[Flintstone]

Okay, the weather’s been good in patches with a nice forecast for the coming week, with any luck we’ll have a half decent summer.

Which got me wondering. How many people actually plan to fly a certain number of hours a year, or do most just wing it ( ) and get it when they can?

If you do have a number of hours in mind, how often do you achieve that goal?

[Paul_Sengupta]

I get it when I can. Which is none at all these days.

As for the flying, I tend to go on past performance, so if 100 hours in a year didn't bankrupt me, then a similar pattern of flying will probably be ok in another year.

[Charliesixtysix]

I don't plan for any set amount of flying but suprisingly, it always seems to come out at give or take the usual 140 per annum.
I might end up a bit down on that this time due to loosing the first quarter of this year to deep maintenance and repaint of the aeroplane. We shall see.

[GrahamB]

Similarly to C66, I don't plan for any specific number of hours.

Working away in the Smoke during the week means opportunity limiting me to an average of about 70 hours a year.

Next year that number will go up, and I suspect the limit will be determined by budget!

[Maxthelion]

I tend to fly only 25-30 hours per year. There is no plan. This has been pretty consistent since having children four years ago. Once they're both in school and the crippling nursery fees are behind me the flying budget will allow for more, even if the time budget will still be very low. However, I've always tried to make the most of my time in the air with STOL operations, air racing, aerobatics, etc, meaning the maintenance of skills is pretty good. I can't remember the last time I went for a vanilla bimble/£100 hamburger, straight and level all the way there and back.

[r1flyguy]

Ive been busy with a home extension build for last 3 years and not flown much GA. its coming to an end now thankfully so i can get my life back I've already booked a checkout for next week (last fkew GA about 6 months ago) and plan to fly at least once everytime I'm on days off from full time work

[mmcp42]

My master plan is to fly more than 50 hours in a year so the 50 hour check comes round before the annual
Reality then kicks in
When the weather’s good the day job gets busy and vice versa
If I manage more then 30 I’m a happy bunny
This year could see a breakthrough in hours flown
(I keep telling myself!)

[TLRippon]

I never used to have a plan until I had a good flying year in 2011 when I touched 180 hours and had to pay for a 150 hour check about 2 months before the annual. The wife had a meltdown when she saw the bills racking up and staged an intervention. She made me promise not to go beyond 149 hours a year, which, luckily, some maintenance issues have ensured, with convenient gaps in serviceability.
I’m finding my flying goes through sporadic peaks and troughs anyway. Had a busy winter, quiet spring and since coming out of annual two weeks ago, have flown every day and will probably be having another 50 hour in July.

[PeteSpencer]

We regularly reach 100 hour check in December (with annual due in March).

Unless weather is brill we usually only put on another 20 before annual.(Jan to March) often less.

Knotty problem: We can't ground the a/c from Dec to March, but regularly 'waste' 25-30 hours of the 50 hour.

I somehow don't think it will be a problem this year however, with a whole run of avionics failures reducing capability of a/c.

Peter

[mmcp42]

We regularly reach 100 hour check in December (with annual due in March).

Unless weather is brill we usually only put on another 20 before annual.(Jan to March) often less.

Knotty problem: We can't ground the a/c from Dec to March, but regularly 'waste' 25-30 hours of the 50 hour.

I somehow don't think it will be a problem this year however, with a whole run of avionics failures reducing capability of a/c.

Peter

doesn't doing the 50 hour "reset" the annual clock?

[PeteSpencer]

No cos the ARC is due at same time.

[Grumpy One]

Lemme see...…..
2000 169:25
2001 165:05
2002 135:40
2003 145:20
2004 142:25
2005 200:35
2006 191:35
2007 162:05
2008 155:25
2009 113:45
2010 130:45
2011 153:30
2012 155:30
2013 130:40
2014 163:15
2015 155:15
2016 195:45
2017 148:25

Average :- Errr? Sums time for an innumerate, sad person takes a bit longer.. Errr? …. 156hr/annum.
Gosh! Just realised it tells the story of my life - I guess you can see when I wasn't feeling too well, eh?