Aircraft Cost

So, you’re wondering how much does a sport trike weight-shift control light sport aircraft (LSA) cost? How long does a sport trike weight-shift control LSA last? A undercarriage, engine, and wing can cost a minimum of about $15,000 or more. $10,000 for the engine and undercarriage and $5,000 for the wing are typical approximations. You can spend up to $60,000 for the top of the line with all the bells and whistles. There is a large price range similar to automobiles.

After spending that kind of money you’re probably wondering, “How long does a sport trike LSA last?” After four years of fairly active usage and exposure to UV light from the sun, a trike wing may be in need of replacement. This of course varies with how you use it and how you care for your wing. It’s easy to test your sailcloth for strength and thus determine your need to replace your trike wing long before it becomes unsafe. Engine maintenance is crucial to long life. The undercarriage should last indefinitely with good care.

Good used trike WSC LSA are often available for half as much though it will have a shorter life-span. In addition, because the sport is evolving rapidly, newer sport trike aircraft can have significantly better performance and behavior than older ones. You will need expert help in determining the suitability of the used aircraft for your needs, and how airworthy it is. Good deals exist but you will need to be able to carefully evaluate what you are looking at. Equally important is how well the used aircraft was cared for. This sport trike is going to take you high into the air so you will want to be sure of it’s condition before you buy it. Unless you know what you are looking at, that you should have expert help in deciding before you buy.

Once you have your sport aircraft and have completed training your main cost is for fuel and oil. These consumables are not very expensive. A few gallons of gas and some two or four cycle oil will not break your budget.

You will also need a helmet and a few other small incidentals. These can add an additional $300 to $500 to your bill. For well under $20,000 you can become the owner and pilot of your own personal and portable aircraft. Most pilots who get into the sport also purchase a two-way radio for an additional $500.

Next: Is it safe?

Related: Learning to fly a trike | Airplane pilot to trike pilot | Become a sport pilot | The steps | How long will it take? | How much does it cost? | Is it safe? | Find a flight instructor | Find a flight school | Take your first flight