Welcome to PilotCost
Published · 2 min read
A short introduction to what PilotCost is, who it's for, and what to expect from the cost-of-ownership pages and articles we publish.
PilotCost is a free, source-cited reference for the real cost of owning general aviation aircraft. Every fuel burn, TBO, and overhaul figure on every aircraft page is backed by a linked manufacturer publication or industry source. No paywalls, no fluff, no shop-this-now banners.
Who this is for
If you’re a pilot trying to figure out whether you can afford to buy an airplane, or which airplane fits your budget and mission, this site is for you. The aircraft pages cover 94 general aviation airplanes with detailed cost breakdowns, common ownership issues, and honest analysis of who each airplane works for.
The articles you’ll find here go deeper on specific topics that don’t fit into a single aircraft page. Cost components like insurance and annual inspections. Cross-shop comparisons. First-time buyer guidance. The lifecycle decisions that pilots search for when they’re getting serious about ownership.
How to use the site
Start with the calculator on the home page. Pick an aircraft, adjust the inputs to match your situation (fuel price, hours per year, hangar cost), and the per-hour and per-year numbers update in real time. Every aircraft page has its own pre-filled version of the calculator plus 2,000-plus words of narrative on what it’s actually like to own that airplane.
If you don’t know which airplane you want yet, the articles section is the better starting point. The first-time buyer guides walk through the buying process and the budget questions you should answer before shopping.
What’s next
I’m publishing one article a week, roughly, on cost-of-ownership topics. The library will grow over time. If there’s a topic you’d like covered, send me a note.