The other day I posted the following Facebook status: “2012: Buy an airplane or rent an Extra 300L for $372 per hour. Hmmmmmmm.” I had many responses that argued in favor of each option. Why even think about this now?
I want to move up to Intermediate competition in 2012. To do so I will need a more capable acro plane than the Decathlon. I could either buy an airplane or rent one. There are very few aircraft capable of such performance, and even fewer available for rental. Both options are expensive. I wanted to explain all the stuff that goes into this type of decision. It is not as simple as “write the check.” ("Write the check attributed to Brian Falvey.)
There are two aircraft that I could purchase that would be up to the task of higher level competition aerobatics: a Pitts S1S or a DR-107 One Design. Both aircraft are in the same general price range with the 107 being a little more expensive but packing even more of a punch. The price range on a Pitts is about $30k - $40k; a One Design is somewhere between $40k and $50k. That is just the purchase price and is probably the easiest aspect of this whole thing.
Airplane ownership is broken down into two expense categories; fixed and direct operating costs. Fixed costs are those things that need to be paid for regardless of how many hours the airplane is flown. These include hangar, insurance, and loan payments. The direct operating cost (DOC) is the money it takes to get the airplane up in the air; fuel, oil, and maintenance reserve. Setting aside several dollars towards maintenance each time you fly is a good, if not mandatory idea.
A cream puff One Design popped up on Barnstormers this evening. I love it. I want it. Here is how much it would cost me:
Purchase price: $43,500
Loan payment: $400
Insurance: $166
Hangar: $0.00*
FOC: $566 per month
Fuel: $60.00
Oil: $ 7.00
MX reserve: $30.00
DOC: $97.00
To buy the airplane and park it in the hangar, I will have to fork out $566 each month. The second I want to fly it, the credit card comes out and I am out $97. If my acro budget allows for $1000 to be spent on acro, I can own the airplane and fly 4.5 hours each month. If I take the total cost, FOC’s and DOC’s and divide that sum by the number of hours I fly I can determine that it will cost me $222.22 per hour to fly that airplane if I fly 4.5 hours each month. If I only fly it two hours in a month, those two hours cost me $380 each. If I flew 10 hours in one month, those ten hours would cost me $153 each (but total expenditures go up to $1536.) Since $1000 is my current max, and only if I am earning that extra income I’m looking for, the DR-107 will run me $222 per hour to fly.
The trouble with ownership is realized the instant something breaks. This is an acro plane. Stuff will break. An engine cylinder is $1000. Radios can break. Tires are $60. I could have to replace any number of things that could send this budget into a tailspin.
If things got bad, I could sell the airplane. The way this thing is priced, I could probably sell it without taking a big hit if nothing major happens to the airplane or engine. If I have a tight month, tough luck. I still have to pay the FOC’s.
I will follow up with the argument for and against rental. For now I am going to go drool over that sweet little One Design.
Thursday, December 30, 2010
Wednesday, December 22, 2010
Hooooollllllddddddddd.
I am in a holding pattern of sorts. I want to head to Alabama as prepared as possible within the constraints of my current budget and when Mother Nature allows. I've been reading up on aerodynamics, walking through sequences, and working extra at the airport. This still leaves lots and lots of time for planning…and planning…plotting…and dreaming…and planning.
One thing I’ve realized about myself is that I will make a snap decision; accept it as fact; operate as though it is definite; and then slowly question it and weigh my options. It’s a Benjamin Button bass ackwards process but its what I do. With that in mind, I’ve been going on and on about getting a second job. I will be spending one of my off days teaching in the Decathlon. This should get me about halfway to my goal of an additional $1000 per month. This means that I need a little part time gig that will earn me another $500 per month. Most little part time gigs pay wages that exist in the lower stratosphere of earnings. This equates to many many hours worked to get to my goal.
How is this for a smarter alternative? Spend three evenings teaching in the Decathlon. Three evening lessons doubles my instructor income. KAZAAM! That gets me to my goal of $1000 per month. Throw in the intangible benefit of spending more time in the cockpit and this starts to sound pretty good. The only downside to this is that I have to wait a few months for the daylight hours to extend past 3pm.
