Private Pilots License?

[TimberHunter]

Kicking around the idea of getting a private pilot’s license at a local, small airstrip. Cost is approx $10k. For those that have their license, I’m curious what you can do with it?

Not looking to monetize it, just looking to see if others’ do fly in hunts or if it’s a more recreational hobby similar to SXS/UTV riding?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Geewhiz]

Where do you live? That's a huge factor in the utility of it.

 

[TimberHunter]

Where do you live? That's a huge factor in the utility of it.

Southern UT


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Geewhiz]

Do you have plans to buy and own an airplane or go into a partnership on an airplane or just rent for the immediate future and see how things go? What kind of flying interests you?

Realistically speaking, what are your dreams and goals with aviation?

 

[TimberHunter]

I could foresee purchasing or splitting the cost with someone else as long as I still like it after getting my license

Realistic dreams/goals. Not sure, that’s why I wanted to ask others on here. Unrealistic: learn to fly, purchase a cub, fly in Alaska and find a way for it to create income being that I would’ve left my job at that point lol


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[parshal]

I have an instrument rating since 2001 and private since 1992. I had dreams of getting a plane and flying to hunts. Great idea if you're gonna fly when the weather's nice. If you plan on flying in winter months you'll need a plane that can fly into known icing conditions and that is an expensive plane. If you don't have that you can be stuck for days before you can fly out.

Add the cost of an airplane and maintenance and it's a difficult proposition. I wish I were independently wealthy or had no other hobby to spend money on.

 

[Jordan Budd]

I have my license, we have a super cub here in Nebraska. Makes sense for us because we check cows very quickly on the ranch and we love flying. When I lived in Idaho I was part of a flight club that had a few airplanes and eventually the juice wasn't worth the squeeze. We took it looking at new country a couple times, flew up to McCall for breakfast a couple times. Flew through some amazing country within the peaks that hardly anyone gets to see. All fun, but expensive.
$10k is only getting you your license, which I would never discourage anyone from getting if you have the funds. The people flying themselves in for hunts have a lot of time and practice learning how to get into those kind of airstrips plus an airplane that will actually handle it, it's definitely not a one sized fits all. Beyond that you have a whole other set of issues to deal with once you're in that you typically wouldn't worry about with a parked car. In the end for most people holding your private is 95% for hobby.

 

[TimberHunter]

I have an instrument rating since 2001 and private since 1992. I had dreams of getting a plane and flying to hunts. Great idea if you're gonna fly when the weather's nice. If you plan on flying in winter months you'll need a plane that can fly into known icing conditions and that is an expensive plane. If you don't have that you can be stuck for days before you can fly out.

Add the cost of an airplane and maintenance and it's a difficult proposition. I wish I were independently wealthy or had no other hobby to spend money on.

Great point on the ice conditions, didn’t even think about that


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[atmat]

Considering the same thing, so interested in the responses.

 

[ndmarine]

Military and commercial airline pilot here. I have 2000 hours and you couldn’t pay me to fly a cub onto a river bed strip in Alaska. Those guys get a ton of practice and the ones who are good are the only ones still doing it. I’d take that $10k and put it toward a couple air taxi fly in hunts personally

 

[jlaner0408]

I’ve thought the same thing but only with helicopters. I talked to some guys and realized it’s CRAZY expensive getting hours on your own. That’s why a lot of ex military folks end up with those jobs- paying for fuel and flight hours makes it pretty cost prohibitive to do out of pocket.

I’d love to hear from some more people on here too though.