This is a running summary of my flights and their costs for others looking to get their Private Pilots Certificate. Note that I did have some hours in the early 2000s, but I wouldn’t consider myself a natural, so your results will vary. All in Piper Warrior N89296 until flight lesson 21 when I switched to the 180 HP Cherokee (a very similar airplane).
Also note that my time and cost will be different because of the delay in acquiring my medical. I wanted to keep flying 2-3 times a week to build my skills and confidence, even though I wasn’t eligible to begin my solo work without the medical, which added many hours that we not required strictly speaking. Still and all, I spent nearly $5k to solo. Your mileage will vary.
My final totals: Dual: 56.3 Hr Solo: 10.1 Hr Rental Cost: $6,110.00 Instructor Cost: $2,074.50 Total Cost: $8,234.50
Of course, that doesn’t get me flying my airplane yet. I still needed a high performance endorsement (61.31f) (for airplanes with more than 200 HP). I spent 2.5 hours and $630 getting that endorsement. I also acquired a complex endorsement in an Arrow (not required for my airplane, but a good idea), and $1,425 for factory transition training (not including travel costs to Florida).
| Flt | Date |
Total |
Dual |
Solo |
Plane Cost |
Inst. Cost |
Total Cost |
Summary |
| 43 | 01/27/2013 | 1.1 | 1.1 | 0 | $ 135.00 | $ 400.00 | $ 535.00 | Practical Test Standards exam with Martha Lunken |
| 42 | 01/05/2013 | 1.2 | 1.2 | 0 | $ 138.00 | $ 45.00 | $ 186.00 | Mock practical test standards/flight review with Pete. |
| 41 | 12/22/2012 | 1.3 | 1.3 | 0 | $ 149.50 | $ 52.00 | $ 220.50 | Mock practical test standards/flight review with Tom. |
| 40 | 12/01/2012 | 1.3 | 1.3 | 0 | $ 149.50 | $ 52.00 | $ 220.50 | Mock practical test standards/flight review. |
| 39 | 11/25/2012 | 1.5 | 1.5 | 0 | $ 172.50 | $ 60.00 | $ 232.50 | Dual in the practice area to prepare for flight review. 11 kt cross |
| 38 | 11/24/2012 | 1.3 | 1.3 | 0 | $ 149.50 | $ 52.00 | $ 201.50 | Dual in the practice area to prepare for flight review. 10 kt cross |
| 37 | 11/16/2012 | 1.8 | 0 | 1.8 | $ 220.50 | $ 0.00 | $ 220.50 | Solo in the practice area. 7 kt cross. Finished solo requirements. |
| 36 | 11/11/2012 | 1.1 | 0 | 1.1 | $ 135.00 | $ 0.00 | $ 147.00 | Solo in the practice area. Windy again today 190@13G21 |
| 35 | 11/10/2012 | 1.2 | 0 | 1.2 | $ 147.00 | $ 0.00 | $ 147.00 | Solo in the practice area. |
| 34 | 11/04/2012 | 1.6 | 0 | 1.6 | $ 195.96 | $ 0.00 | $ 186.00 | Solo cross-country to Columbus Bolton field (KTZR) and back. |
| 33 | 10/22/2012 | 1.2 | 1.2 | 0 | $ 138.00 | $ 48.00 | $ 186.00 | PTS Standards/Flight Review Practice |
| 10/17/2012 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | $ 0.00 | $ 0.00 | $ 140.00 | CATS Written/Private Pilot Written Exam | |
| 32 | 10/13/2012 | 2.1 | 0.0 | 2.1 | $ 257.20 | $ 0.00 | $ 257.20 | Long solo cross-country (I68->KMIE->KHAO->I68 151nm) |
| 31 | 10/10/2012 | 0.7 | 0.7 | 0 | $ 80.50 | $ 28.00 | $ 108.50 | Crosswind take-off and landing practice (12+ kts) |
| 30 | 10/07/2012 | 1.9 | 0!!! | 1.9 | $ 232.70 | $ 0.00 | $ 232.70 | First solo cross country to KTZR, Bolton field, Columbus, OH. (non-instruction is taxed) |
| 29 | 10/04/2012 | 1 | 1 | 0 | $ 115.00 | $ 40.00 | $ 155.00 | Working PTS standards, slow flight, GRM, S turns, emergency proc. etc. |
| 28 | 10/02/2012 | 0.8 | 0.4 | 0.4 | $ 109.00 | $ 16.00 | $ 108.00 | TO&L, Pattern work, first SOLO! |
| 27 | 09/15/2012 | 1.6 | 1.6 | 0 | $ 184.00 | $ 64.00 | $ 248.00 | Night Cross Country I68->TZR, 1.3 Hour simulated instrument conditions |
