question about progressing to complex AC

[jlowell]

yes thanks for reminding me. I plan on having experienced pros go over both the records and the plane thoroughly. That is for sure.

 

[jlowell]

I'm really a keep it simple kind of guy.....at least as much as possible. Seems like a multi engine is unnessary and would just be more expense to keep up.

I'm thinking of spending 100-150K or at least aim for that. If I have to spend more to avoid mx issues right off the bat then I could. I think I can fit my needs in that price range.

 

[NYCPilot]

Have you considered buying new. Less maintence issues.....at least for a while.

 

[Big Dog]

Get an instrument rating!

If your serious about making your trips same day and back for dinner, get your instrument rating as soon as you can after finishing your private. You'll be a safer, more knowledgeable, more insurable pilot that will have all the tools to use "the system" the best you can. Don't put it off! A good plan might be to get your plane and finish your instrument rating in the 'new to you' A/C before going on the insurance as the PIC.

As far as your A/C, it really depends on how much/how many people you want to carry with you. A 201 is great for speed vs. continuing cost with a lite mission. But not as many out there.

You can fill the seats and the tanks in a C182 and get there in reasonable speed. A great compromise A/C between speed and continuing costs. Plus lot's of them out there - easy to get somebody to work on them with parts available. Great IMC plane.

A Lance is great for speed and taking lot's of stuff with you. Also the simplest and cheapest to maintain "complex" A/C out there. A Cherokee 6 is a little slower if you can't pay to swing the gear.

I'd stay away from the archer, arrows, & dakotas. They're all great planes, but I don't think you'd be please with the speed vs. continuing costs.

Bonanzas are nice and fast but expensive in just about every category.

Good Luck

 

[jlowell]

yeah I'm going to be looking closely at 182's. It really does seem to fit my needs and be a saner buy all in all.

And buying a plane that is not difficult to sell in the future is high on my list.

thanks for the thoughts.

 

[Big Dog]

C182

In your situtation, a C182 is hard to go wrong with. It really does everything pretty well and it won't get the new pilot in too much trouble.

One more thing; I'm sure you've heard it before but with whatever plane you buy, make sure to have an A & P you can count on with lot's of experience with the make and model, do a thorough pre-buy inspection. It's worth every penny you may spend.

 

[gear goes down]

Have you considered buying new. Less maintence issues.....at least for a while.

I agree with this. I am an A&P and a commercial pilot. Buying new would be better, if you can afford it that is. Less mx issues. But there are good used planes out there. I know someone who bought a used plane, then ended up putting so much money into it for mx issues, it ended up costing more than a new one. Just to let you know.

According to Cessna’s web site a new 182 can cost about $260,000 for a standard package. Which that’s more then you said you want to spend. Just thought I’d let you know.

 

[NYCPilot]

You might even be able to finance it and write off interest as a business related expense.

 

[Vector4fun]

J,

Another thought I had, if you really want a hot-rod, but yet a simple airplane, try to go visit these folks:

http://www.txskyways.com

They're at Boerne, TX, just a bit north of San Antonio. What they do is take a stock Skylane, remove the O-470 engine, and replace it with a new O-550 engine. You also get a new 3 blade prop. You'll get like 60 extra hp, plus the recommended Time Between Overhauls (TBO) goes as high as 2500 hrs. These folks might even know of an already converted Skylane or two for sale. Optionally, you could look for a runout Skylane that's in good shape otherwise, and these folks can do the pre-buy inspection and replace the engine if the sale goes through.

Keep in mind, that whatever you buy (used), the logs and records of the aircraft are worth about 20% of the price, and the avionics as much as another 20% or so. No matter how good it looks and runs, you want to consider both when determining a sales price.

 

[jlowell]

hah....cool idea. yeah I have seen some of those Skylanes with the upgrade engines on autotrader but didn't know what they were exactly. That might be a hell of a plane.

 

[RichardRambone]

Definitaly consider a Bonanza or a Cherokee/Lance. Great airplanes. Also 182's are good planes. Probably cheaper insurance wise. I work for a sales company and we'd be happy to demo an airplane for you that you are interested in. Not sure what price range your looking at but we've got a top notch sales team that could help you out. PM me if you'd like.

 

[jlowell]

Thanks Richard. May take you up on that. I am a bit leery of getting a Bonanza and having some overblown expenses. I do have a friend who's been flying one back and forth from Texas to Alaska for 25 yrs and loves it. I know thery are sweet planes. I'm new to this so am doing research and asking questions right now planning to buy in 3 or 4 months.

 

[Corona]

I second the suggestion about the C-210 and C-182s. Hard to go wrong there. I knew someone who had the 182 with the O-520 conversion. That was a real good-performing airplane. The 550 is a much better engine, though, IMO. The 182RG is another good airplane, with a better engine than the straight-legged 182 (Lycoming 540). It's also available in a turbo version, but then you're in 210 territory.
If you go for a 210, try to go for an "N" model or later (stay away from the "M" and earlier models with the complex, hydraulically-powered nose and main gear doors. The "R" model 210s are the best, and expensive. If you go 182, try the 1979 (?) or later years, when Cessna went with the wet wing. Earlier 182s had bladders for the fuel tanks, with all the problems those bring.

C

 

[Alin10123]

I noticed you mentioned the possibility of carrying passengers. If anyone is paying you to fly the plane, you have to have a commercial certificate.
One of the nicest prop planes i've seen at my airfield while walking around has to be the cirrus 22. That thing inside is schweet. Plus my instructor tells me it's got a powerful engine and a really fast cruising speed.