A little late for this year, but where I used to live they would hold a parade that pretty much anyone could build a float or just decorate a vehicle/tractor/side by side, etc and we would then all join up and participate in the parade tossing candy to the kids.
Anything like that in this area? it was quite fun and, IMO, more fun than just watching a parade.
Have friends coming up need a place to take them to dinner. Should be simple, but we have some dietary restrictions.
One person is Celiac (gluten free, can't eat wheat at all), the other is vegetarian.
Any ideas around the Boone, Banner Elk..etc area? I know some restaurants used to be GF (Coyote?) but the new owners are not good about it.
So people often wonder how expensive owning an airplane can be. So ill provide a data point since I just did my annual . We will figure mechanics cost at 125/hr.
So my P35 just finished annual. I did about 20 hours by myself and the IA and I did about 5 hours together. So figure 30 hours MX time 3,750 dollars (luckily, it costs me a few dinners).
Oil and filter 95.50 in oil and 36.85 for the filter, maybe 10 bucks in replaced screws and other consumables (Hoppes 9, LPS..etc). 142.35.
So 3,892.35... So not bad and about what people see and say as average.
Now, my right mag needs it's 500 hour inspection. Inspection is ~800 minus any needed parts and an OH is about 1300. I'll just send it for OH. figure an hour of labor for removal and reinstall.
5,317.35. And the plane will be down about a week... Not horrible.
And doing the gear inspection found the front strut needs to be OH or IRAN. Called Delta Strut, OH is 8,500 dollars and an IRAN starts at 2500. On this, I'll do an IRAN and the plane will be sitting on jacks about 6 weeks (which frankly I hate that idea). Figure 10 hours for removal and reinstall and rigging (might be 15, never done it before).
9,067.35 and grounded for 6 weeks.
Then the kick in the nuts... Went to go do the test flight and my engine management system (EMS) died. This is a primary unit and the company has surrendered the STC so we had to find a vendor that could and would be willing to look at it. Now here I had three options, try to get it fixed ~800 and 2 weeks. Replace the EMS ~15K. Or screw it full Dynon panel for 57K. The fix may or may not work, if it works we don't know how long the fix will hold. The replacement or the Dynon first I could get into the shop is Sept. So the plane would be down 15 weeks.
Now I could install the EMS, but that is a bunch of stuff that I just don't want to do. A man has to know his limitations.
So I sent the EMS out. So now we are at 9,867.35 and down for six weeks. Because of scheduling issues, we are going to be down more than six weeks. The plane is down now for two weeks while we get the EMS sorted (and it may not get fixed and the fix duration is unknown), And when I can get to it the strut will be sent out (and the mag at that time). So it is going to be 9,867.35 and down for two months this year.
In truth, I try to take good care of my plane. I rebuilt the landing gear two years ago (ABS suggest every 2K hours), bought a new prop three years ago (had a C23 and no one really suggests OH those), and did the interior 4 years ago. So really the annuals have been around 10K/year all averaged out.
And at some point, it will need paint. My buddy just had his painted and it was 35K.
So there is one data point for you all to consider. I tell people to figure about 10% of the cost of the plane for your first annual and about 5% a year after that.
Edit: Oh, I forgot my radio was making a "clicking noise" so I did an inflight mag check and it was the right mag. The general consensus was that it is the ignition wires. So add 800 for the harness and about 2 hours all said and done.
Just moved back to NC and want to try my hand at fly fishing and kayaking.
Any suggestions on places to go to learn?