Aircraft Guide

CESSNA-162 SKYCATCHER VANS RV-12iST CSA SPORTCRUISER CESSNA-172S SKYHAWK CESSNA-182T SKYLANE SIMULATOR FAA Class ABTD

CESSNA-162 SKYCATCHER

This 2-seat aircraft has a 100 HP engine. It is a forgiving safe aircraft for training for the Sport / Private Pilot License, or Instrument Rating. And it is well suited for basic cross-country travel under ‘VFR’ (Visual Flight Rules) conditions.

The airplane features side-by-side seating. This offers several advantages over the often more dated aircraft designs with ‘tandem seating’: The Pilot and Flight Instructor can better see each other’s actions and reactions. And easier learn or teach computer settings, and also use non-verbal communications. A study by the US Air Force found side-by-side seating to be a safer, more preferable way to teach new students to learn to fly.

Airplane Features

  • Seating Capacity: 2 people
  • Max Luggage: 50 lbs.
  • Max Fuel: 24 Gallons / 144 Lbs.
  • Max Useful Load (People, Luggage, Fuel): 481 lbs
  • Max Cruise Speed: 105 to 129 MPH
  • Max Range / Endurance: 4 Hours w 1 Hour Reserve
  • Service Ceiling: 14,625 ft.
  • Takeoff Distance At Sea Level (Ground Roll): 1,138 ft.
  • Takeoff Distance S.L. (To Clear 50 ft. Obstacle): 1,369 ft.

Standard Plan Service Charges incl. “Dry” Aircraft ($/h):

Late Model, Garmin G3X Avionic: $152.-

Model Year 2011/2013: $149.-

Model Year 2011: $146.-

Model Year 20xx: $–.-

Instructor fees are in addition.

A number of factors can influence the cost of flying: 1) the model used; 2) hours of operation (longer flights will incur higher costs); 3) Fuel services; 4) Instructor Services (if you’re training, your Instructor’s cost adds on ); 5) Optional Services and Training Supplies (These extras can further increase the overall costs)

Additional Details

  • Modern Garmin G3X Electronic Flight Displays
  • Air Traffic Display
  • Satellite Weather Information
  • Terrain Proximity Display
  • On Screen Weight & Balance Calculator
  • Satellite-Linked Navigation System

Lease opportunities

Lease Demand: AA
For those who are curious: The plane price when new was $149,900 in 2014.

Similarly performing LSA planes now have a new cost of about $235K in 2024.

VANS RV-12iST

This 2-seat, 100-HP aircraft is perfect for pilot training and cross-country flights. It’s great for Sport Pilot, Private Pilot, Instrument Rating, and Commercial Pilot training.

Wide Cockpit: Side-by-side seating with excellent visibility, even below the wing.

Advanced Avionics: Garmin touch screen with moving maps, weather displays, air-traffic info, and synthetic vision.

Safety Indicators: Modern angle of attack indicator with visual and auditory alerts, plus a stall warning.

Eco-Friendly: Runs on unleaded fuel and is quieter than most other aircraft.

Flaperons: Combines flaps and ailerons in “flaperons” to enable slower flight and more accurate landings.

The RV-12iST is a top choice for training and eco-friendly flying

Airplane Features

  • Seating Capacity: 2 people
  • Max Luggage: 75 lbs.
  • Max Fuel: 20 Gallons / 120 Lbs.
  • Max Useful Load (People, Luggage, Fuel): 545 lbs
  • Max Cruise Speed: 135 MPH TAS
  • Max Range / Endurance: 4 Hours w 1 Hour Reserve
  • Service Ceiling: 19,200 ft.
  • Takeoff Distance At Sea Level (Ground Roll):  700 ft.
  • Takeoff Distance S.L. (To Clear 50 ft. Obstacle): 1,400 ft.
  • Landing Distance (Ground Roll): 525 ft
  • Landing Distance (To clear 50 ft Obstacle): 1,550 ft

Standard Plan Service Charges incl. “Dry” Aircraft ($/h):

Model Year 2025., when used without Instructor: $172
Model Year 2025., when used with Instructor:   $172

Instructor fees are in addition.

