How do you afford your aviation habit

As long as soft drinks, sports drinks, and apple juice are around, kids will keep on having cavities. I pay for my plane treating a preventable illness.
 
Van Johnston said:
My share of royalties from 3 oil wells on the cotton farm in west Texas bought by my grandfather and father in 1941. The family sold out in 1972, but retained a share of the mineral rights. I'm probably the only one here who cheers higher oil prices.
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XOM stocks are paying for my kids college, so if oil goes up, I win either way ;)
 
I am retired after 28 years flying for Uncle Sam, which brings in a comfortable paycheck, made some wise investments throughout my lifetime, home and land are paid for. My wife is still working, and will until her current project is complete, sometime around May. (She specializes in international financial/trade law and makes a decent living.)
 
You know guys this thread really has inspired me in the sense that you guys are all working class, educated, even some blue collar, and just plain hard working guys. Perhaps attaining a PPL and even owning a plane isn't totally out of my boundaries.
 
LJS1993 said:
You know guys this thread really has inspired me in the sense that you guys are all working class, educated, even some blue collar, and just plain hard working guys. Perhaps attaining a PPL and even owning a plane isn't totally out of my boundaries.
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course it isn't. I work in a cubicle in middle management. The airplane in the hangar next to mine is owned by a retired schoolteacher. The one across from me, by a pharmacist. The one behind me, by an electrician. Most people can afford one expensive hobby. Some people race cars, some have motorcycles, some have a bass boat, some have an airplane.
 
LJS1993 said:
You know guys this thread really has inspired me in the sense that you guys are all working class, educated, even some blue collar, and just plain hard working guys. Perhaps attaining a PPL and even owning a plane isn't totally out of my boundaries.
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Jeff got it right, most people can afford one expensive hobby. You will note that most of us drive old cars. The new, low-mileage car in our house has 145k on it and is 10 years old. I spend more weekends than most tinkering on our vehicles (mostly mine) as well as on the plane for owner-assisted maintenance. But I also enjoy turning wrenches, so that makes it a fun hobby.

I'm an engineer who also founded an aviation non-profit, and spent some time in 135. For a long time virtually zero of my flying was flying that was done for personal reasons, although that is changing now with family.
 
Worked my arse off for a great boss at a brokerage in my 20's and invested so I could play in my 30's. Met the girl of my dreams at 31, got married and had kids. Worked my arse off for myself, starting a small brokerage in my 40's. I'm 50 now, debt free and flight lessons and an eventual aircraft purchase is my midlife crisis of choice. :D
 
VP/manager at an insurance agency. Solidly middle class. I drive a 2003 Toyota Corolla with 205k miles. I don't buy expensive clothes, don't buy frivolous items, rarely drink. I have no other real hobbies.

I work hard to take care of the family, and fly, in that order.
 
JHW said:
course it isn't. I work in a cubicle in middle management. The airplane in the hangar next to mine is owned by a retired schoolteacher. The one across from me, by a pharmacist. The one behind me, by an electrician. Most people can afford one expensive hobby. Some people race cars, some have motorcycles, some have a bass boat, some have an airplane.
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If you go by the typical 50 hours a year/ $130/hr aircraft rental it works out to be around $550 per month... a lot of people have bigger car payments!


Of course if you find a decent club or partner up in a simpler aircraft your costs will be cut further.
 
VA Aviator said:
If you go by the typical 50 hours a year/ $130/hr aircraft rental it works out to be around $550 per month... a lot of people have bigger car payments!


Of course if you find a decent club or partner up in a simpler aircraft your costs will be cut further.
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I can fly my own airplane 50hrs a year for about $420/mo. It is good to be an A&P IA:yes:
 
VA Aviator said:
If you go by the typical 50 hours a year/ $130/hr aircraft rental it works out to be around $550 per month... a lot of people have bigger car payments!


Of course if you find a decent club or partner up in a simpler aircraft your costs will be cut further.
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That's what I tell people when Ivey the typical "Oh, the rich doctor has an airplane.". It cost less than a lot of their bass boats, and I drive paid off cars with 100k+ miles on them. My wife does not drive the brand new suburban in car line (nothing wrong with that) it's just all about choices.
 
Just finished running off another batch of $100 bills.
 
Son of a waitress in a broken marriage. Went into military from high school. Then university on GI bill. Accountant by training later got an MBA gone into consulting and owned and consulted many small businesses. A few times made it successful. A few times failed.

I've never been super rich but since 1991 when I got my MBA I began taking 10 days a month vacation and work no more than 30 hrs a week on the other weeks. I came to realize how our system exploits us if we let it. Democratic self slavery I call it. Lifestyle was the most important thing for me and my family. We worked smart and hard not long and hard. I've been active in raising my sons and usually in our church.

About 20 years ago i got into the habit of paying double payments on my home and within 3 years it was paid off, then I paid off my 2nd home within 2 more and then I paid off all my vehicles, RV's, sail boats and other toys. If I do not have cash I do not buy it. I even cut up credit cards. Then canceled all insurance not required by law. with me keeping all the interest and insurance premiums I did not pay out to financial houses I soon developed a nest egg.

I bought my first airplane for cash 2003/4 and then I bought my 2nd airplane for cash. Paid cash for my children's college so they graduated debt free. One son has already started his own computer company and paid his 1st home off and younger son is and EE engineer but also paying off his house, pays cash for cars and toys.

Due to an inability to put up with BS and politics I have always been Self Employed - For better or worse when it works out it is all yours when you are the boss. I worked many years at or below average income trying to build a business. But when it goes the other way if you are smart with the money you can hold on to it.

At 45 my boat came in. I retired at 47 and started flying on those monthly vacations about 10 years ago, met a 15 year younger Cuban girl in Miami. Now I am lucky to get to help raise my grand daughter for the last five years and do other important things on days I do not have her.

Most recently I have been completely renovating my retirement home into a Zero Energy Home- Platinum Leed level.
 
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LJS1993 said:
You know guys this thread really has inspired me in the sense that you guys are all working class, educated, even some blue collar, and just plain hard working guys.
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I'm a retired cop (line of duty injury) now consulting. My wife is a nurse.
 
teethdoc said:
That's what I tell people when Ivey the typical "Oh, the rich doctor has an airplane.". .....
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"but really, you're just a dentist"



haha, sorry, couldn't resist dropping a Hangover line, just kiddin around, Doc. :goofy::rofl:
 
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