The $100 Hamburger: A Pilot's Excuse for a Flight

2025-06-14

The '$100 hamburger' is aviation slang for a short flight (under two hours) to a nearby airport, grabbing a bite at the airport restaurant, and returning home. The name originated from the approximate cost of operating a small plane like a Cessna 172 for such a trip. However, with rising fuel prices, the cost is now significantly higher. A similar concept, the 'Rotto Bun Run' in Perth, Australia, sees pilots flying to Rottnest Island for hot cross buns, now an annual charity event.