Maybe you really can't afford an airplane

saddletramp

saddletramp

Line Up and Wait
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saddletramp
I'm always amazed how I read or experience first hand how new airplane owners are either stunned at ownership costs or try to come up with shortcuts to cheapen their maintenance costs. Don't people realize how expensive aircraft ownership is before they purchase?

My latest purchase was a real clean 182A. I've owned it around a year & a half. I helped with the annual before I signed papers so I knew the airplane pretty well & knew it was by no means perfect. I've spent around $9,000 on maintenance costs since then. Probably half of that was optional items that I wanted to upgrade or improve. When I'm flying over the rugged Cascade Mts I like knowing things are top notch.

Airplane parts are expensive, there are required maintenance intervals that have to be done by an FAA certified mechanic. That all costs money.

So enough with all the complaining. You should have know.

Done with my rant. Carry on.
 
Heck you could dump +70k into a Cessna 150 if you really wanted to go crazy.

There's such a thing as too cheap, and there's such a thing and just tossing money for the sake of tossing money.
 
Airplanes are like kids. They will change your life. They will bring you great joy and deep sorrow, and take you on amazing journeys in life. They cost a fortune and need care and maintenance regularly by certified and licensed professionals. Like an airplane, kids shouldn’t be tied outside and should be kept in a heated shelter. Yes, airplanes and kids have a lot in common, which is why my wife and I don’t have kids. When we need one around we do what most pilots who don’t own do: we rent. I mean babysit for my sister’s kids. Bring them back to the FBO, I mean parents’ house, and we’re done.
 
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Money has different meaning for folks.

Right now, $9000 is a lot of money for me as I pay medical bills.

To some folks, $90,000 would be a lot of money.

To other folks, $90,000 would be just about right.

To the rest of the folks, $90,000 is just another bill.
 
Zeldman said:
Money has different meaning for folks.

Right now, $9000 is a lot of money for me as I pay medical bills.

To some folks, $90,000 would be a lot of money.

To other folks, $90,000 would be just about right.

To the rest of the folks, $90,000 is just another bill.
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And then there's Trump...
 
mscard88 said:
And then there's Trump...
Click to expand...

If the regular people only knew how rich the 1 percenters really are, including the latest second place finisher in the presidential election, there would be riots in the streets.

I never met a 1 persenter, but I have met 10 percenters, and they are either the worst tippers or the best tippers....
 
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$900, to me is a lot of money or even $90 if it is for a small bushing that a Chinese apprentice could whack out with a dull beaver in five minutes.
 
So far it's actually been cheaper than I had expected... so far.
 
I suggest you try a few years of sports car racing. Gives you a whole new perspective on "expensive" hobbies. Then couple it with a wife who likes training and showing Thoroughbreds.
 
Agreed with Half Fast. Probably not a fair comparison as I have a LSA, but it’s been a lot cheaper than keeping an Italian machine in the garage.

IMO, once past the initial purchase and fixing those things that may or may not need replacing (whatever it takes to make you confident in the plane), keeping the plane in serviceable condition doesn’t seem too bad so long as you budget appropriately for the big ticket services.
 
Timbeck2 said:
Saddletramp, is there a back story for this rant of yours?
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Yes. I know a pilot that bought an airplane a year or so ago. He didn't do a pre-buy because it had a fresh annual. The annual was done by a mechanic that was a friend of the seller. Now he's looking at a very expensive annual & is *issing & moaning about it.

I questioned when he bought the airplane If he could really afford it.

It just struck me wrong.

It just seems like so many people in our current society can't put on their big boy pants & take responsibility for their actions. They're always looking for someone else to blame.
 
I would say you’re easily amazed. How is someone supposed to know how much aircraft maintenance costs if they have never owned an aircraft?

It’s great you’re well versed and experienced, but the rest of us have to start somewhere...
 
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