I look at people like Chelsea Engberg (cross country shout out!) or Dave Traver and they are out there killing it everyday. From the outside looking in these people are what they do. There is no line between what they do and who they are. All the folks I look up to have this trait and its one that I want for myself. Throwing myself in the airplane as much as possible instead of stocking shelves sounds like a good way to get myself further along that pursuit.
One thing I’ve realized about myself is that I will make a snap decision; accept it as fact; operate as though it is definite; and then slowly question it and weigh my options. It’s a Benjamin Button bass ackwards process but its what I do. With that in mind, I’ve been going on and on about getting a second job. I will be spending one of my off days teaching in the Decathlon. This should get me about halfway to my goal of an additional $1000 per month. This means that I need a little part time gig that will earn me another $500 per month. Most little part time gigs pay wages that exist in the lower stratosphere of earnings. This equates to many many hours worked to get to my goal.
How is this for a smarter alternative? Spend three evenings teaching in the Decathlon. Three evening lessons doubles my instructor income. KAZAAM! That gets me to my goal of $1000 per month. Throw in the intangible benefit of spending more time in the cockpit and this starts to sound pretty good. The only downside to this is that I have to wait a few months for the daylight hours to extend past 3pm.
I look at people like Chelsea Engberg (cross country shout out!) or Dave Traver and they are out there killing it everyday. From the outside looking in these people are what they do. There is no line between what they do and who they are. All the folks I look up to have this trait and its one that I want for myself. Throwing myself in the airplane as much as possible instead of stocking shelves sounds like a good way to get myself further along that pursuit.
Monday, December 20, 2010
I Used to Have a Budget.
I had my car inspected this morning. I knew that I would need at least two new tires. I even knew that the bill would come out to about what it ended up coming out to. But still...
As if my previous posting about needing a second source of income didn't drive the point home, I believe the above photo will. My budget is constructed of toothpicks. It cant take much sway like the occasional $527 car bill.
I have not lined up the elusive second job just yet. I HAVE been working 7 days a week at the airport with my extra two days being spent as a flight instructor. I've had the license for over two years. I might as well use it. This will slow down until I go to al-a-BAMA in January or February to fly with Greg Koontz.
I'm going to fly this weekend and take a first look at the Sportsman routine for next year. I figure I can run through the whole thing right out of the gate. By doing so I am treating it as though it were an "Unknown" sequence, but I will save that for the next update.
As always, thanks for reading.
As if my previous posting about needing a second source of income didn't drive the point home, I believe the above photo will. My budget is constructed of toothpicks. It cant take much sway like the occasional $527 car bill.
I have not lined up the elusive second job just yet. I HAVE been working 7 days a week at the airport with my extra two days being spent as a flight instructor. I've had the license for over two years. I might as well use it. This will slow down until I go to al-a-BAMA in January or February to fly with Greg Koontz.
I'm going to fly this weekend and take a first look at the Sportsman routine for next year. I figure I can run through the whole thing right out of the gate. By doing so I am treating it as though it were an "Unknown" sequence, but I will save that for the next update.
As always, thanks for reading.
Tuesday, December 14, 2010
The 2011 Sportsman Known Program
I am looking for the demon lurking in the 2011 Sportsman Known (compulsory) routine. I can’t find it! What am I missing?!?!! On paper the routine is easier. The total amount of points that can be earned dropped from 143 last year to 133 in the new routine. Where is the catch?
The routine is as follows:
1) 45 degree upline (same entry as last year)
2) One and a quarter rotation spin (almost the same second figure as last year)
3) Hammerhead with a quarter roll on the downline (figure 5 from last year)
4) Reverse wedge (figure 6 from last year)
5) Loop
6) Half Cuban
7) Pull-pull-pull humpty (figure 7 from last year)
8) Reverse Cuban (figure 3 from last year)
9) 2 Point hesitation roll: roll inverted – pause – roll upright
10) 270 degree turn
Out of 10 figures there are 6 that were in last year’s Known program. On one hand that’s great. I already know how to fly them but now I can polish them up and make them all sorts of pretty. Jim Wells advised me last year not to worry about box positioning or presentation as much as just flying the figures as well as you can. I’ve got an opportunity to do really well here. The highest points are going to be won, or lost on the hammerhead, wedge, and reverse Cuban. I scored well on all three last year minus the infamous idiot moment on the wedge in my last flight.
