FBO reccommendation in Austin TX?

[TXaviator]

OK so since the last time i've been in austin, my preferred fbo closed (adventure aviation at GTU)

need some good reccommendations for renting something 172ish and yes, i will be taking my buddy to hard 8

*drool*

[casey]

Screw hard 8's. The only place to go for BBQ is coopers in llano, tx. Check it out.

[frog_flyer]

Hey TX, let me know when you're planning to head to SEP or AQO. I'm itchin' for some good bbq.


best rib I've ever had was at cooper's. However, I've never had one at hard 8.

[TXaviator]

alright well likely it will be a sunday excursion, weather permitting. im open to votes for which place to check out.

...and still need some SA on where to rent from in the austin area.

[Alchemy]

Originally Posted by TXaviator

alright well likely it will be a sunday excursion, weather permitting. im open to votes for which place to check out.

...and still need some SA on where to rent from in the austin area.

Good luck....in Austin proper I guess the only choice now is Austin Academy of Aviation. They were expensive back in the early part of the decade, I can only imagine what they're charging per hour with the fuel prices like they are now. I heard rumblings that the remnants of alliance/lonestar/cannales were going to reorganize into a new school, but have no idea if that ever materialized.

In Georgetown I guess it's down to Wright aviation and Pilot's Choice. I have had good experiences at wright aviation, but again, it's kind of pricey. Never flown anything at pilot's choice.

I have no idea if Stenger (sp?) in lockhart is still doing business, but I seem to remember hearing nothing but good things about them if driving south is more convenient than GTU for you.

It's really kind of sad what General Aviation has come to in the Austin area. When you have a city that couldn't care less I guess that's what happens. Personally I haven't flown GA in almost two years. I honestly cannot afford to rent planes around here to fly for fun. I did all my training and instructing out of AUS and to be honest it was never really a thriving hub of GA, although at least we had more than one school to choose from back when I was hanging around.

Supposedly an investor is interested in turning bird's nest into a viable GA airport.

http://www.bizjournals.com/houston/s...l?ana=from_rss

If that happens maybe some new opportunities will pop up over there, but I'll believe when I see it. We have an unbelievable amount of Nimby-ism around here, even in the sticks, so I still have my doubts.

[ilove747s]

The cheapest rates are going to be through the "University Flying Club".

http://studentorgs.utexas.edu/flying/index.html

You can get one of the 172's for as low as $95/hr and you will also see the 152's for as low as $75. I'm working on my PPL right on in a 152 and you don't necessarily have to be a member to rent a plane as far as I am aware.

[Alchemy]

Originally Posted by ilove747s

The cheapest rates are going to be through the "University Flying Club".

http://studentorgs.utexas.edu/flying/index.html

You can get one of the 172's for as low as $95/hr and you will also see the 152's for as low as $75. I'm working on my PPL right on in a 152 and you don't necessarily have to be a member to rent a plane as far as I am aware.

The OP should definitely check out UFC....I didn't realize they've opened their membership up to anyone, (looks like they've done that now). I did a bit of flying there too back when I was a student pilot and going to UT. They've always been a great option for a quick rental and it looks like they're still alive and kicking with the additions to their fleet.

[TXaviator]

cool, well i suppose ill call pilots choice today and see what i can get for next sunday. sucks ill have to pay for another checkout but oh well. ill post here once i get something lined up and we'll make a bbq run to llano for anyone interested.


....i also emailed the general email and one of the instructors with UFC to see about lining up a plane through them. anyone have better contact info for rental through them?

[TXaviator]

oh and heres a thought i didnt consider also...

i guess ill need to get a high performance endorsement from the guy i (potentially) rent the 182 at UFC from.... ive been flying arrows and seminoles lately but yeah, theyre not "high performance" as per 61.31f

should this be an issue?

[Minuteman]

Speaking of Austin. Have you seen the plans for the new Ultra-Low Cost Carrier Terminal?



I wish I were kidding.

[TXaviator]

wow. yuck.

[SpiraMirabilis]

lol, that is a barn.

[texas17]

Wow that is ugly.

Try contacting mhcasey. He is a CFI and member of UFC. Kind of surprised he hasn't posted on this yet.

[TXaviator]

i emailed mike this morning early, but havent heard back yet.

[mhcasey]

Originally Posted by TXaviator

i emailed mike this morning early, but havent heard back yet.

