Simviation Forums

OK, what does it actually cost to rent a single engine plane? I know there is fuel cost, parking and possible landing fees. Looking online I see Cessna 150's at $60 an hour. Does this mean that If I wanted to rent a plane from say, here in Vero Beach, and fly to Tamiami Executive and stay overnight, am I charged $60 every single hour that I have the plane, whether its parked at the airport while Im asleep, or the total hours I would use the plane?  Probably a really stupid question, but an answer would be helpful. Thanks.

I beleive its $60 an hour that your actually flying it plus fuel and parking.
And they probably have special priceing for weekend getwaways.then you could bring 3 or four freinds and split the cost with them
But if i am wrong im sure someone who knows better than i will correct me

The way it works for me is, around $88 an hour with fuel for a C172, and you are charged for only the time the engine is running (time on the Hobbes) and if you take it for more than 24 hours, you are charged a minimum of 2 hours, even if you fly for 10 minutes.  Might be different where you are though.

ok cool, then fly up to high altitude, turn off engine, glide down, then at 1000ft, turn engine on again, and do the whole thing again!

The way it works for me is, around $88 an hour with fuel for a C172, and you are charged for only the time the engine is running (time on the Hobbes) and if you take it for more than 24 hours, you are charged a minimum of 2 hours, even if you fly for 10 minutes.  Might be different where you are though

That's almost exactly what it is at my club for a 172. And it's pretty reasonable. It's based on 7-8 gallons per hour of fuel ($3.50/gal)... $7.00/hour for the engine-wear ( HAS to be replaced every 2000 hours on planes for hire @ $14,000)... $7.00/hour for maintenance... plus insurance, tie-down, use of the plane and a small profit for the owner gracious enough to lease it to the club.

It's an expensive way to kill an afternoon, but not all that expensive a way to travel.

Example: Two adults can fly from Columbus, Ohio to Chicago and back using about  5  hours on the Hobbes.. about $480 wth tax. That's $240 per person round trip on YOUR OWN schedule and no security lines. Considering you need to be AT the airport two hours before departure... you'd be entering the pattern in Chicago to land by the time you were allowed ON the commercial flight.    ;)

Most renters include fuel in the hourly rate- it's called "wet time". You shell out the cash to fill the tanks if needed, then you bring in the receipt and they knock that off the bill. Most places do not cover landing or parking fees, so I avoid going to airports that have either.
As noted, rental hrs are based on the Hobbs or tach. reading, but if you take a plane overnight, there's generally a minimum daily rate: average is 3 hrs/day.
 For example: I took a rental from NJ to La.; about 23 hrs total time on the meter, but had the plane out for about 7 days, so at 3 hrs minmum a day, I didn't wind up paying any extra to have it out all week.
BTW, $60/hr for a 150 is pretty good...

Not forgetting the cost of insurance!  :(

i'm paying 72.00hr for a 150.  that is wet.  i am only charged the time on the hobbs.  if i fuel up at some airport that happens to have higher fuel prices than home field does i pay the difference.  so if fuel at k34 is 2.80 and i go to ktop and fuel is 3.50.  i have to pay the 70 cent a gallon difference.