On the other hand…(say this with as whiney a voice as you can muster, and stomp your feet like your having a temper tantrum) but I like learning new stuuuuuffff. Waaaaaahhhhhhhhhh. (end whiney voice.) Not only that, but guess who else saw these 6 figures last year? EVERYONE THAT I COMPETED AGAINST. So, while it is really easy to sit back and say this is a piece of cake, you have to sit back and say “crap.” I’ve got a lot of work to do if I’m going to win this thing.
The 2011 competition season has officially started. Ready…set….GO.
The routine is as follows:
1) 45 degree upline (same entry as last year)
2) One and a quarter rotation spin (almost the same second figure as last year)
3) Hammerhead with a quarter roll on the downline (figure 5 from last year)
4) Reverse wedge (figure 6 from last year)
5) Loop
6) Half Cuban
7) Pull-pull-pull humpty (figure 7 from last year)
8) Reverse Cuban (figure 3 from last year)
9) 2 Point hesitation roll: roll inverted – pause – roll upright
10) 270 degree turn
Out of 10 figures there are 6 that were in last year’s Known program. On one hand that’s great. I already know how to fly them but now I can polish them up and make them all sorts of pretty. Jim Wells advised me last year not to worry about box positioning or presentation as much as just flying the figures as well as you can. I’ve got an opportunity to do really well here. The highest points are going to be won, or lost on the hammerhead, wedge, and reverse Cuban. I scored well on all three last year minus the infamous idiot moment on the wedge in my last flight.
On the other hand…(say this with as whiney a voice as you can muster, and stomp your feet like your having a temper tantrum) but I like learning new stuuuuuffff. Waaaaaahhhhhhhhhh. (end whiney voice.) Not only that, but guess who else saw these 6 figures last year? EVERYONE THAT I COMPETED AGAINST. So, while it is really easy to sit back and say this is a piece of cake, you have to sit back and say “crap.” I’ve got a lot of work to do if I’m going to win this thing.
The 2011 competition season has officially started. Ready…set….GO.
Sunday, December 12, 2010
Nice slice of humble pie.
When someone better than you suggests something, you had better listen. I spent last night looking over the intermediate sequence for next year. I want to fly it! I want to get in there and kill the sequence! It is a tall order. My need to do this was gaining momentum last night and I was starting to imagine my speeds and pulls throughout the routine. I was going to be a badass.
Tonight, on a whim, I decided to go see if anyone had left comments on any posts. There was one from a month ago that I had somehow missed. I posted about flying the intermediate in the D. “Adam” responded with this:
“The Decathlon CAN fly intermediate level sequences...but that doesn't mean you should. Even though the POH states that the plane can handle +6/-5G and snap rolls, plenty of people have found these stresses can seriously damage the aircraft wings and fuel tanks.__Read this poor guys tale of flying the SD in Intermediate:_http://iac35.aerobaticsweb.org/news/Hammerhead-Fall-04.pdf__Try and keep to under +5/-3.5G (ie Sportsman), and be wary of snap rolls!”
If you read the story that Adam provided you will see a tale of someone…again…better than I am that experienced some heavy maintenance issues as a result of flying his D at the intermediate level. I have no interest in doing that to my beloved Decathlon.
I admit, I had envisioned myself showing up at contest and flying the D through the sequence and scoring poorly, but I had figured that maybe I would win some respect points from trying it. The funny thing about flying is that oftentimes you are giving more pats on the back for the flights that you DON’T take. The classic line: the superior pilot uses their superior judgement to avoid having to use their superior skill. Maybe I would have won some points, but imagine the embarrassment when I harm the airplane trying to be a badass? Not worth it. Not worth the harm to the airplane and not worth losing the respect of people that I look up to. I may attempt some of the figures in practice but “Adam” is right. The D is a Sportsman airplane. Now I guess I just have to go win Sportsman.
