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Re: Flying clubs a scam? Posted by Larry West [Email]  (#1140)  [Profile/Gallery]
(more from Larry West) on Tue, 7 Oct 2008 09:56:17
In Reply to: Flying clubs a scam?, Finch, Sun, 5 Oct 2008 23:41:52 Members do not see ads below this line. - Help Keep This Site Online - Signup |
Flying clubs are usually pretty good. It is a (relatively...) inexpensive way to become an aircraft owner (which is what you're REALLY doing...). If you participate in the club (and by participate, I mean more than just fly the plane or planes), you'll get to know all about aircraft ownership, the costs, the pitfalls, etc.
The initial fee is your equity in the club. Basically all members own a share of the club and the airplane(s). Then you have the monthly fee, which covers the ongoing expenses like tiedown or hangar, insurance, plus a little towards the annual, etc. Hourly fees (find out if those are "wet" or "dry"...) cover things like fuel (if the rental is "wet"), provide for maintenance, and go towards that eventual engine overhaul.
Clubs often have rules about how many people can be members, what flying experience they must have, and scheduling the airplane. While I'm sure some clubs have planes that get busy, you shouldn't have trouble getting it for a long cross country, or even for a weekend, so long as you provide sufficient advance notice to the club, though!
The thing is, you need to weigh the costs along with how much you will be flying. So, setting the up front cost aside for the moment, if you save, say $25 per hour on a rental of a similarly-equipped plane from a local FBO, you need to fly more than 4 hours per month to start saving any money against the rental. (4x100 = 400 + 100 = 500 and 4x125 = 500...)
Shop around. Maybe ask some club members for a ride (sharing expenses, of course)...
Best of luck to you!
_______________________________________ Current: 2002 9-5 Aero Kombi Cosmic Blue 2000 9-5 SE sedan, Imola Red 1990 900S Rose Quartz, Auto Past: 1999 9-5 LPT Combi 1999 9-5 LPT sedan 2002 9-5 Arc 1990 900 5-speed 1986 900 turbo Convertible 1991 9000 turbo 1980 99 GLi 1986 900 turbo 1986 900 S 1991 900 turbo 1984 900 turbo 1976 99 GL
, Tue, 7 Oct 2008 20:06:59, Tue, 7 Oct 2008 20:06:18, Tue, 7 Oct 2008 09:56:17 <-- Viewing This Message
, Mon, 6 Oct 2008 21:46:02
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