Long story short......... I sold my 1958 Skylane to a local friend who's already in the process of rebuilding the engine and getting it airworthy. I've came really close to selling my house and buying a friends 2005 Scout to which he was going to carry the loan for about 8 years and then just live in a trailer near my mining job in the middle of the Nevada desert. But, I came to my senses and I'm going to keep my house in Idaho (for now) and stay in a trailer at our company RV park during my shift weeks. Soon, my mine is going to a 5-4 schedule and we will be getting 5 straight days off per month and I plan to continue commuting between NV and Boise.

So what I'm getting at......... El Aero in Elko only has one 172 available for rent with a few restrictions I don't like (No Off Airport and No Unpaved Use, Flights with in 300 NM of Elko (unless approved) and no Overnights (unless approved) and only a 150hp. But, it is a really nice well kept plane that would be fun for a local 1-2 hour flights.

Anybody here know of any other rentals at Elko, Eureka, and Ely, Nevada?

I've also been considering looking at the T-Craft Flying Club at Nampa Airport in Idaho. The club has some great aircraft with very reasonable rates and even has a 1946 Champ! And as far as I know, most of their aircraft are allowed to fly to most backcountry airstrips.

Anybody have any useful information about the T-Craft Flying Club? Good? Bad? Recommendations? Anybody here belong to the club? The folks I've asked around at Caldwell hasn't heard anything bad about the club or anything at all. So that must be a good thing?

Feel free to PM me if you like.

Thanks, Pat.

PM IDair in case he doesn't see this post. He mentioned he is a member and liked it. At least that is what I thought he said.

Will also email the link to this thread...

8GCBC wrote:PM IDair in case he doesn't see this post. He mentioned he is a member and liked it. At least that is what I thought he said.

Will also email the link to this thread...

Will do. Thank you!

I'm tired... this is long winded and unorganized but here you go...

I'm a member... I'll chime in. If you're looking for a 182 for the backcountry and the "ownership" experience, I think you will be very happy.

There are quite a few people who use the 182s extensively for the backcountry. It is a club with generous back-country allowances for appropriately experienced pilots. While it has to be an airport, you can take it into most any charted "airport" in Idaho.

The 172's are all 160 horse... they are permitted into the BC but you have to choose your strips accordingly.

The aircraft are in good shape and maintained well. They are better than the majority of rentals.

You also get the ownership experience. There are no "daily minimums" and if you want to take it into Johnson Creek for a week of camping and only put 3 hours on the meter, that is all you pay. Take a 5 day camping trip on your day off and just reserve the plane in advance for your known off days. Try telling a FBO you want to disappear with their plane for a week for a few hours on the hobbs... good luck.

Additionally, the club owns all the assets outright except a 20k loan on one plane -- and has very very healthy financial reserves for maintenance and engine overhauls -- the buy for $500/$700 is really a steal. You aren't paying for loan costs.

I can't stress that enough. They own the planes. It's not a bunch of leasebacks that constantly change like the other club in the valley...

Insurance is included where that is not always the case on a rental plane. No renters insurance required.

The planes are "well equipped" They fix things like worn out seats, have Garmin 430s, autopilot, IFR, stormscope in the 182, and have other luxuries many beater rental planes don't have.

$80/hr for a 172 and $128 for a 182 is cheap...

I could go on, but if you're going to fly 3 or more hours a month on average, or highly value the ownership experience, it is your best bet in the treasure valley.

I'll probably bring one of the 182's to Elko over July 4th.

Chip in for some gas in Nampa and I'll drag one around the pattern for you.

Mention my name if you sign up, I get a free hour.

idair wrote:I'm tired... this is long winded and unorganized but here you go...

I'm a member... I'll chime in. If you're looking for a 182 for the backcountry and the "ownership" experience, I think you will be very happy.

There are quite a few people who use the 182s extensively for the backcountry. It is a club with generous back-country allowances for appropriately experienced pilots. While it has to be an airport, you can take it into most any charted "airport" in Idaho.

The 172's are all 160 horse... they are permitted into the BC but you have to choose your strips accordingly.

The aircraft are in good shape and maintained well. They are better than the majority of rentals.

You also get the ownership experience. There are no "daily minimums" and if you want to take it into Johnson Creek for a week of camping and only put 3 hours on the meter, that is all you pay. Take a 5 day camping trip on your day off and just reserve the plane in advance for your known off days. Try telling a FBO you want to disappear with their plane for a week for a few hours on the hobbs... good luck.

Additionally, the club owns all the assets outright except a 20k loan on one plane -- and has very very healthy financial reserves for maintenance and engine overhauls -- the buy for $500/$700 is really a steal. You aren't paying for loan costs.

I can't stress that enough. They own the planes. It's not a bunch of leasebacks that constantly change like the other club in the valley...

Insurance is included where that is not always the case on a rental plane. No renters insurance required.

The planes are "well equipped" They fix things like worn out seats, have Garmin 430s, autopilot, IFR, stormscope in the 182, and have other luxuries many beater rental planes don't have.

$80/hr for a 172 and $128 for a 182 is cheap...

I could go on, but if you're going to fly 3 or more hours a month on average, or highly value the ownership experience, it is your best bet in the treasure valley.

I'll probably bring one of the 182's to Elko over July 4th.

Chip in for some gas in Nampa and I'll drag one around the pattern for you.

Mention my name if you sign up, I get a free hour.

Thank you! I will PM you my number. I'd be more than happy to pitch in for fuel and come down to look at the club and aircraft.

I would highly recommend joining T-Craft. I was a member for five years, then had to resign due to moving to Alaska. If I didn't need to move I would definitely still be a member. Scheduling is pretty straightforward, might get some competition in the summer, but really not too bad. I'm glad to hear they picked up a champ! That would have been a lot of fun when I was there. The planes are extremely well maintained, I don't know of a finer group of planes, especially for the rates.