I am guessing I know who Adam is (Extra 300 out of MD?). If I’m right, I’ll buy the first round next time I see you. Thanks for looking out for this newbie. I appreciate the guidance and support.
Tonight, on a whim, I decided to go see if anyone had left comments on any posts. There was one from a month ago that I had somehow missed. I posted about flying the intermediate in the D. “Adam” responded with this:
“The Decathlon CAN fly intermediate level sequences...but that doesn't mean you should. Even though the POH states that the plane can handle +6/-5G and snap rolls, plenty of people have found these stresses can seriously damage the aircraft wings and fuel tanks.__Read this poor guys tale of flying the SD in Intermediate:_http://iac35.aerobaticsweb.org/news/Hammerhead-Fall-04.pdf__Try and keep to under +5/-3.5G (ie Sportsman), and be wary of snap rolls!”
If you read the story that Adam provided you will see a tale of someone…again…better than I am that experienced some heavy maintenance issues as a result of flying his D at the intermediate level. I have no interest in doing that to my beloved Decathlon.
I admit, I had envisioned myself showing up at contest and flying the D through the sequence and scoring poorly, but I had figured that maybe I would win some respect points from trying it. The funny thing about flying is that oftentimes you are giving more pats on the back for the flights that you DON’T take. The classic line: the superior pilot uses their superior judgement to avoid having to use their superior skill. Maybe I would have won some points, but imagine the embarrassment when I harm the airplane trying to be a badass? Not worth it. Not worth the harm to the airplane and not worth losing the respect of people that I look up to. I may attempt some of the figures in practice but “Adam” is right. The D is a Sportsman airplane. Now I guess I just have to go win Sportsman.
I am guessing I know who Adam is (Extra 300 out of MD?). If I’m right, I’ll buy the first round next time I see you. Thanks for looking out for this newbie. I appreciate the guidance and support.
Thursday, December 9, 2010
No money, mo' problems
Mo’ money, mo’ problems is ringing true for many but so is No money, mo’ problems. I fall into both categories at the same time. I have some but I need more, because I got more.
I moved into an apartment October 1, 2010. I tossed everything I owned into the back of a U-Haul and hit the highway. The space that wasn’t taken up my possessions and a queen size mattress was taken up by the amount of guilt the move created. I needed to move but I could have stayed living at home with Mom and spent the money on flying. I constructed a budget that would allow me to live on my own and set aside a few hundred dollars a month to fly. That was a great idea but there were some extra expenses related to the move; property tax on my car; an increase in a student loan bill (“You are in the graduated payment plan, sir.” But that doesn’t mean my payment goes DOWN over time? “No sir, it increases.”)…you get the hint. Variables come up and as they come up my flying fund goes down. All the way down. To zero.
I could sit and whine about it but the answer is simple: get a part time job. My goal is to find another $1000 a month to support this little habit of mine. That sounds like a lot of money and it turns out it is. Part of this is going to be taken care fact by shifting my week so that I am working 6 days instead of 5, with the 6th day being dedicated to teaching in the Decathlon. It is extra work so that means extra income. Even if I bill 8 hours each week that leaves me several hundred short of my goal. I may start giving guitar lessons to make up the difference though the local market is saturated. Other options: waiting tables, bartending…something to do in the evenings. I am open to suggestions and or referrals. Two to three nights per week would be ideal.
Don’t forget: “Winners are simply willing to do what the losers won't.” If that means working 80 hours per week then so be it.
I moved into an apartment October 1, 2010. I tossed everything I owned into the back of a U-Haul and hit the highway. The space that wasn’t taken up my possessions and a queen size mattress was taken up by the amount of guilt the move created. I needed to move but I could have stayed living at home with Mom and spent the money on flying. I constructed a budget that would allow me to live on my own and set aside a few hundred dollars a month to fly. That was a great idea but there were some extra expenses related to the move; property tax on my car; an increase in a student loan bill (“You are in the graduated payment plan, sir.” But that doesn’t mean my payment goes DOWN over time? “No sir, it increases.”)…you get the hint. Variables come up and as they come up my flying fund goes down. All the way down. To zero.
