$100 hamburger

$100 hamburger ("hundred-dollar hamburger") is aviation slang for the excuse a general aviation pilot might use to fly.^[1][2]

Background

A $100 hamburger trip typically involves flying a short distance (less than two hours), eating at an airport restaurant, and then 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$95–180^[3] per Hobbs hour to rent, including fuel.^[4]

In Perth, Western Australia, a similar mentality resulted in the 'Rotto Bun Run'. A group of pilots who had run out of hot cross buns on Good Friday decided to fly to the closest open bakery on Rottnest Island. The run is now an annual charity event.^[5]

References

1. Preusch, Matthew (October 26, 2007). "Cleared for Lunching: The $100 Hamburger". The New York Times. Retrieved May 16, 2011.
2. Daniels, Lauren Drewes (2020-02-17). "Come Fly With Us to Pilots' Favorite '$100 Hamburgers'". Dallas Observer. Retrieved 2021-07-06.
3. "Fleet Aircraft". San Carlos Flight Center. Retrieved 2020-04-29.
4. "Flights Inc. - Flight Training and Aircraft Rental". www.flights-inc.com. Archived from the original on 2022-05-23. Retrieved 2017-06-02.
5. Royal Aero Club of Western Australia - Commemorative Flights, 2011-01-30, archived from the original on 2011-02-17