I hate math...

cowman said:
130 miles by car@ 30mpg.. 4.33 gallons x2 for return trip = 8.66 gallons x 2.80/gal = $24.25

109.4nm by airplane / 117kts = .94 hours X 2 for return trip = 1.87hrs * 9gph = 16.83gal * 5.50/gal = $92.... + $130 for 3 days of rental car = $222.57


I don't like you, math. I don't like you at all.
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You did not finish the math equation.

109.4nm by airplane / 117kts = .94 hours X 2 for return trip = 1.87hrs * 9gph = 16.83gal * 5.50/gal = $92.... + $130 for 3 days of rental car = $222.57 divided by 10 times the FUN = $22.26
 
My Thanksgiving trip:

We flew.
-2.5 hours roundtrip, 22gal x $5 = $110, no traffic either way, no worry about speeding tickets. Arrived in time for a late supper (aren't 30 knot tailwinds nice?). Add 45 minutes to preflight, load pull out, tie down, unload and cover. Lots of good conversation with family over dinner, move to comfortable seats and catch up. Head to bed around midnight. Wake up refreshed.

Had we driven:
-6+ hours plus delays from Thanksgiving traffic. (The interstate doesn't go that way, but the roads we saw from 6000' were all busy.) Gas for my little truck would run ~$70; in my wife's car, ~$50. Then add a delicious drive thru supper, drinks and a snack. Leave after work, add in the time zone change, we would arrive after 11 pm. Then have the pleasure of unloading and carrying stuff inside at bedtime. Tired, stressed from over 3 hours of Night Before Thanksgiving traffic and long drive after dark.

Flying was the right choice!
 
Henning said:
Oh, I know what you meant, and you are not the only person I have seen use it that way. I was just wondering when the usage changed.:dunno:
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16 years ago when I joined the Mooney board an AMU = $1000. This is the first I've heard of an alternate meaning.
 
After I sold my Cirrus, I was fortunate to have two friends who offered me the use of theirs, just for the cost of the fuel. Made a trip to a Cirrus Migration in Duluth in one.

And later I considered taking one up on it for a trip to S FL. But after doing the mental math (4 hours each way, 15 gph average, $6 to $8 gallon at the time for 100LL, car rental in S FL) that turned into a roughly $1,000 (1 AU) trip.

At that point in my life (and now), that's not a trivial amount. Especially since we could make the same trip in our Element for less than a quarter of that.

Sure, it's 13 hours each way, but Karen and I road trip well together.

In any case, with a 95k Light Sport now, more than ever it's the journey, not the cost efficiency, that's the key.
 
Cost may be increasingly moot as I watch forecasts develop for tomorrow.... then again I've scrubbed a lot of flights lately based on dismal forecasts only to see things turning clear when I was planning to go over the past few weeks.
 
Bill Jennings said:
Depends on how straight the driving route is vs. flying direct. I've found the window is in the 2-3hr range. If I can drive it in 2-3 hours, there is no time savings flying.

One of the HUGE advantages to me is traffic. If the driving route is lightly populated, I don't mind driving. If it is heavily congested, I'll fly even if it takes MORE time.

Hate traffic :mad2:
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This. I like road trips, but the traffic is becoming increasingly irritating. I've grown tired of dealing with the overly aggressive and unsafe driving habits I find on the interstates around here. I'm not saying all pilots are considerate, but there's a lot more open space in the air.

The additional cost is worth it for me to avoid foolishness on the highways where someone else seems to always want to put me in danger.

How much do you value not dealing with highway traffic?
 
Pedals2Paddles said:
Don't forget, it isn't just flight time. Unless you happen to be a passenger with a corporate pilot doing all the work.

By Car:
1. Load car.
2. Drive to final destination

By GA:
1. Drive to airport
2. Unload car into plane
3. Preflight, prep, plan, clearance, etc
4. Fly to airport near destination
5. Unload plane into rental car
6. Secure aircraft
7. Arrange fuel an parking
8. Drive to final destination

We have a bad habit of only looking at #4 as if nothing else exists. Sure #4 is faster. But you can't ignore all the other lines the do contribute to the total time from point A to point B. All that will make your time saved even less. For a short flight, it might balance out to be the same time vs driving.
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Adding on to my previous post, the steps to driving are of the reason I don't really prefer it anymore. Most people (including my younger self) just hop in the car, race onto the interstate and instantly become 75-mph missiles with little-to-no regard to weather or anyone else on the road. (One of my peeves is seeing drivers on the highway barrel right through near 0 vis thunderstorms).

The planning one puts into a flight tends to make us more conscientious on a XC trip. In fact, I think flying has made me a more conscientious driver. Just as I would land at the nearest airport if I see weather deteriorating, I get off the highway when the rain is coming down in buckets.

I actually check out the area forecast and NEXRAD when I'm about to get on the road now. :)
 
Alexb2000 said:
Also, don't ever compare airliners to GA, it's much uglier even flying first class.
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For a trip RNO-SLC-RNO next week, Delta wants $200 (in cheapest economy) more than the same trip via GA. and I am not just counting fuel for GA, that is the full cost of renting an airplane.
 
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Hating this right now too....
FM050800 16005KT 3SM BR OVC009

If recent patterns hold, I'll be looking at clear blue skies as I drive down the highway and grumbling about it.
 
DesertNomad said:
For a trip RNO-SLC-RNO next week, Delta wants $200 (in cheapest economy) more than the same trip via GA. and I am not just counting fuel for GA, that is the full cost of renting an airplane.
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If I chose a last minute direct most expensive option I get $768 on Travelocity.

Foreflight shows 368NM one way or 736NM round trip. Say you rent a 172 for $120 an hour wet and true at 110. Let's call the rental 7 hours RT. That's $770 so the same cost. It takes 1:15 on an airliner each way, so you are saving 5:30 minimum on travel time.

No weather issues
No hangar/Tie down fees
No minimum per day rate if you decide to stay
No fuel price delta to pay


To your point, last minute travel, good weather forecast, and something good in the mountains to rent (not 172), I'd pay the rental and fly even if it was more expensive.

OR you could drive, 7 hours each way, figure 50 gals of gas, or less, depending on what you drive. So a ~$150 in fuel. So is saving the $600 worth it? Lots of pilots decide it is and the reason they only fly a few hours a year. I also didn't mention that you save the cost of a rental car that is going to be at least $50 a day plus fuel.
 
100 miles or less .. we drive. :nonod:

100 to 600n.m. .. take skywagon (weather and critical schedule allowing) :)

600+n.m. ... go commercial (shudder) :nonod:
 
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