Airplane Annonomous

Rcmutz

Rcmutz

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rcmutz
Ok, so like in AA, I have a confession to make.

I bought a Tiger last year, and know it is the right airplane, but, I still look at the ads for older Bonanza's and C-182's....:mad2: I need help! :yikes:
 
You got the right plane.

From a Bonanza owner.

There are days I wish I had a Tiger, but happy with my plane for now.

Welcome.
 
Thanks for the welcome. I have lurked here in the past, but figured, I better join up and get off of BeechTalk before my wife kills me! :)
 
docmirror said:
You got the right plane.

From a Bonanza owner.

There are days I wish I had a Tiger, but happy with my plane for now.

Welcome.
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The thing is I used to own a Cheetah for 14 years and sold it thinkin the Bo was where I was heading. Long story short, I found one, but it had a title issue. Passed on it, and while waiting to see if the seller cleared up the title, I re thought everything. Realized, I am more a weekend pilot with the occasional xc, about 2-3 times a year. Just couldn't justify the Bo for local flying, mostly by myself, so I bought a Tiger. But I still lust after them.... :mad2: I need to get a new focus! :yes:
 
Rcmutz said:
The thing is I used to own a Cheetah for 14 years and sold it thinkin the Bo was where I was heading. Long story short, I found one, but it had a title issue. Passed on it, and while waiting to see if the seller cleared up the title, I re thought everything. Realized, I am more a weekend pilot with the occasional xc, about 2-3 times a year. Just couldn't justify the Bo for local flying, mostly by myself, so I bought a Tiger. But I still lust after them.... :mad2: I need to get a new focus! :yes:
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Well understood brother. I've had a AA-5, AA-5A, AA-5B, A35 Bo, B35, J35. My favorite was the B35 Bo and the AA-5 Traveler but the Tiger is a fine plane. Good handling, visibility, moderate comfort, easy of mx and I guess, spiffy. Yeah, the Bo tucks the wheels up and is a bit faster but strangely, I pull the power back and cruise along at Tiger speeds, and fuel burns thinking 'I could do this in a Tiger!'

;)
 
Rcmutz said:
Ok, so like in AA, I have a confession to make.

I bought a Tiger last year, and know it is the right airplane, but, I still look at the ads for older Bonanza's and C-182's....:mad2: I need help! :yikes:
Click to expand...

Dude, I've got two airplanes and one of the "frequently visited" sites on my desktop is Controller online! :D Just because you're married, it doesn't mean you can't admire pretty women! :D:D
Airplanes are like boats, no matter what you have, you are always looking at bigger and faster! :yes:
 
Welcome! The grass is always greener on the other side of the fence.
 
Welcome.

The tiger owners I've met are like rabid dogs about their aircraft.

I've never been in one, but I admire them when I see one. Sliding canopies are too cool.
 
Rcmutz said:
Ok, so like in AA, I have a confession to make.

I bought a Tiger last year, and know it is the right airplane, but, I still look at the ads for older Bonanza's and C-182's....:mad2: I need help! :yikes:
Click to expand...

It's ok to be a polygaplanist.
 
You guys are killing me.... :):)

Thanks for the support! Yep, every spring just like the boat owners!
 
I check Barnstormers daily. I have subscription to Trade-A-Plane. I already own three planes. It is a sickness.


Jim R
Collierville, TN

N7155H--1946 Piper J-3 Cub
N3368K--1946 Globe GC-1B Swift
N4WJ--1994 Van's RV-4
 
N3368K said:
I check Barnstormers daily. I have subscription to Trade-A-Plane. I already own three planes. It is a sickness.


Jim R
Collierville, TN

N7155H--1946 Piper J-3 Cub
N3368K--1946 Globe GC-1B Swift
N4WJ--1994 Van's RV-4
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I look at Barnstormes, Trade-A-Plane, and Controller almost daily, despite not being able to afford to own at the moment.
 
I bought a Mooney M20E last fall, but I continue to look at little taildraggers as a putter around option....
 
I play guitar. On the guitar forums we call it GAS: Guitar Acquisition Syndrome. I think Henning is right, at least 3 or 4. Right now I have ready access to two quite different C-172s (No, that is not an oxymoron. A 1963 C-172 C is quite different than a 1975 C-172K.) But I got my complex endorsement last year and I'd really like access to a complex Bo or Mooney. And I'd like to get my SES. And fly acro (which I'm looking into right now).

