$100 Hamburger
Encyclopedia
$100 hamburger is aviation
slang
for a general aviation
pilot needing an excuse to fly.
A $100 hamburger trip typically involves flying a short distance (less than two hours), eating at an airport
restaurant
, and flying home. "$100" originally referred to the approximate cost of renting
or operating a light general aviation aircraft
, such as a Cessna 172
, for the time it took to fly round-trip to a nearby airport. However, increasing fuel
prices have since caused an increase in hourly operating costs for most airplanes, and a Cessna 172 now costs US$95–130 per Hobbs
hour to rent, including fuel.
In Perth, Western Australia
, a similar mentality eventuated in the 'Rotto Bun Run'. A group of pilots who had run out of Hot Cross Bun
s on Good Friday
decided to fly to the closest open bakery on Rottnest Island
. The run is now an annual charity event.
Aviation
Aviation is the design, development, production, operation, and use of aircraft, especially heavier-than-air aircraft. Aviation is derived from avis, the Latin word for bird.-History:...
slang
Slang
Slang is the use of informal words and expressions that are not considered standard in the speaker's language or dialect but are considered more acceptable when used socially. Slang is often to be found in areas of the lexicon that refer to things considered taboo...
for a general aviation
General aviation
General aviation is one of the two categories of civil aviation. It refers to all flights other than military and scheduled airline and regular cargo flights, both private and commercial. General aviation flights range from gliders and powered parachutes to large, non-scheduled cargo jet flights...
pilot needing an excuse to fly.
A $100 hamburger trip typically involves flying a short distance (less than two hours), eating at an airport
Airport
An airport is a location where aircraft such as fixed-wing aircraft, helicopters, and blimps take off and land. Aircraft may be stored or maintained at an airport...
restaurant
Restaurant
A restaurant is an establishment which prepares and serves food and drink to customers in return for money. Meals are generally served and eaten on premises, but many restaurants also offer take-out and food delivery services...
, and flying home. "$100" originally referred to the approximate cost of renting
Renting
Renting is an agreement where a payment is made for the temporary use of a good, service or property owned by another. A gross lease is when the tenant pays a flat rental amount and the landlord pays for all property charges regularly incurred by the ownership from landowners...
or operating a light general aviation aircraft
Aircraft
An aircraft is a vehicle that is able to fly by gaining support from the air, or, in general, the atmosphere of a planet. An aircraft counters the force of gravity by using either static lift or by using the dynamic lift of an airfoil, or in a few cases the downward thrust from jet engines.Although...
, such as a Cessna 172
Cessna 172
The Cessna 172 Skyhawk is a four-seat, single-engine, high-wing fixed-wing aircraft. First flown in 1955 and still in production, more Cessna 172s have been built than any other aircraft.-Design and development:...
, for the time it took to fly round-trip to a nearby airport. However, increasing fuel
Jet fuel
Jet fuel is a type of aviation fuel designed for use in aircraft powered by gas-turbine engines. It is clear to straw-colored in appearance. The most commonly used fuels for commercial aviation are Jet A and Jet A-1 which are produced to a standardized international specification...
prices have since caused an increase in hourly operating costs for most airplanes, and a Cessna 172 now costs US$95–130 per Hobbs
Hobbs Meter
The Hobbs Meter records the time a device is used. It is frequently used in aviation applications to record the time that the electrical power is "on". Hobbs is a genericized trademark for products generically called "Engine Hour Meters"...
hour to rent, including fuel.
In Perth, Western Australia
Perth, Western Australia
Perth is the capital and largest city of the Australian state of Western Australia and the fourth most populous city in Australia. The Perth metropolitan area has an estimated population of almost 1,700,000....
, a similar mentality eventuated in the 'Rotto Bun Run'. A group of pilots who had run out of Hot Cross Bun
Hot cross bun
A hot cross bun, or cross-bun, is a sweet, yeast-leavened, spiced bun made with currants or raisins, often with candied citrus fruits, marked with a cross on the top. The cross can be made in a variety of ways including: of pastry; flour and water mixture; rice paper; icing; two intersecting cuts...
s on Good Friday
Good Friday
Good Friday , is a religious holiday observed primarily by Christians commemorating the crucifixion of Jesus Christ and his death at Calvary. The holiday is observed during Holy Week as part of the Paschal Triduum on the Friday preceding Easter Sunday, and may coincide with the Jewish observance of...
decided to fly to the closest open bakery on Rottnest Island
Rottnest Island
Rottnest Island is located off the coast of Western Australia, near Fremantle. It is called Wadjemup by the Noongar people, meaning "place across the water". The island is long, and at its widest point with a total land area of . It is classified as an A Class Reserve and is managed by the...
. The run is now an annual charity event.