown. In effect, we "rent" our own aerie.
The R150/hr was worked out based on replacement of virtually everything at 1000 flying hrs. (we currently have 400 on the clock). The amount we set aside, slowly accumulates every month so that there will be provision for the BIG expenses later on such as engine OH and wing replacements etc. Remember, this is a provision, not an expense (yet) and the money set aside remains yours to do with as you please.
Others may disagree, but that's what we have done in our situation.
One final thought, a trike remains one of the cheapest aerie's to buy and maintain....JUST DONT BEND IT
Welcome to the forum.
I difficult question to answer, because every WCM aircraft is different but here are some of the costs. I am assuming you are talking about a trike (WCM) and not a CCM?
Admin Costs:
Aeroclub Membership (annual) R300
Misasa Membership (annual) R330
Radio Licence (annual) R80 ??
Annual Inspection R 500-R1000 (Very much dependant on the AP doing the work
)RAASA Authority to Fly (Annual) R250.00
Hangerage:
This is very area dependant and varies depending on the actual building type and whether you share with other aircraft. At Microland we all pay roughly R480 a month.
Running costs:
Well, this is where it gets rather complicated. You see every trike type will have a different running cost depending on set up, engine type and also age of the aircraft. Fuel burn depends on the engine, as well as what type of flying you are doing. For example, an Hour training session (up downs with full throttle climbs etc etc) on a 582 Rotax like mine you will burn about 15-17 litres an hour, about R180/hr. However, straight and level cruise, we burn about 12L/hr. (About R138 or so).
Then there's the regular maintenance. Like anything mechanical, things break, crack, perish and filters/jets ,seals ,gaskets and mountings go from time to time. Services are really non events compared to certified aircraft and usually dont cost more than R1000 every 25 hrs on average.
What is far more important (in my opinion) than working out what the "running cost" is, is providing for it. Everything on your plane has a lifespan. Prop, wing, airframe, engine and extra's. The biggest problem I see with some pilots, is that they do not make provision (financially) to cover the costs of unforseen maintenance. Just because the book says your wingsail will last about 1000-1500hrs (for example), does not mean that it will!
Its exactly the same for virtually every other component too. I know many pilots who are grounded right now because they did not prepare financially for an engine overhaul/wingsail replacement etc etc.I co own ZUDBP, an Aquilla 582. (Pretty much the Toyota Corrolla of the microlight world!) Aquilla's and windlasses are by far the most common trike type flown in SA with various engine options. Stef and I each pay into an account monthly, an amount based on R150 per hour flown. In effect, we "rent" our own aerie.
The R150/hr was worked out based on replacement of virtually everything at 1000 flying hrs. (we currently have 400 on the clock). The amount we set aside, slowly accumulates every month so that there will be provision for the BIG expenses later on such as engine OH and wing replacements etc. Remember, this is a provision, not an expense (yet) and the money set aside remains yours to do with as you please.
Others may disagree, but that's what we have done in our situation.
One final thought, a trike remains one of the cheapest aerie's to buy and maintain....JUST DONT BEND IT
Re: microlight operational costs
Thank you for the details, just as a matter of interest, how long before the motor needs changing/overhaul?
Re: microlight operational costs
Excellent reply Mr Bundy Sir!
It has also given me allot to think about and I will be opening my "maintainence account" today
Very good advice
It has also given me allot to think about and I will be opening my "maintainence account" today
Very good advice
Re: microlight operational costs
Bundy just a question: (I am not being my usual sarcastic self:) What do you spend R 1000 on every 25 hours? 
Re: microlight operational costs
I didnt say I do spend R1000 every service....Asterix wrote:Bundy just a question: What do you spend R 1000 on every 25 hours?
Like anything mechanical, things break, crack, perish and filters/jets ,seals ,gaskets and mountings go from time to time.
Go add up what you spend on all the "little things", not to mention a R5k stator coil every now and then? It's never just a set of plugs over a 25 hour period is it?
I also dont wait for things to break.....rather replace when you think it may be about to.
Re: microlight operational costs
O -kay. Just thought you were being ripped on plugs!
(I've never bought a stator coil...)
(I've never bought a stator coil...)
Re: microlight operational costs
We do get ripped on plugs! And everything else!Asterix wrote:O -kay. Just thought you were being ripped on plugs!
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Re: microlight operational costs
Hi Bundy
An additional cost I think that should be factored in, is the costs of you getting to the Airfield. Fuel for the Charriot, to get you there.
Regards
An additional cost I think that should be factored in, is the costs of you getting to the Airfield. Fuel for the Charriot, to get you there.
Regards
Graham Galloway
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