Thanks for the info. I was at UPAC this year, had a good chat with some of the Zenith builders and based on how often I'd hope to be airborne, the AULA seems like a better route. Safe landings!

Hey again Bobby,

WWFC does have a minimum daily rental rate for all day and overnight bookings. I think it's still 4 hours rental per day miniumum -- or the actual time if the hobbs hours is more. That means if you booked the plane for a weekend (saturday, sunday) you would be billed a minium of 8 hours rental -- or more of course if you actually flew more. 8 hours is about $1,000, so there are not too many overnight rentals.

I've never done a booking like that so would have to check - it was 4 hours minimum a few years ago, so I expect it's the same now if not more.

It's in areas like this that owning your own plane, AULA for example, is better. You can take the plane anywhwere you want, anytime you want, and for as long as you want. Renting is great for what I do -- book a couple hours a couple times a month and goof around. If you want to do serious flying, with lots of cross-countries and stuff like that, renting can then be quite expensive and not very convenient. Plus clubs have minium hours rules so you have to note the dates and get out flying before your currency expires or else have to go up with an instructor for a check out. Most places, including WWFC is minimum one hour flying every 30 days. Own your own plane? Then it can be months since your last flight if you want - no worries. Many AULA owners don't fly in the winter for example. Can't do that renting. You would loose your currency and have to go up with an instructor for a complete check out if it were that long. Which is almost the same as doing another flight test.

Like EVERYTHING -- you have make compromises with no matter what you end up choosing.

Thanks for your insights. It's ironic; the cost savings sure narrow in a hurry when you tack on all the associated AULA expenses. Out of curiousity, how does WWFC handle day or overnight rentals? I assume there's a minimum charge. I did an intro flight there last spring, had a blast but I'm still not sure which path is best for me. Thanks for your time.

Hi Bobby,

I guess the only real advantage, if you want to call it that, of having a PPL or RPL (Recreational Pilot's License) over a UL license is the ability to rent aircraft from a local flying club. Very rare to find any operation that rents ultralights. That means if going UL, you pretty much have to buy your own plane. And then pay to keep it at a field somewhere - if you can find one that will take you. Like you say, it's easy to spend $50K or more for one of the newer AULA products/kits - and you still have to spend quite a while assembling it. There are many decent used ULs (AULA and BULA) from $15,000 to $30,000 range, depending on what you want and like.

For me, I'm a member of the WWFC in Kitchener. We have many planes, including 6 C172's and even two Katanas. $120/hr wet is the rental rate. I don't do that much flying, just a couple hours per month -- about 20 hours per year. It's not much, but like I say, better than golf! I only spend about $2K per year flying. So that is pretty cheap. Granted, most of my flying is just local sight-seeing stuff. Not too many longer cross countries. Gotta make the budget last throughout the year!

I keep thinking about going the UL route and buying something, but the expense still holds me back. For now, renting is working OK. No fuss, and no worry. I don't have to fix or maintain anything, or worry about insurance . . . heck the club staff even pull the planes out for you and put them away! In the winter, they make sure there's no snow or ice on the wings too.

We'll see . . . some day maybe.

=========================

Hi Dyceman, quick Q for you. I see you have a PPL and I'm wavering between and AULA and PPL. I figure about $50K to get a decent AULA built, kitted and flying plus regular monthly expenses on top of that whereas a PPL has an upfront cost of only (only?) $12K. What kind of expenses do you incur after getting your PPL and do you find the AULA is a much more cost effective approach? I'd like to be able to putter about Ontario but even a day trip at $150/hr in a C172, that's gotta be getting expensive. Thanks for your time.

Hi Dyceman, quick Q for you. I see you have a PPL and I'm wavering between and AULA and PPL. I figure about $50K to get a decent AULA built, kitted and flying plus regular monthly expenses on top of that whereas a PPL has an upfront cost of only (only?) $12K. What kind of expenses do you incur after getting your PPL and do you find the AULA is a much more cost effective approach? I'd like to be able to putter about Ontario but even a day trip at $150/hr in a C172, that's gotta be getting expensive. Thanks for your time.