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Login to post Forums » Off-topic discussion » Cheap Thrills in the air

Aug. 20, 2011 12:26 p.m. psteav Reader

Before I was into cars (or anything else that's a big part of my life right now) I was bitten hard by the flying bug. I joined the Civil Air Patrol, got about ten hours of dual instruction, subscribed to magazines, and actually planned on going into the USAF as a pilot. I did a semester of college on an AFROTC scholarship (in 2000) before i finally admitted to myself that although I loved the flying, I don't have the personality for the military.

I'm reaching a point in my life now that I have the disposable income for hobbies. I don't have enough to buy a plane, but I probably could swing getting my private license. However, I'm thinking there may be better ways to get that same rush for much less money. I've been tandem skydiving once, and I did enjoy it a lot. I've also considered ultralights and hang-gliding. I don't know a whole lot about any of the three subjects. Anyone on the board have experience with these?
Aug. 20, 2011 1:46 p.m. T.J. SuperDork

I know there are pilots who post here and at least one sailplane pilot.
Aug. 20, 2011 3:43 p.m. Graefin10 HalfDork

In reply to psteav:

No personal experience with the later but a close friend of mine got killed while piloting a hang glider. I think a good one is much safer than they used to be but if you go that way I'm sure you will make absolutely certain that you know what you're doing.
Aug. 20, 2011 4:25 p.m. 914Driver SuperDork

Not a pilot (yet) but I do enjoy soaring, the comaraderie of the club, ball busting and tips & tricks are good. I've only had 15 or so flights but I land myself, fly patterns and hook thermals; flying behind a powered plane still initiates the big pucker factor.

I used to hang glide. Hang gliding vs Soraing is like a scooter vs a Crown Vic. HG = wind in the face, slower speeds, closer to other gliders where soaring is enclosed, farther distances and just more to it. You need to be licensed.

I took an intro flight last spring and for Christmas my wife got me a membership i the local club. $500 gets you all the instruction required to get a license and the 20 hour ground school (powered guys need 40 hours).

It's $20 to get towed to 1000 ft., $25 to 2k, $30 to 3k. YMMV but I'll bet there's a club in your area.

In reply to Graefin, got it. Hang Gliding is not as regulated as it could be, I've stalled at 95 ft. AGL and it took 93 ft. to recover, learned a lot that day!!!

Gliders are so safe they let you attain a license at 14 years old, powered is 16 or 18.

What are you looking for? Gotta go to Phoenix for the weekend, soaring ain't it, hang gliding is worse. Want club stuff, friends, intensive learning, why not try sailplanes?

Most groups have introductory flights

Dan
Aug. 20, 2011 4:32 p.m. 914Driver SuperDork

Poke around here.

http://www.stlsoar.org/home/home.jsf
Aug. 20, 2011 4:37 p.m. Osterkraut SuperDork

Nothing to add here but herp derp CAP.
Aug. 20, 2011 4:51 p.m. RealMiniDriver Dork

I knew a guy that had his pilots license. He didn't own a plane but would rent one. He'd take a plane out for the day and go from one small field to another, usually when they would be doing an ice cream social or something like that. The beauty of it was that while the rental was "hourly", it only counted while the plane was "on". 6am until 6pm would amount to just a few billable hours.
Aug. 20, 2011 5:24 p.m. Strizzo SuperDork

RealMiniDriver wrote:

I knew a guy that had his pilots license. He didn't own a plane but would rent one. He'd take a plane out for the day and go from one small field to another, usually when they would be doing an ice cream social or something like that. The beauty of it was that while the rental was "hourly", it only counted while the plane was "on". 6am until 6pm would amount to just a few billable hours.

plus fuel, right? g/f's dad is just about finished building his kit plane, next step is paying someone else to fly it for the first 40 hours. some people he knows will get together on saturday and fly to one airport for a lunch meetup, then everyone would fly back to wherever they came from. they call it the $200 cheesburger
Aug. 20, 2011 6:44 p.m. JoeyM SuperDork

I once saw a quote here - don't remember by who - that was, "My father asked me why I don't fly anymore. I told him I needed to find a cheaper sport...that is why I race porches."

Because of that cost, I have been looking at cheaper ways to get into the air. The guys from the local EAA chapter call ultralights "ultrafrights", which is not encouraging. Lately, I have been looking at powered paragliders and parachutes...probably still too pricey for me, but if I am in an ultralight, it might as well be one with a chute that is already deployed. Also, not having to deal with the pesky space requirements of wings means you can keep the aircraft at home...no hanger fees.

Willing to consider used....try the classifieds at barnstormers.net...everything from korean war fighter jets to ultralights.
Aug. 20, 2011 7:47 p.m. FlightService Dork

Start a non-profit with a friend, register the plane to the non-profit. 90% of the plane and maintenance costs is deductible through the non-profit. Just have to fly a few freebies through out the year.

Get your accountant to look into it.
Aug. 21, 2011 6:42 a.m. aeronca65t Dork

Get a ~Sport Pilot License~.

You can fly/rent stuff that' better than ultralights. Like a J3 Cub or some of the newer sport pilot planes.

I own a plane...it ain't cheap.
Aug. 21, 2011 8:35 a.m. Graefin10 HalfDork

Even if you go into a partnership on a plane with a friend or friends, make sure that no one can sell it without your signing off on it and make sure there is a legal provision for you to get a correct portion of the proceeds from the sale. That way you can't get screwed out of your share of the money. I'm speaking from experience here.

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