Aircraft is expected to be operational mid 2025

A number of factors can influence the cost of flying: 1) the model used; 2) hours of operation (longer flights will incur higher costs); 3) Fuel services; 4) Instructor Services (if you’re training, your Instructor’s cost adds on); 5) Optional Services and Training Supplies (These extras can further increase the overall costs)

Additional Details

  • 2 “Glass Cockpit’ High Resolution Displays, with icon-driven touch controls
  • 2-Axis Auto-Pilot with Vertica Navigation Approach Coupling
  • Electronic Engine Monitoring System (EMS) displays
  • Air-Traffic Display
  • Terrain Proximity Display
  • XM Satellite Weather Information
  • Satellite-Linked Navigation System
  • Angle of Attack Indicator (Garmin)

Lease opportunities

Lease Demand: AAA

For those who are curious:
The 2025 price for a new 2-seat LSA (w. options) may run between $230 – $300K

CSA SPORTCRUISER

This 2-seat all metal aircraft offers superb visibility with a panoramic canopy. It has a reliable, peppy 100 HP engine. This plane is great for Flight Training for a Sport / Private Pilot License. As well as for Advanced Training for an Instrument Rating or the Commercial Pilot License. It offers state-of-the-art “Touch Screen Avionics”. Including a sharp in-cockpit display of Weather and Air-Traffic, and ‘Synthetic Vision’. Voice alerts detail specific warning and caution conditions as they occur. Flaps and Trims are electrically actuated. This plane also comes with noise cancelling headsets for lessons. And, the plane has a whole-airplane emergency parachute ‘BRS’ system. [BRS stands for Ballistic Recovery System, which means the plane has a parachute that can be activated by a rocket, in case of an extreme emergency].


Airplane Features

  • Seating Capacity: 2 people
  • Max Luggage: 50 lbs in cockpit compartment. 22 lbs in each wing locker.
  • Max Fuel: 30 Gallons / 180 Lbs
  • Max Useful Load (People, Luggage, Fuel): 464 Lbs + 60 Lbs extra (with FAA approval)
  • Max Cruise Speed: 135 MPH TAS
  • Max Range / Endurance: 4 Hours w 1 Hour Reserve
  • Service Ceiling: 15,090 ft.
  • Takeoff Distance At Sea Level (Ground Roll): 1,270 ft.
  • Takeoff Distance S.L. (To Clear 50 ft. Obstacle): 1,270 ft.

Standard Plan Service Charges incl. “Dry” Aircraft ($/h):

Model Year 2018., when used without Instructor: $176

Model Year 2018., when used with Instructor: $–.-

Model Year 2017, when used without Instructor: $–.-

Model Year 2017, when used with Instructor: $–.-

Instructor fees are in addition.

To assure reasonable aircraft availability for existing Members, the number of Members / Pilots authorized to fly various Aircraft is limited by make & model. As of 04-01-2024 the ‘Sport Cruiser – pilot group’ is full, an/or the aircraft is not available to new Students

Additional Details

  • 2 “Glass Cockpit’ High Resolution Displays, with icon-driven touch controls
  • 2-Axis Auto-Pilot with Vertica Navigation Approach Coupling
  • Electronic Engine Monitoring System (EMS) displays
  • Air-Traffic Display
  • Terrain Proximity Display
  • XM Satellite Weather Information
  • Satellite-Linked Navigation System
  • Whole-Airplane Recovery System Parachute (“BRS”) for extra safety

Lease opportunities

Lease Demand: AA
For those who are curious: The price for a 2022 SportCruiser (w. options) is $210,000

CESSNA-172S SKYHAWK

The Skyhawk is in fact, the most popular airplane ever made. You’ll have several at your disposal for rental during, and after your training. The Skyhawk can comfortably carry a pilot and 3 passengers. It has an estimated cruise speed of up to 140 mph, thanks to a 180-hp engine. A ‘glass cockpit’ with onboard computers allows a properly trained pilot to fly trips in nearly all kinds of weather, at any time of day.

Airplane Features

  • Seating Capacity: 4 people
  • Max Luggage: 120 lbs.
  • Max Fuel: 52 Gallons / 313 Lbs.
  • Max Useful Load (People, Luggage, Fuel): 917 lbs
  • Max Cruise Speed: 142 MPH
  • Max Range / Endurance: 735 statute miles / 4 hours plus reserves.
  • Service Ceiling: 14,000 ft.
  • Takeoff Distance At Sea Level (Ground Roll): 960 ft.
  • Takeoff Distance S.L. (To Clear 50 ft. Obstacle): 1,632 ft.

Standard Plan Service Charges incl. “Dry” Aircraft ($/h):

G-1000 Model, with Auto-Pilot & Synthetic Vision: $152.-

G-1000 Model, with Auto-Pilot & Synthetic Vision, when used with an Instructor: $149.

G-1000 Model: $148

Older model without “Glass Cockpits” have been superceded: $–.-

Additional Details

  • Garmin 1000 “Glass Cockpit’
  • GFC-700 Auto Pilot & Flight Director (2010 & later models)
  • Air Traffic Information Display
  • XM Near Real-Time Satellite Weather Information
  • Terrain Proximity Display
  • Satellite-Linked Navigation System
  • XM Radio/Music

Lease opportunities

Lease Demand: AAA
[Price for an avg. equipped new 2024 C-172S: $530,000; and for a used 2011 C-172S: $320,000]

CESSNA-182T SKYLANE

This is a high-performance 4-seat aircraft. It has a roomy interior and a 230 HP engine and a variable pitch propeller for improved climb performance. It offers higher speeds with larger load capacity, compared to the C-172 Skyhawk. And it is suitable for trips to airports at a higher density altitude, and can be used for flying in ‘VFR’ (visual flight rules) as well as in ‘IFR’ (instrument flying rules) conditions.