| 26 | 08/25/2012 | 1.8 | 1.8 | 0 | $ 207.00 | $ 72.00 | $ 279.00 | Long Cross Country (150nm+)!! To MIE->HAO->I68, 1.5 Hour simulated instrument conditions |
| 25 | 08/23/2012 | 0.9 | 0.9 | 0 | $ 103.50 | $ 36.00 | $ 139.50 | Emergency procedures, Simulated night electrical failure, night T/O and landings |
| 24 | 08/18/2012 | 1.2 | 1.2 | 0 | $ 138.00 | $ 48.00 | $ 186.00 | Emergency procedures, Simulated Instrument (hood), soft and short field T/O and landings |
| 23 | 08/16/2012 | 1.2 | 1.2 | 0 | $ 138.00 | $ 48.00 | $ 186.00 | Emergency procedures, S turns, GRM, soft and short field T/O and landings |
| 22 | 08/14/2012 | 1.2 | 1.2 | 0 | $ 138.00 | $ 48.00 | $ 186.00 | Emergency procedures, slow flight, stalls, steep turns, soft and short field T/O and landings |
| 21 | 08/11/2012 | 1.4 | 1.4 | 0 | $ 161.00 | $ 56.00 | $ 217.00 | Cross Country, I68->TZR->I68 |
| 20 | 08/07/2012 | 1.5 | 1.5 | 0 | $ 148.50 | $ 52.50 | $ 201.00 | Cross Country, Short Field take-offs and landings, soft field take-offs, steep turns, stalls. ISZ->I68->ISZ |
| 19 | 08/02/2012 | 1.3 | 1.3 | 0 | $ 128.70 | $ 45.50 | $ 174.20 | Cross Country, take-offs and landings. ISZ->I68->ISZ Emergency Procedures |
| 18 | 07/31/2012 | 1.7 | 1.7 | 0 | $ 179.24 | $59.50 | $238.74 | Cross Country, take-offs and landings. ISZ->HAO->MWO->I68-ISZ |
| 17 | 06/13/2012 | 1.2 | 1.2 | 0 | $ 116.40 | $ 42.00 | $ 158.40 | Cross Country, Class C Lunken, steep turns, slow flight, stalls, Sportys (closed) |
| 16 | 06/09/2012 | 1.4 | 1.4 | 0 | $ 135.80 | $ 49.00 | $ 184.40 | Cross Country, Class B Cincinnati, Blue Ash, Lunken |
| 15 | 06/08/2012 | 1.2 | 1.2 | 0 | $ 116.40 | $ 42.00 | $ 158.40 | Cross Country, Class C Dayton, steep turns, slow flight, stalls |
| 14 | 06/06/2012 | 1.4 | 1.4 | 0 | $ 135.80 | $ 49.00 | $ 184.40 | Pattern work, cross country, VOR navigation, Class D Lunken |
| 13 | 06/02/2012 | 1.4 | 1.4 | 0 | $ 135.80 | $ 49.00 | $ 184.40 | Pattern work, cross country, VOR navigation, Class D Lunken |
| 12 | 05/31/2012 | 0.8 | 0.8 | 0 | $ 77.60 | $ 28.00 | $ 105.60 | Pattern work, simulated engine out, would solo next flight if I had my medical already |
| 11 | 05/29/2012 | 1.2 | 1.2 | 0 | $ 116.40 | $ 42.00 | $ 158.40 | Emergency procedures, slow flight, stalls, GRM, steep turns, T/O and Landing, S turns |
| 10 | 05/28/2012 | 1.2 | 1.2 | 0 | $ 116.40 | $ 42.00 | $ 158.40 | Emergency procedures, slow flight, stalls, GRM, steep turns, crosswind T/O and Landing |
| 9 | 05/26/2012 | 1.1 | 1.1 | 0 | $ 106.70 | $ 38.50 | $ 145.20 | Pattern work |
| 8 | 05/24/2012 | 1.2 | 1.2 | 0 | $ 116.40 | $ 42.00 | $ 158.40 | Emergency procedures, slow flight, stalls, GRM, steep turns |
| 7 | 05/22/2012 | 1.1 | 1.1 | 0 | $ 106.70 | $ 38.50 | $ 145.20 | Emergency procedures, slow flight, stalls, steep turns |
| 6 | 05/20/2012 | 1.3 | 1.3 | 0 | $ 126.10 | $ 45.50 | $ 171.60 | Emergency procedures, slow flight, stalls, GRM |
| 5 | 05/18/2012 | 1.2 | 1.2 | 0 | $ 116.40 | $ 42.00 | $ 158.40 | Emergency procedures, slow flight, stalls |
| 4 | 05/12/2012 | 1.4 | 1.4 | 0 | $ 135.80 | $ 49.00 | $ 184.40 | Emergency procedures, slow flight, stalls, ground reference maneuvers (GRM) |
| 3 | 05/10/2012 | 1.1 | 1.1 | 0 | $ 106.70 | $ 38.50 | $ 145.20 | Ground reference, turns about a point, S turns |
| 2 | 05/08/2012 | 1.2 | 1.2 | 0 | $ 116.40 | $ 42.00 | $ 158.40 | Climbs, trim, slow flight |
| 1 | 05/05/2012 | 0.9 | 0.9 | 0 | $ 87.30 | $ 31.50 | $ 118.80 | Starting my training for real this time |
| 0 | 09/24/2011 | 1.1 | 1.1 | 0 | $ 106.70 | $ 38.50 | $ 145.20 | Familiarization with the Piper Warrior and Instructor |
| Totals | 56.3 |
46.2 | 10.1 | $ 6,110.00 |
$ 2,074.50 | $ 8,234.50 |
Posted By: Brett FerrellFriday September 23rd, 2011 at 10:37 PM