Sorry for the delay...got your e-mail and will call you this evening. To those interested:

UFC has 2 152's, 2 172's, and 1 182RG. The insurance on the 182RG requires 10 hours in type. The club is awesome with great rates, but the planes will break a little more often than the pricey guys next door.

Austin Academy of Aviation: Too expensive. Nice planes though.

Stenger: Haven't heard anything from them in a while, but they were an outstanding group when I flew with them.

There's a few other options at KAUS now. There's another flying club with an Archer, C140, and Cirrus called "Step Up Aviation." I don't believe they require membership, but the prices are high.

There's another school at Signature now that has diamonds. Also pricey, and Diamond airplanes suck.

Adventure Aviation finally died it's long and painful death.

Wright is still around with C172SP's I think.

Pilot's Choice...good mx and a lot of planes to choose from. Most of their avionics are horrifying, as is the CFI pay. Mostly traumahawks and Archers, a few 172RG's, a Bonanza, Duchesses, and an Eclipse.

Yes...GA around here is struggling a bit. As a previous poster mentioned, Bird's Nest is on its way up though. They paved the runway a few months ago and put in a terminal building. Fuel should be available now, but I haven't made any full stop landings out there to be sure. 2700X25' runway...awesome.

The Flying Club is definitely my recommendation for around here.

[TXaviator]

awesome reply mike, thanks for that. ill look for your call later this afternoon, ill be packing and doin laundry.

as for the 182 time "in type" .... do they mean specifically in a 182RG or will any complex count?

we'll talk specifics on the phone, looking forward to doing business with ya!

[Alchemy]

Originally Posted by TXaviator

awesome reply mike, thanks for that. ill look for your call later this afternoon, ill be packing and doin laundry.

as for the 182 time "in type" .... do they mean specifically in a 182RG or will any complex count?

we'll talk specifics on the phone, looking forward to doing business with ya!

If you do fly the RG, treat 'er right, I've logged about 150 hrs in that plane. 40R is a good one.

[Centex402]

Stenger Air in Lockhart is top notch. 512-398-4359. Joe and Louanne are the most awesome people and highly recommended. It's only a 15 minute drive from Austin and you won't be disappointed.

[mhcasey]

Originally Posted by Centex402

Stenger Air in Lockhart is top notch. 512-398-4359. Joe and Louanne are the most awesome people and highly recommended. It's only a 15 minute drive from Austin and you won't be disappointed.

If you're training with them now, do you know their current rates? I haven't been down there in almost two years, but the time I was down there I remember very fondly.

Btw, from Austin proper (campus area) it usually took me around 45 minutes to get there...it's about 20 minutes from KAUS south on 183.

[killbilly]

Originally Posted by mhcasey

If you're training with them now, do you know their current rates? I haven't been down there in almost two years, but the time I was down there I remember very fondly.

Btw, from Austin proper (campus area) it usually took me around 45 minutes to get there...it's about 20 minutes from KAUS south on 183.

Can't find a website for them, either.

[mhcasey]

http://www.controller.com/dealers/de...1245204&DTID=2

[killbilly]

Originally Posted by mhcasey

http://www.controller.com/dealers/de...1245204&DTID=2

Found that, but was wondering if they had their OWN website.

[Minuteman]

Originally Posted by Centex402

Stenger Air in Lockhart is top notch. 512-398-4359. Joe and Louanne are the most awesome people and highly recommended. It's only a 15 minute drive from Austin and you won't be disappointed.

I don't know anything about Stenger, but it should be a selling point that you'd be near Kreuz Market, Black's Barbecue, Chisholm Trail Barbeque, and Smittys Market every time you go for a lesson.

[Centex402]

Originally Posted by Minuteman

I don't know anything about Stenger, but it should be a selling point that you'd be near Kreuz Market, Black's Barbecue, Chisholm Trail Barbeque, and Smittys Market every time you go for a lesson.

I don't know the current rates but I'm sure they are less than AUS (maybe $110/hr?). I did my PPL there with Joe Stenger in 2004. He is the most patient person and runs a great operation. If Lockhart isn't what you're looking for, try Texas State Aviation in San Marcos(HYI). I did some training there too and have a nice group of experienced guys 512-396-2212. http://tsaviation.com/

Stenger Air in Lockhart has a '76 172 and an older 150. Both very reasonibly priced. Texas State Aviation in San Marcos has a '98 Diamond Katana and a '01 172, and '67 Arrow. I've flown all and are reasonably priced too. Hope that helps. By the way, Stenger doesn't have a website, word of mouth does it for him.