I've not found this to be an expensive hobby. I'm 3 years and 4 planes in now, from 1/2a thru 38cc gas.

I've spent 375 in MAAC and memberships, 160 in fuel, 1800 in hardware (planes, engines, radios, field equip), and really that's it.

So, I'm in for under 800 per year, about 2400 in the 3 years I've been doing this I fly 8 months a year, so it's maybe 100 a month. How many hobbies or sports can you really participate in regularly for this?

Hockey? No chance. Golf? Right. Hell, a gym membership could end up costing nearly as much, and that ain't much fun.

Now, I could have not built the 4 planes I did, or I could have saved money by choosing ARF's instead of kits, but that's not how I swing. I've never totaled a plane, or even needed more than 1/2 hours of repair.

This hobby is as cheap or expensive as you want it to be, or as you allow it to be. A frugal pilot could enter for about 300 dollars, for an RTF trainer, and grow with that trainer for several years before actually being able to out-fly the plane. Very few people actually master their trainer. If you can't do reasonably clean patterns or even basic 3d manouvres with your nexstar, you're not trying to get your money's worth. I think it's a symptom of our culture, when you get the basics of flying your trianer, and you realise that clean slow rolls with it take alot of coordination and skill, first thought these days isn't "I'll practice more", it's I need a new plane. No, you don't. Just go fly.

Instant gratification is expensive, not this hobby.

J