I could sit and whine about it but the answer is simple: get a part time job. My goal is to find another $1000 a month to support this little habit of mine. That sounds like a lot of money and it turns out it is. Part of this is going to be taken care fact by shifting my week so that I am working 6 days instead of 5, with the 6th day being dedicated to teaching in the Decathlon. It is extra work so that means extra income. Even if I bill 8 hours each week that leaves me several hundred short of my goal. I may start giving guitar lessons to make up the difference though the local market is saturated. Other options: waiting tables, bartending…something to do in the evenings. I am open to suggestions and or referrals. Two to three nights per week would be ideal.
Don’t forget: “Winners are simply willing to do what the losers won't.” If that means working 80 hours per week then so be it.
Tuesday, December 7, 2010
I Had an Actual Idea
Stop the press! I had a thought! An actual coherent idea! This is a new experience that I could get used to.
A long while ago I told myself that I needed to do something every day that would push me along towards the made up finish that doesn’t actually exist. If I did just one thing that will amount to 365 things I did each year that will benefit my career and subsequent life. 365.
I would say my tally of things done in 2010 is somewhere in the 100 region. 365 – 100 = 265. That means that I wasted 265 days of the last year. If you recall (not that you will but I do) I once wrote that I want to be accountable. Well here I am. Standing to be counted as lazy and inefficient. I did compete this year but I could have done better. Somewhere along the way I forgot about this whole one thing a day idea. I probably had laundry to do or a lawn to cut. Thank God I don’t take prescription meds. Or have pets. Or kids.
So, new feature to be added to InvertedJourney.com is the “What did I do today” window. Each day I will update this window with that day’s accomplishment. There will be a running tally of the number of things I did so we can keep track. We = me and those of you playing along at home. There may be some days where multiple things happen but SOMETHING has to happen everyday. I should probably tell my web guy about this. This is GREAT. Updating the website will not count as doing something.
To get the ball rolling (these will not count in the official tally) I will sum up yesterday and today.
Yesterday: Called Greg Koontz in Alabama to discuss heading down there in January or February. I want to learn from the Jedi Master of Decathlons. Great guy, cant wait. This will be the topic of one, or many future posts.
Today: Followed up with Mike Goulian. I emailed him awhile back about airshow flying and he invited me up to see him once the airshow season is over. The season is over but it isn’t seeing as the ICAS convention is coming up shortly and everyone is hustling to get ready for that.
Ready? Go!
A long while ago I told myself that I needed to do something every day that would push me along towards the made up finish that doesn’t actually exist. If I did just one thing that will amount to 365 things I did each year that will benefit my career and subsequent life. 365.
I would say my tally of things done in 2010 is somewhere in the 100 region. 365 – 100 = 265. That means that I wasted 265 days of the last year. If you recall (not that you will but I do) I once wrote that I want to be accountable. Well here I am. Standing to be counted as lazy and inefficient. I did compete this year but I could have done better. Somewhere along the way I forgot about this whole one thing a day idea. I probably had laundry to do or a lawn to cut. Thank God I don’t take prescription meds. Or have pets. Or kids.
So, new feature to be added to InvertedJourney.com is the “What did I do today” window. Each day I will update this window with that day’s accomplishment. There will be a running tally of the number of things I did so we can keep track. We = me and those of you playing along at home. There may be some days where multiple things happen but SOMETHING has to happen everyday. I should probably tell my web guy about this. This is GREAT. Updating the website will not count as doing something.
To get the ball rolling (these will not count in the official tally) I will sum up yesterday and today.
Yesterday: Called Greg Koontz in Alabama to discuss heading down there in January or February. I want to learn from the Jedi Master of Decathlons. Great guy, cant wait. This will be the topic of one, or many future posts.
Today: Followed up with Mike Goulian. I emailed him awhile back about airshow flying and he invited me up to see him once the airshow season is over. The season is over but it isn’t seeing as the ICAS convention is coming up shortly and everyone is hustling to get ready for that.
Ready? Go!
