SCAirborne
Filing Flight Plan
- Joined
- Sep 10, 2014
- Messages
- 22
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SCAirborne
I just got my PPL less than two months ago... so a low time pilot. I am looking to start IFR training after the New Year and would rather buy an airplane prior to starting. I know the costs will be higher but that's not the issue.. I'm prepared for the cost.
The real question is that I've flown Cessna 172's and Piper Warrior only. I like them just fine but the speed and low useful loads are not practical for my typical mission. I am really looking at a true 4 place plane that has a bit more performance than the 172...
My total spend would be $150k or less. I think I've narrowed down the planes to either: Cessna 182 , Mooney M20, or Diamond DA40. Hell of a lot of difference in the three planes. Useful load may throw the Diamond right out of the mix but the newer avionics and safety characteristics are keeping it in the running even if I have to lose 10 gallons of fuel on the 4 place days.
I know Mooney are more complex with retracts but the speed is substantially higher than the others... but the one door bothers me. Also the safety record is the worst of the bunch (mostly pilot error but still...). The Cessna 182 is slower than any of them but can haul a lot more and is not complex just high performance (no retracts on the models I'm looking at).
An 80's Mooney and Cessna are also half the cost of Diamond's... I am really torn and wanted to see if anyone had any thoughts on this. Please keep in mind my low time experience and thanks in advance!
The real question is that I've flown Cessna 172's and Piper Warrior only. I like them just fine but the speed and low useful loads are not practical for my typical mission. I am really looking at a true 4 place plane that has a bit more performance than the 172...
My total spend would be $150k or less. I think I've narrowed down the planes to either: Cessna 182 , Mooney M20, or Diamond DA40. Hell of a lot of difference in the three planes. Useful load may throw the Diamond right out of the mix but the newer avionics and safety characteristics are keeping it in the running even if I have to lose 10 gallons of fuel on the 4 place days.
I know Mooney are more complex with retracts but the speed is substantially higher than the others... but the one door bothers me. Also the safety record is the worst of the bunch (mostly pilot error but still...). The Cessna 182 is slower than any of them but can haul a lot more and is not complex just high performance (no retracts on the models I'm looking at).
An 80's Mooney and Cessna are also half the cost of Diamond's... I am really torn and wanted to see if anyone had any thoughts on this. Please keep in mind my low time experience and thanks in advance!