Buying an airplane - looking for advice

[deaner]

Ive been wanting to get my pilots license forever now. Havent taken the plunge because I thought I should wait until I could afford to own a plane. I am thinking of selling my place, and if I do I think I am going to use some of the proceeds to finally buy a plane and use it to get my license. Also, it will make my license much cheaper to get if I have my own aircraft.

What planes would you recommend? It sounds like the cessna 172 is a popular plane. I went on a discovery flight in one and found the interior a little cramped. (Im 6'4", 230) Also Ive heard that there is very little payload if you have four adults in the plane.

Would you recommend buying a plane before having a license?
Where is the best place to shop for a plane?
What should a guy look for in a plane? (ie. how many hours, equipment, etc)
How much is a guy looking at spending? Im wondering if this downturn has brought prices down much. I looked a couple of years ago and things seemed a little steep.
How much does it cost to keep and maintain a plane for the average recreational user?

Im probably missing some more questions, but this should be a good start.

Any advice would be appreciated.

Dean

 

[Blu Du]

if god wanted you to fly you would of had wings

 

[Sturgis Sledder]

Subscribe to Trade-a-plane and look on Ebay. A 172 is a smaller plane especially if you plan on doing any traveling in it, little to no room or capacity. Maintenance is a big expense, I know the economy has been tough on boat owners but not sure about planes. Make sure that any plane you look at has ALL of the logs and they are up to date, the more equipment the better but don't get hung up on it. My father started with a 182 Skylane and it was still a bit small but it worked. Hang out at the local airport and talk to the guys there, they can give you a wealth of info, especially if you shoot the bull over a beer after work.

 

[DaveB]

An Extra 330 should do it....or an Edge 540. http://www.metacafe.com/watch/1418643/kirby_chambliss_at_oshkosh_aerobatic_flying_red_bull_team/

 

[wickman]

The buying of an airplane is the cheapest part. Then you have to start paying for things like ramp fees, annuals, fuel, insurance and the biggie, a new engine when yours times out. The Piper Cherokees can be had pretty cheap. The Commanches are a little more but they have retractable gear so they go a little faster. Of course, that makes the annuals cost more.

 

[Snow Flake]

What kind of plane you want depends on what type of flying you want to do. Back country, grass strips, gravel bars on the river, or big city airports with a go fast plane. Go to http://www.barnstormers.com/ and enter a type of plane in the search box.

When you find the one you are really interested in, pay your, not the sellers, mechanic to do a pre buy inspection.

There are some steals on planes right now. It is a buyer's market. Take your time and enjoy the search.

 

[Rubberdown!]

Heard those G4's are pretty nice.

 

[revpilot]

Buying your own airplane will save you some money on lessons ($3000 ish) but unless you're lucky enough to pick the plane you'll end up with, it's not worth it. A 172 is dirt simple to fly, moving up to a 182 requires a high performance endorsement (230 hp, constant speed prop, cowl flaps) It will also fly more weight but it's only about 10 knots faster. A 206 or Cherokee 6-300 will fly anything you can slam the doors on but at about 10 knots faster than a 172 and twice the fuel. If you want to get your instrument rating and use it in the mountains you'll want a turbo, hot prop and de-icing boots which usually goes with retractable gear, this kind of equipt. requires a complex endorsement. A Cessna 210 is a good choice for a single engine IFR platform, Cirrus is another but they run about $500k. Both are 200 mph airplanes.(Things happen fast at that speed, especially when you're following ATC instructions machine-gunned into your headset while flying into class Bravo.)

Learning to fly in a 210 would be a female dog but you'd probably never forget your gear once you got through it, however, 300 rough student landings on a retract. and the extra 8 gallons an hour fuel cost would eat up more than the 3k saved on flight lessons. I'd pay the rental rate on a 172, half of all students don't make it to the check ride and owning a plane you can't fly would suck.

BTW Airplanes aren't roomy, if you think Cessnas are tight, go crawl in a Mooney.