Wednesday, December 1, 2010
Brain in a Jar
I hate to think that this will be a war of attrition. There must be moves and shakes that I can do to speed this whole thing up instead of “staying the course.” Shouldn’t I be out there hustling for the next big break? Shouldn’t I be living in a van so I can have a Pitts in the hangar? Do I owe 2008 a royalty for using the term “staying the course”?
Following behind each compliment is a judgment. As soon as I hear a “good job” or a “nice writing” there is someone waiting in the wings. They are ready to pounce on everything that they think that I should have done and they are quick to ridicule for what they perceive as an opportunity lost.
With the last entry discussing how I chose not to pursue a different career and maintained my current, though adjusted profession, I have received a bit of flak from folks. With that in mind, here is the decision I had to make in plain terms.
Here is your opportunity.
You must sign on the dotted line.
We cannot guarantee you that you will do what you want to do.
If you are able to get to that objective, all will be good in your world.
You have no real control over the outcome of this.
You must first go through a battery of tests and a medical exam.
Before you do that, you MUST sign on the dotted line.
Should you fail the medical exam, you will still have a 6-year commitment doing what you do not want to do.
We cannot guarantee that you will pass this medical exam, especially with a right elbow that does not have the required amount of supination and flexion.
If you sign on the dotted line we will send you to training for 5 months. During these 5 months you will paid enough money to maintain your bills. At the conclusion of these 5 months you will not have a full time job. You will have to find another job to support yourself. You have exactly 30 days to find a job that will pay you enough money to support yourself before you have achieved complete and total financial ruin.
We cannot guarantee you anything.
Sign here.
In another lifetime I may have chosen to continue this. Who knows? Maybe the planets will align one day and I will find myself able to pursue it without risking that financial ruin thing (which is not hyperbole). I believe in taking risks but I also believe in being smart in the mitigation of those risks. As great as this could have been for me it could have been equally disastrous.
I have always sought out stories of people braver than I am that have put it all on the line for something they believed in. I have been hard on myself for not pursuing some of these options. Is it possible that my putting it all on the line action has been the refusal of these opportunities? Is that just a cozy rationalization? When does safety and comfort blind us from freedom and the pursuit of happiness? How much do those full body scanners really see anyway?
Following behind each compliment is a judgment. As soon as I hear a “good job” or a “nice writing” there is someone waiting in the wings. They are ready to pounce on everything that they think that I should have done and they are quick to ridicule for what they perceive as an opportunity lost.
With the last entry discussing how I chose not to pursue a different career and maintained my current, though adjusted profession, I have received a bit of flak from folks. With that in mind, here is the decision I had to make in plain terms.
Here is your opportunity.
You must sign on the dotted line.
We cannot guarantee you that you will do what you want to do.
If you are able to get to that objective, all will be good in your world.
You have no real control over the outcome of this.
You must first go through a battery of tests and a medical exam.
Before you do that, you MUST sign on the dotted line.
Should you fail the medical exam, you will still have a 6-year commitment doing what you do not want to do.
We cannot guarantee that you will pass this medical exam, especially with a right elbow that does not have the required amount of supination and flexion.
If you sign on the dotted line we will send you to training for 5 months. During these 5 months you will paid enough money to maintain your bills. At the conclusion of these 5 months you will not have a full time job. You will have to find another job to support yourself. You have exactly 30 days to find a job that will pay you enough money to support yourself before you have achieved complete and total financial ruin.
We cannot guarantee you anything.
Sign here.
In another lifetime I may have chosen to continue this. Who knows? Maybe the planets will align one day and I will find myself able to pursue it without risking that financial ruin thing (which is not hyperbole). I believe in taking risks but I also believe in being smart in the mitigation of those risks. As great as this could have been for me it could have been equally disastrous.
I have always sought out stories of people braver than I am that have put it all on the line for something they believed in. I have been hard on myself for not pursuing some of these options. Is it possible that my putting it all on the line action has been the refusal of these opportunities? Is that just a cozy rationalization? When does safety and comfort blind us from freedom and the pursuit of happiness? How much do those full body scanners really see anyway?
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)