My new private pilot...

Roger Roger

Roger Roger

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...is in Whitehorse, YT in our plane, continuing on to Fairbanks, Denali, Talkeetna, Anchorage, and probably a few other places. Mind you, this is his third flight since passing his checkride. I can't wait to hear all the stories he's sure to have!
 
Doing some multi-day travelling and sight-seeing in a light aircraft is sooooo much fun. I'm jealous :)
 
Update: he was in Fairbanks today, had a rough mag trying to leave, I talked him through diagnosing and changing a bad plug. Off for Bettles, so that they could say they went north of the Arctic Circle.
 
I've always wondered how normal people afford flights like this. I know I've never been able to.. Just to fly from here to Florida and back in aircraft I have access to would cost me ~$5.5k in the M20K, $5k in the C-172N, $6k in the Citabria, $7800 in the Duchess, etc .. not counting ramp fees. Now, I make enough in my day job (At least, I do until I move to aviation) that I could -almost- afford to do it ... as a huge sort of splurge. But for most people that's an absurd amount of money.

I mean, I've always wanted to... but seriously, how do people manage it? Especially the ones who seem to do it somewhat often?

-Fox
 
Acrofox said:
I've always wondered how normal people afford flights like this.
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Expensive is relative. Just a matter or priorities and planning.

People drop $1,500 per person on cruises all the time. One couple on a cruise could very easily be in for $4,000-5,000 for a week long vacation. You could take a Skyhawk and a tent on a week long vacation and see half the USA for the same price and have an amazing experience.

Your example 4,000 mile trip to Florida is no small example and would likely cost over $1,000 in gasoline just to "drive". Many people would say they couldn't afford that either.

Live well below your means, so you have plenty of surplus cash saved each month and options start to open up for you to do some cool things.
 
Acrofox said:
I mean, I've always wanted to... but seriously, how do people manage it? Especially the ones who seem to do it somewhat often?

-Fox
Click to expand...

I have little dirty secret how to get from NYC to Miami and back for $400 :D Enough to stop for some fun in between too.
 
Man, you think sending a student solo can be nerve wracking? Try having the (brand new) pilot you trained take the (56 year old) airplane you maintain on a multi-day trip in Alaska. Every time my phone rings I jump and picture changing a cylinder on a dirt strip in BFAlaska.

Fencer, I'll try to get a writeup and some pics to forward to you for when your friend does his trip next summer ;).
 
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