Advice for a young pilot

Daniel B. Faria Filho

Daniel B. Faria Filho

Filing Flight Plan
Joined
Mar 21, 2025
Messages
8
Location
Fitchburg, Massachusetts
Display Name
Daniel B. Faria Filho
Home Airfield
KFIT
Hey guys! My name is Daniel. I am 17 and going for my PPL right now. My check ride is only a couple months away. My dream is to get my Commercial Pilots license at 18 and become a Missionary Bush Pilot, or maybe to into the cooperate world or maybe even a contract pilot.

However, once I get my PPL, I'd love to spend time flying with friends and family for a while. Renting at my flight school is about $175 an hour and it's realistically impossible to rent the plane for a weekend and go camping, something I'd love to do. I've recently been looking into aircraft ownership as an option for me to fly with my friends, have the freedom to use my own plane whenever I want, and also train for my other ratings and build time. However, as I said, I'd be turning 18, I have no credit, and I don't have money saved. Honestly, I was looking into buying a C150 at $50,000 that's IFR capable. When buying a plane, is it realistic to get a $50,000 loan with like almost no down payment at 18? I wouldn't think so. I'm getting a Job soon that I would be able to pay $4,000 a month towards a loan for it. Would it make more sense to just work for a year and save that money to pay it in cash or is it feasible to finance it? I'm just new to the money world right now. Thanks for taking the time to answer guys!
 
Nice goal. You’d be better off finding a club or partnership option than buying on your own.

All cash up front, and don’t forget about things like hangar/tie down, annual, sales tax, insurance, and an overhaul fund.

Ownership is a significant financial commitment.
 
Welcome! You are young and your time is less valuable now than when you'll be 30 (or more). Besides joining a flight club (great solution short-term) consider finding and joining a local EAA (Experimental Aviation Association) Chapter. Talk to a counseler there about learning how to build your own plane.
Since you're already interested in becoming a bush pilot, I'd recomment taking a look at the Zenith CH750 STOL.
Relatively fast and easy to build, and affordable in the grand scheme of aviation things.
zenithair.net

Introduction Stol CH750 - Zenith Aircraft Company

Discover the versatile Stol CH750 at Zenith Aircraft Company. Explore an exceptional aircraft design for your adventures!
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AV8R_87 said:
...consider finding and joining a local EAA (Experimental Aviation Association) Chapter. Talk to a counseler there about learning how to build your own plane.
Since you're already interested in becoming a bush pilot, I'd recomment taking a look at the Zenith CH750 STOL.
Relatively fast and easy to build, and affordable in the grand scheme of aviation things.
Click to expand...
This is TERRIFIC advice, because if
Daniel B. Faria Filho said:
My dream is to get my Commercial Pilots license at 18 and become a Missionary Bush Pilot,...
Click to expand...
then you will need mechanical skills. Mission Aviation Fellowship ( https://maf.org/ ) requires that its missionary pilots also be certified aviation mechanics (A&Ps). When you have a breakdown and find yourself grounded in some jungle village, you need to have the skills to fix the problem yourself.

Hours spent building a plane, if you have proper supervision and document the hours properly, can count toward your A&P license.
 
I agree ... join EAA and build an inexpensive plane to fly. EAA is about Learn, Build, & Fly and if you find a good EAA chapter you should find some excellent resources to help you on your journey and, at some point, you'd be able to pay it forward ...
 
Try to avoid the typical "young pilot" stunts like buzzing people, flying under bridges, landing where you shouldn't, aerobatics in unsuitable planes, etc. I know how it is, I too was 17 when I got my PP and early twenties when I bought my first plane (a beat up old T-Craft) and I did a lot of stupid things... but back then everybody wasn't carrying a camera 24/7 with 911 on speed dial.
 
Half Fast said:
This is TERRIFIC advice, because if

then you will need mechanical skills. Mission Aviation Fellowship ( https://maf.org/ ) requires that its missionary pilots also be certified aviation mechanics (A&Ps). When you have a breakdown and find yourself grounded in some jungle village, you need to have the skills to fix the problem yourself.