 

[Transporter]

My dad used to have a partnership in a 172 pretty basic plane, then he bought an old super cub that was kind of a cool plane 2 seater not fast but could do dome cool stuff with it.Wishes he never sold it.Watch these videos and tell me they arent cool.
http://www.bush-planes.com/Super-Cub.html

 

[HUGHESMD500]

I would try flying first before you take the plunge of owning your own!!! if you decide its something you really like and can swing the costs then do your research and get the right aircraft for the job.....

 

[NedMark]

http://www.controller.com

 

[deaner]

Thanks for the great info so far guys. I have done quite a bit of flying with other people. I have also went for the introductory lesson where they let you fly the plane for about an hour. I have always loved flying and am positive it is something that I want to do. I even considered going for my commercial license, but got about the same advice as the accountant in the general section is getting. Im looking at just doing recreational flying, stopping mostly at small town airports.

It looks like either a cessna 172 or 180 should work. What is the fuel consumption like on each of these planes? Im looking for something that is going to be fairly economical to run. I am looking at some property out in Creston BC right now, and I live in Edmonton. How big of a deal is it to fly through the pass? Do I need a special plane or ratings?

How many hours is high or low for one of these units?
What is the ballpark price range for each?

Thanks again,

Dean

 

[leisureexpress]

Fuel consumption is easy on airplanes, or at least this will get you to a close average.

The 5% rule goes:

a 150 hp engine burns 7.5 gallons per hour.
160 hp burns 8.0
200 hp burns 10.0
300 hp burns 15.0

This is an average, of course if you want to run the piss out of it, it will burn more.

 

[Himark]

AOPA members have access to a data base of pricing that is very realistic. You type in the specs hours etc. and eqpt and it will give a accurate value. I would take a couple hours lessons first and if still interested go for a 172 easy airplane and re-sale is good after you build some hours.

 

[Dano702]

I thought like you at one point , but then i started looing at planes i could afford . And i thought do i really want to find a "deal" on aircraft?


My old employer used to take me flying in his Navion , he always told me, " If it flys ,floats or faucks it is much cheaper to rent".


I am thinking about a new Mooney Acclaim, at 600K , and 235 ktas . But i may end up in a Cessna Mustang before i can write that check. Aircraft are like crack , once you start you will wish you did'nt.

 

[Snow Flake]

Before you make an offer make sure you have a feel for how much comparable planes are selling for. There is a big diffeerence between asking price and selling price on many types right now.

 

[revpilot]

I thought like you at one point , but then i started looing at planes i could afford . And i thought do i really want to find a "deal" on aircraft?


My old employer used to take me flying in his Navion , he always told me, " If it flys ,floats or faucks it is much cheaper to rent".


I am thinking about a new Mooney Acclaim, at 600K , and 235 ktas . But i may end up in a Cessna Mustang before i can write that check. Aircraft are like crack , once you start you will wish you did'nt.

Checklist for a 172:
G Gas
U Under carriage
M Mixture
P Prop (or not)
S Seatbelt

Checklist for a retractable:

G GEAR
U Undercarriage or GEAR
M Maybe I should check the GEAR again?
P Perhaps I forgot the GEAR?
S Say, Did I remember to put the GEAR down?

You've never been lost until you've been lost at mach 3 - Paul Crickmore

 

[AmericanOutlaw]

This is the one I want.

http://www.terrafugia.com/

 

[augerin]

There are clubs you can buy into that have numerous types of planes to fly. This would give you a chance to figure out what kind of flying you like best and what airplane fits you. I have always liked flying Super Cubs, but got to fly a hopped-up Swift last week. What a blast! Now I am thinking about researching some clubs so I can have options.

 

[H2SNOW]

If I were to do it and I think about alot ...I would buy a nice little Supercub on floats

enough room for gear and able to pull a moose out of the bush...and with all the lakes we have up here puddle jumping for good fishing would be awsome..

unfortunately the ole W900 Kenworth is doing a fine job of eating up extra cash around here ..

definately don't buy..thats like buying a moped to take your test in and then you see a Harley ride by and go hmmmmmmmmm

http://www.bush-planes.com/Super-Cub.html