Airplane Features

  • Seating Capacity: 4 people
  • Max Luggage: 200 lbs.
  • Max Fuel: 82 Gallons / 493 Lbs.
  • Max Useful Load (People, Luggage, Fuel): 1,018 lbs
  • Max Cruise Speed: 179 MPH
  • Max Range / Endurance: 1,360 statute miles / 5 to 6 hours plus reserves.
  • Service Ceiling: 20,000 ft.
  • Takeoff Distance At Sea Level (Ground Roll): 775 ft.
  • Takeoff Distance S.L. (To Clear 50 ft. Obstacle): 1,385 ft.


Standard Plan Service Charges incl. “Dry” Aircraft ($/h):

Model Year 2018 or newer ($/h): $-.–

Additional Details

  • Garmin 1000 “Glass Cockpit’
  • GFC-700 Auto Pilot & Flight Director (2010 & later models)
  • Air Traffic Information display
  • XM Near Real Time Satellite Weather Information
  • Terrain Proximity display
  • XM Radio/Music

Lease opportunities

Lease Demand: AAA
The Club does have openings to add access of this kind of plane to the pool of aircraft held available to Members by aircraft owners. Please call if you interested in owning and leasing out this kind of plane or a Cirrus Aircraft. And want to learn more about the possible benefits: 650-858-2200.

[Purchase Prices for Model Year 2017 started at $508,000]

SIMULATOR FAA Class ABTD

This Flight Simulator allows you to become familiar with:

● Cockpit instruments

● Communication and navigation radios

● Onboard computers [for weather, air traffic, flight navigation displays]

● Electronic safety technology

● Aircraft “Flight Dynamics”: [For instance, when you add power, the Sim plane will pitch up and turn to the left]

This Aircraft Simulator runs at a fraction of the cost of an actual airplane.

The Federal Aviation Administration [FAA] allows some credit for flying Simulator hours, towards meeting the Private Pilot certification requirements. And, pilots can use up to 10 Simulator hours towards meeting the instrument flying time required for the Instrument Rating.

Airplane Features

  • Seating Capacity: 1 Pilot and 1 Instructor
  • Max Luggage: 120 lbs.
  • Max Fuel: 52 Gallons / 313 Lbs.
  • Max Useful Load (People, Luggage, Fuel): 917 lbs
  • Max Cruise Speed: 148 MPH
  • Max Range / Endurance: 735 sm / 4 hr w. resreve (In reality: unlimited)
  • Service Ceiling: 14,000 ft.
  • Takeoff Distance At Sea Level (Ground Roll): 960 ft.
  • Takeoff Distance S.L. (To Clear 50 ft. Obstacle): 1,632 ft.

Standard Plan Service Charges incl. “Dry” Aircraft ($/h):

Standard Plan – Rate per Hour: $45

Simulator Club (Unlimited use for 12 mos.; by appointment) – Rate per Year: $N/A

Instructor fees are in addition.

Additional Details

  • Practice Checklists and Cockpit Flows
  • Fly the “SF Bay Tour” – Scout out and recognize visual references. See airspace routing requirements and limitations. Navigate by looking outside (on the screen). Have some fun
  • Observe the effects of flying at Best Rate and Best Angle of Climb speeds. Practice Steep Turns, Slow Flight, and ‘Stalling’ the plane.
  • Learn to operate in or around complex airspace in the SF Bay Area, or, elsewhere in the USA
  • Preview Cross-Country flights away from the SF Bay area, including possible diversions that could be caused by weather or simulated mechanical difficulties
  • Flight Scenarios – Arrival and Departure procedures at nearby – and far away – Airports can be rehearsed on the Sim. Without having to fly the aircraft far away and being vectored in by Air Traffic Controllers, to the airport where you want to practice Approach and Departure procedures. lass Cockpit’ High Resolution Displays, with icon-driven touch controls
  • Avionics familiarization – Cockpit orientation, Avionics checklist reviews, Obtaining and tuning radio frequencies. Programming onboard computers. Programming and using electronic/digital (GPS) navigation. Using electronic charting devices. Exploring unfamiliar airports
  • Pause Button – When something is not clear, or happening too fast, the Sim can be ‘frozen’. You can instantly repeat a flight procedure. As many times as you desire, in a relatively short period of time
  • Instrument Flying – ‘Recent Experience Requirements’ from the FAA or Insurance companies can readily be met using the Sim, an airplane and your Instructor, with no minimum flight hours required in the plane

Lease opportunities

Lease Demand: B

For those who are curious: Prices for new Simulators run from $9K to $200K