What is the average maitance to run a cessna 152?

Question

What is the averag gas, maitance..etc a year? flying 3 times a week

Answer 1

A basic 150/152, VFR, with standard equipment will run between $750 and $1,500 for an annual.  If it has been flown regularly (at least 100 hours a year), the annual should be in the low range.

Where you run into issues, is if the plane is not flown regularly.  The engine is TBO at 2,400 hours.  An engine rebuild should run between $20k and $25k.  A new zero time engine could run $30k.

Fuel burn is 6.5 gallons per hour.  At the current rate of $5.90 a gallon (locally) that's $38.35 an hour for fuel.

So, if your Annual runs $750, and you fly 150 hours a year (3 x week at 1 hour each), you are looking at about $39 (fuel) + $5 (Annual) + $5 (Avionics allowance) + $10.50 (Engine) + $ 8 (Insurance) per hour for a total of $67 or $68, at the 150 hours a year mark.

If you fly more than that, the rate would be a little less, but not much.  If you fly less hours, then it would go up to about $75 or so...

Answer 2

It depends on various factors, such as the condition of the plane when you buy it, and how much and how hard you fly it. Doing a lot of take-offs and landings is a lot harder on the airframe and engine than long, steady flights with few landings.

At a minimum, plan to set aside $500 to $1000 per year for the annual inspection. You should also budget around $15 per flight hour as a reserve toward major maintenance. Oil changes and other minor maintenance such as cleaning spark plugs should be done every 50 hours. That's about $150-$200 if you pay a shop to do it. Fuel is going to cost about $25-$30 per hour. At three flights per week (say 3 flight hours), you'll be flying 150 hours per year. Do the math to calculate the direct operating the cost.

Then there is insurance, federal and state registration fees, and tie-down or hangar rent, cleaning services or supplies, plus the cost of commuting to and from the airport. All in all, figure your total expenses at about 75% of what it would cost per hour to rent a C-150, and you won't have too many financial surprises. If you don't fly at least 100 hours per year, it is cheaper to rent, because the fixed expenses roll in whether you fly or not.