Buying an airpllane

[daisy]

According to a friend of ours, it is a great time to buy a plane because prices are so low due to the economy. He is a commercial jetliner pilot and just bought a Bellanca for personal use. Just remember to take into account the annual inspection and maintenance fees and not just the purchase price. Another friend of ours bought a Cessna 182 for $66k and the first annual resulted in a month in the hanger and a $24k bill. DH has his license, but hasn't flown in about 20 years. I keep trying to talk him back into it, but he can't personally justify the expense.

[Spartana]

My wife said it will have to count as my Christmas present.

Wow, nice DW to get you a plane for Christmas - I only get socks :-)!

[early morning]

Well just in case you have a bit extra to burn and want something outstanding:
http://www.wacoclassic.com/
My brother, a retired airshow pilot and owner-enthusiast of the antique Wacos (WACO rhymes with taco, btw...) works heavily with these wonderful new planes...they are the most gorgeous ever - JMHO . That's the extent of my "sales pitch", lol.

[dmc]

While the Waco's look very nice, that's not what I'm looking for. I'm looking more for something that my wife and I can hop in, along with two passengers, and take 200 to 300 mile trips. Along with the 1500 mile vacation. I'm thinking Cessna 182's, Piper 180's, and Mooney's. Today I like the Mooney's, but tommorow that may change.

I just started lessons so I'm just looking now.

[dmc]

http://i1139.photobucket.com/albums/...beechcraft.jpg

Took a while, but it should be delivered next week. I ended up with a Beechcraft.

[Spartana]

http://i1139.photobucket.com/albums/...beechcraft.jpg

Took a while, but it should be delivered next week. I ended up with a Beechcraft.

Purty ;-)!! I'm not a big fan of planes per se, but I do think it would be nice to just hop in and take off into the wild (or is that wide?) blue yonder. Especially if you have a reasonably save, inexpensive and easily-accessible place to store it. I'm too much of a minimalist to own a plane and all it's needs (although a fast little motorcycle is something I've been eye-balling - or a jet pack (do they make those :-)!)) but I can see why people would want one. Probably makes travel by car seem very, very slow :-)!

[Yossarian]

Too many tail sections.

[dmc]

The plane went out for a little spin yesterday. St. Louis to Milwaukee in less than two hours. And no TSA, lines at the airport, baggage handlers, or restrictions on what I can carry. Just drive up to the hanger, preflight, and away we go. Ive been looking at the maps and from St. Louis I can be in New Orleans in under 4hrs, Miami in 6, Chicago in under 2. I think I'm going to like this.

[dmc]

An update, I now have my pilots license, but I still need some added endorsements in order to fly my plane without a instructor since its high performance/complex. But that shouldn't take long.

[Mrs-M]

Beautiful plane! Very happy for you, Dmc!