Hey everyone!
I’m looking for anyone who has experience purchasing and owning a personal aircraft. Do we have any pilots here?
I’m currently in the market for a Cessna 150/152, and I have some general questions.
I took the kiddos up in a 172L last weekend. What would you like to know about owning a plane?
In general, the numbers I’ve run, you’ll need to fly for 10 to 12 hours per month every month to break even for rent vs own.
There are a million caveats to owning a plane. Do you have somewhere to put it? If not, you’ll have to pay a tie down or hangar fee.
I have heard from people much smarter than I, if it floats or flies, it is cheaper to rent.
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Awesome!
I’m about 12 hours into my PPL with plans to go through to my CPL.
I’m currently a member of a flight club in McKinney (KTKI). I’m constantly having to fight the other members for access to their 172’s. If I want to fly, I have to reserve the plane a week in advance (and there’s no guarantee someone else won’t beat me too it). It’s getting frustrating.
I’m still in the planning stages, but I’m currently looking into getting a 150/152.
What were your experiences during the purchase process in regards to loans/financing? I bank with Wells Fargo and they offer aircraft financing, but it looks like are several aviation-based institutions you can finance through.
Did you purchase your aircraft locally, or did you have a remote A&P perform the pre-buy and purchase it sight unseen? I have some time in a 150 so I’m somewhat familiar with its flight characteristics. I assume it’s not like a car and every 150 pretty much performs the same?
Jerry Ethridge is a pilot took me up in a plane once…
I don’t own the 172 that I took up over the weekend. I personally like the fact that I’m not responsible for the myriad of things that can go wrong with a lawn mower motor and wings. Financing is like anything else that you want to buy, look for the best deal you can get with anyone that will loan you the money.
In any case, you’ll want an aircraft mechanic to look over the maintenance records and the plane prior to purchasing.
All planes fly differently. A 150/152 with steam gauges will fly differently than a glass cockpit and G1000. A 172 that you rent from Monarch will fly differently than the 172 that the Texans have at TKI.
I’m not trying to talk you out of purchasing a plane, but without significant hours in a plane, I would wait until you get further into your flying career before purchasing.
How many hours do you currently have total? I assume you can’t get checked out on the Archer or other planes that the Texans have out at TKI.
I’m a pilot and a member of rfcdallas.com. You can rent our PA28/180 for $105/hr. We also have 4 other planes. If you’re not dead set on buying you should check us out. Our Cessna 182 rents for $130/hr.
-Kyle
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I’m at RFC Dallas. I’ve also owned a bonanza. Best thing I can tell you to do is read Mike Busch’s books on maintenance before you do anything.
I was a delivery pilot for Van Bortel out at GKY. If you want to chat, hit me up.
Would you own a plane again? Knowing what you know now.
Only In connection with a business to use it for travel.
That being said, I almost bought a T210 last week.
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My two cents… and yes, my offer to help…
In terms of building time, a Cessna 150/152 is a great choice. Buy it because you want to own a toy, not because it makes financial sense.
I owned a Cessna 150, and I loved it. It’s such a simple plane that it was very cost effective to own (as a toy). Its small and simple, so maintenance tends to be less expensive.
It’s also slow enough that you can easily build hours in it. BUT, don’t buy it because you think you will save money, or suddenly your free to travel in it.
A Cessna 150 is only marginally faster then a car, and gets the fuel economy of a large SUV (yet is the size of the a super small sub-sub-compact in both interior, performance, and comfort). You’ll miss the A/C of your as your taxi in an uninsulated aluminum can with poor air circulation, until you get to 4 or 5,000 feet.
I sold mine years ago, and bought a Piper Comanche because I am far above the FAA standard of 150#, and so was my wife. We were very limited on where we could actually travel in a 150. Did go Waxahachie to Galveston once in the 150… Had to go at night because of weather concerns.
Today, I’m sorry I didn’t keep the 150 instead. When I want to joyride (fly for the fun of flying), I’m spending twice as much for fuel, and because of the far more complex aircraft (the piper is rated as complex/high performance), I have all the added costs of inspections and repairs.
The Cessna is nice as it’s fixed gear (so no gear swing at the annual), fixed prop (no issues with variable prop), a 4 cyl engine instead of a 6, and so on.
In summary, the Cessna is a great plane, and best of all, it’s not nearly as expensive as other options. My point is, don’t expect to own an aircraft for travel.
The first time a magneto fails on run up, and your plans are changed while your hundreds of miles from home, you will forever hate the hassles.
If your wanting better availability, try the Addision flying club. They usually had aircraft available when I needed one (and they offer high performance models).
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Must not get another expensive hobby, must not get another expensive hobby…lol
Flying intrigues, not just fixed wing either even though I don’t have a pilots license. I’ve tinkered with the idea of getting into helicopters as well as planes. Hopefully in the next 10-15 years I can ascertain that.
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The line is “To fly is heavenly, but to hover is divine”… But, hovering is even less practical, unless you have someplace to go that isn’t an airport.
Helicopters are slower, and use more fuel and have higher maintenance costs. You pay for that added ‘hovering’ ability.
I’ve contemplated ultralights and light sport aircraft. The time and money commitment however is … appreciable.
If the wings are traveling faster than the fuselage, it’s probably a helicopter - and therefore, unsafe.
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No flying background but always wanted to be a helicopter pilot. If I could turn back time I would have tried to get the government to pay for my training via the military. Having said that,y next toy purchase will be a Paramotor. Very low barrier of entry compared to other ways to be airborne. There is a group that routinely flies in the Farmersville area
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Same here…I missed that boat thought. I think I read a license is about 10k for a non-commercial. A lot will become instructors to get their flight times up
Once you have your GA PPL, the book says another 30 hours of instruction required for your helicopter license. The problem is you won’t be able to rent a whirlybird even after getting your license, so you must own your own. I’ve also been told that you should budget more in the 40 to 55 hours.
Unless you have a job lined up that pays for training, getting hours after you have your license will require significant funds, either in a timeshare or outright ownership.
Consider buying or yes, building an Experimental. I built my RV9A from a kit from Van’s Aircraft (over 10,000 of their kits flying now) in 2004. Fun factor vs a Cessna is like a minivan vs a corvette. Their other models are aerobatic too.
I flew to Oshkosh WI last weekend for AirVenture and it took a little over 5 hours each way. (A 150 would take 10)
My fixed costs are about $3400/yr. flying costs about $35/hr. Plus any major maintenance.
Happy to take you up sometime.
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@motopilot (Clay) took me up in his plane years ago. NICE plane (and nice guy). Take him up on the offer. The RV-9 is a sweet plane - even with the same engine the 152 can’t remotely compete.
Thanks for all the input guys.
I’ve been flying a 172 out of KTKI. So far, plane availability has been extremely lacking. 100 hour annuals hit right before Oshkosh, so planes have been out for weeks.
I’ve tried to join Texins Flying Club for a few months, but their memberships have been closed.
My instructor was able to take me up in their Cherokee 140 and Cessna 150. That was my first time in a 150, and it flew great. Didn’t enjoy the Piper as much.