Does anybody know the cost of ownership of a small airplane?

Question

i was thinking that it would be nice to have my own small airplane someday. does anybody know the cost of ownership of a small aircraft like a cesna or a piper?

Answer 1

Hey if I win the lottery I'm buying a Boeing 727.

But remember this rule...

If it has ****,tyres or floats then your are broke forever...

Remember planes have tyres and dreams are about the only thing that are free in this world

Answer 2

You guys never listen to me. I've owned airplanes, sailboats and been married twice. Unless tearing up hundred dollar bills is a fun thing for you, listen to me once and for all.

Ya ready? Now listen and learn:

If it flies, floats or fornicates, RENT IT.

Answer 3

It depends. First, you have to factor in the price of the acft. Do you want your own or fractional ownership with several other people. Then you have to add in maintenance, fuel, landing and hanger or tiedown fees. Figure on approx 15 grand a year if you are in a fractional ownership. The price could always be more.

Answer 4

roughly $100,000 on average

Answer 5

It'll always cost you more than you've planned.

Answer 6

Expect to spend at least $10,000 to $12,000 annually for even the simplest single-engine airplane.  Always expect to spend more than you anticipated, because $h!t happens.

For a business twin, expect to spend $50,000 per year.

Answer 7

It doesn't have to be expensive. But first: why do you want a Cessna or Piper? If you can do with only two seats, consider a light homebuilt aircraft that you fly under the Sport Pilot license (or microlight license in Europe).

The main difference is that GA aircraft like Cessna and Piper are certified engines, certified airframes and they have to be maintained by certified mechanics.

As a homebuilt, you can fly anything under the Experimental rule. But if you can do with a lightweight aircraft, the Sport Pilot is the easiest as it doesn't have to requirements from the PPL license.

As a guide, I bought a second-hand homebuilt Kitfox, here in Norway, and it cost me about USD 32,000. The maintenance cost is very cheap because I am allowed to maintain it myself. Fuel is about 4 gallons per hour and add a bit more for insurance, hangar and landing fee. Altogether, about the price of a car.

The Kitfox is a two-seater and I have been flying from Norway to Belgium, Germany, Denmark and Sweden. So, you see, once in the air, your're just like any aircraft.

Answer 8

There are many factors.  I am somewhat anti-sport pilot, so I disagree with the guy who suggested that.  But, I'll avoid the flame war. :)

The cost of ownership depends highly on what you are flying, it's age, it's history, how you treat it, and whether or not you're just plain unlucky.

If we neglect payments and assume you own the plane outright, there are some fixed costs that you will have regardless of what you own - hangar rent, insurance, and an annual inspection (in the US at least).  Those costs vary depending on the plane and, for example the insurance, on the pilot.  If we assume about $1500 for the insurance, $150/mo for the hangar, and $1000 for the annual, you're out $4500 [yes, I rounded up $200] without ever flying an hour.  

Let's add in some variable costs.  Let's call the average oil change around $50, and it's needed about every 50 hours.  Let us also call the typical Piper or Cessna [this is true of a Piper Cherokee at least, which I have the most experience with] fuel burn to be 10 gal/hr.  Let us also call the fuel price $5 [higher than I pay, but probably about right or cheap for larger airports.. easy numbers] which makes it $50/hr for fuel.  So, factoring no other costs, we're at $51/hr, but we'll round to $55 to be conservative.  The typical rule is "if you fly 100 hours per year or more, it's cheaper to own than rent", so let us assume 100 hours/yr, or $5500/yr.  

The combined of our fixed and variable costs puts us quite nicely at $10,000.  Which means I don't even want to figure out what I've spent this year. :)