Which route should I go?

[Beefmaster]

Hi guys,

I'm just waiting for my home loan application to be processed so that I can take some extra and do my training! Just dont know which of the following routes I should take.

Should I train on school aircraft at +-R600/hour and then hire & fly when I'm done training (have no idea what hire & fly costs for a trike)?

Or should I buy a bargain trainer trike and fly my own plane? I could actually do my dual training at a cost of under R3k should I own one it seems.

What are the running costs on the common Rotax engines, incl fuel? What are the intervals between AP inspections, and what do they cost? What is the cost of the 300hr crank overhaul? 2000hr overhaul? Hangerage? Any other costs??

I found a website the other day showing the running costs of the 912UL, but this doesnt seem to be a common engine. But I drew up a spreadsheet on Excel to see where costs zero out going either route and it works out to 293hrs, after spending R40k on a trike. This is what i'm trying to work out.

Dying to earn some wings and need some figures please chaps!

Thanks,

[skybound®]

I highly doubt anybody has performed an accurate costing yet on maintaining the two stroke Rotaxes according to their maintenance schedule. That would be an interesting exercise and one that I have though about doing for a while - but I think the result is going to be very interesting.

As far as whether to use your own machine or not, my 2c would be to suggest to use the schools machine. My reasons are:

• Will give you time to evaluate how much you enjoy the sport and then adjust your initial investment in accordance with that.
• The amount of hangar talk you will be subjected to during your early days will be invaluable as to learning what machines are around and which ones are good and which ones are less popular
• Will give you time to assess the second hand or new market with a much better understanding - especially in light of the new regulations around
• School aircraft are adapted with dual controls. This would add extra cost (and paperwork) if you were to select a non dual adapted aircraft.
• Initial training can be hard on an aircraft - why subject your own aerie to that?

[Beefmaster]

Thanks skybound, good advice that is I think I'll go that route then, besides I'll keep the missus happier that way, hehe!! What do you fly and where?

[Morph]

Good advise is to use the schools plane until you go solo. After that you really don't need the dual controls etc.

I started out in a Challenger, 3-axis, went solo, converted to my Skyfox, did all solo hours in the Skyfox, at a cost savings in terms of rental on the plane.

In my case it was during my training that the school showed me available planes and I bought the Skyfox through them. They made the commision on it.

Speak to your instructor, they might not like the idea of you training on your own plane.

I stopped flying for a number of years because I moved down to Cape Town and I sold my plane up in Josey. Later I bought another Challenger, went to a good instructor and he was happy to finish my licence for me on my own plane. Bear in mind most 3-axis are full dual control

[Beefmaster]

Hi Morph,

Yeah I see where you're coming from on that one, makes sense.. And I mean its only the first 10 hours or so anyway. So the initial training will cost me more but at least I cant wreck my own plane that way..

So in terms of borrowing money, you're saying I should borrow enough to buy a plane anyway, but just wait til I've gone solo?

Do you maybe know what sort of running costs one can look at on the common Rotax engines? Factoring in overhaul costs, 300hr crank replacement, 2000hr overhaul etc? Need to calc that all in on a spreadsheet first before I tumble right back into the world of aviation..