Hours spent building a plane, if you have proper supervision and document the hours properly, can count toward your A&P license.
Click to expand...
Thanks for the advice! I'm looking to join another group that doesn't require a mechanics license. Ive never though about building my own airplane though. I was more considering certified aircraft, not experimental, but it is cheaper.

I will definitely consider it now though! I will look into the EAA chapter at my home airport too.
 
Dana said:
Try to avoid the typical "young pilot" stunts like buzzing people, flying under bridges, landing where you shouldn't, aerobatics in unsuitable planes, etc. I know how it is, I too was 17 when I got my PP and early twenties when I bought my first plane (a beat up old T-Craft) and I did a lot of stupid things... but back then everybody wasn't carrying a camera 24/7 with 911 on speed dial.
Click to expand...
100%. Ive always been very big on safety and always following the law.
 
Half Fast said:
then you will need mechanical skills. Mission Aviation Fellowship ( https://maf.org/ ) requires that its missionary pilots also be certified aviation mechanics (A&Ps). When you have a breakdown and find yourself grounded in some jungle village, you need to have the skills to fix the problem yourself.
Click to expand...
MAF and others have been moving away from that. It often results in burnout of the pilot/mechanic and it affects safety due to fatigue.
 
Daniel B. Faria Filho said:
Hey guys! My name is Daniel. I am 17 and going for my PPL right now. My check ride is only a couple months away. My dream is to get my Commercial Pilots license at 18 and become a Missionary Bush Pilot, or maybe to into the cooperate world or maybe even a contract pilot.

However, once I get my PPL, I'd love to spend time flying with friends and family for a while. Renting at my flight school is about $175 an hour and it's realistically impossible to rent the plane for a weekend and go camping, something I'd love to do. I've recently been looking into aircraft ownership as an option for me to fly with my friends, have the freedom to use my own plane whenever I want, and also train for my other ratings and build time. However, as I said, I'd be turning 18, I have no credit, and I don't have money saved. Honestly, I was looking into buying a C150 at $50,000 that's IFR capable. When buying a plane, is it realistic to get a $50,000 loan with like almost no down payment at 18? I wouldn't think so. I'm getting a Job soon that I would be able to pay $4,000 a month towards a loan for it. Would it make more sense to just work for a year and save that money to pay it in cash or is it feasible to finance it? I'm just new to the money world right now. Thanks for taking the time to answer guys!
Click to expand...
I would imagine any loan would require some money down and without a credit history, in this market it might be unfavorable as to terms. You might be better off in waiting till the job kicks in and saving what you can. The purchase of a plane is just the beginning of the money flow. Insurance, tie down, gas, maintenance---which is often very difficult to predict--even when you do your "due diligence". I would suggest that you always prepare for the worst. I have had to replace both a continental 470 and 520--neither of which were near TBO. That can really ruin your day. As opposed to a 150, which I have owned, I would look for a PA-28--easy to fly, stable and have the superior Lycoming engines. We ran one to over 2600 hours before overhauling it and very little issues it over a period of probably 5 years. You could also look into a partnership or getting into a club---renting from a flight school is a very expensive and comes with many strings attached.
 
Dana said:
Try to avoid the typical "young pilot" stunts like buzzing people, flying under bridges, landing where you shouldn't, aerobatics in unsuitable planes, etc. I know how it is, I too was 17 when I got my PP and early twenties when I bought my first plane (a beat up old T-Craft) and I did a lot of stupid things... but back then everybody wasn't carrying a camera 24/7 with 911 on speed dial.
Click to expand...
Solid advice.
 
Join a club 100%

Being young and impatient could easily lead you into a situation where you've accumulated a ton of debt on an airplane that it turns out you really don't like and needs $20,000 for an engine overhaul.

Let a club shoulder all of the burdens. That way you can easily get in and out and fly different airframes.
 
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