So, a complex, amphibian, acro plane would do it. :D

John
 
Henning said:
I need a Caribou, a Widgeon, an SJ-30, a Katmai, and a T-6.

There is enough for everyone; there is never enough for the greedy.-Mahatma Gandhi
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OK, this displayed right above your sig made me laugh.

John
 
jsstevens said:
OK, this displayed right above your sig made me laugh.

John
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That is enough. Thing is, everyone could have access to all that pretty easily using a system that made it cost much less; all it takes is cooperation. I don't need to own any of them, I just need to have access to them when I want. Someone else can use it when I don't.
 
Yeah, I gotta be careful at saxontheweb.com. I have 4 horns now, and everytime I get into a discussion about another collectible I go hunting for them. I've had as many as 9 before, so I'm doing good on the Imelda scale of horns. :D
 
Henning said:
That is enough. Thing is, everyone could have access to all that pretty easily using a system that made it cost much less; all it takes is cooperation. I don't need to own any of them, I just need to have access to them when I want. Someone else can use it when I don't.
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And I'm in no way poking at you. It just struck me funny.

When I first started flying (2004) I belonged to a club which had 11 airplanes. 4 old C-172s, 2 (relatively) new C-172s, 2 Arrows, a Sundowner, a Lance and a Seminole. All available subject to insurance requirements. Over time they sold off more and more and eventually went out of business. Now I can get access to a couple of older C-172s. If I want to straight up rent, I can get a Cirrus ($$$) and a newer 172. I can't get access here to complex or even twins (which I'd be interested in learning to fly). Not even a 182.

I'd love a club with more variety, but it really doesn't seem viable, and I'm not in a position to subsidize it (which the owners of the old club did for several years).

Oh well. At least I can still fly the 172s.

John
 
I love my straight tail '56 C172 but I still look fairly often. Lots of times I look just to compare my purchase vs going rates (I did very well), other times its strictly to day dream.

She knows I look but that I'm not going anywhere
 
jsstevens said:
And I'm in no way poking at you. It just struck me funny.

When I first started flying (2004) I belonged to a club which had 11 airplanes. 4 old C-172s, 2 (relatively) new C-172s, 2 Arrows, a Sundowner, a Lance and a Seminole. All available subject to insurance requirements. Over time they sold off more and more and eventually went out of business. Now I can get access to a couple of older C-172s. If I want to straight up rent, I can get a Cirrus ($$$) and a newer 172. I can't get access here to complex or even twins (which I'd be interested in learning to fly). Not even a 182.

I'd love a club with more variety, but it really doesn't seem viable, and I'm not in a position to subsidize it (which the owners of the old club did for several years).

Oh well. At least I can still fly the 172s.

John
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You think it's not viable as a concept, or in your market? Because as a concept, Plus One Flyers in San Diego is a pretty good example of it working.

The best is a national club with fleets of like planes in several levels of capability. To join you buy a plane for the fleet, you now have access to all the planes in the fleet. If you buy at the premium level of capability, then you can access any of the lower cost planes at hourly cost. If you have a lower cost plane and need occasional access to a higher cost plane, you just pay a differential premium into the hourly cost. All maintenance and parts inventories are standardized and the fleet size allows a lot of leverage in prices, plus you have the ability to control fuel costs.
 
Henning said:
You think it's not viable as a concept, or in your market? Because as a concept, Plus One Flyers in San Diego is a pretty good example of it working.

The best is a national club with fleets of like planes in several levels of capability. To join you buy a plane for the fleet, you now have access to all the planes in the fleet. If you buy at the premium level of capability, then you can access any of the lower cost planes at hourly cost. If you have a lower cost plane and need occasional access to a higher cost plane, you just pay a differential premium into the hourly cost. All maintenance and parts inventories are standardized and the fleet size allows a lot of leverage in prices, plus you have the ability to control fuel costs.
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I think it could work as a concept, but there's probably not enough demand. At least here in Orlando. The FBOs which rented have all pretty much become pilot mills. If you're not enrolled in their zero to hero program, they won't even talk to you. Places like Air Orlando, became TRAX Air (or something like that). I belong to one of three flying clubs at Orlando Exec. This club has 2 C-172's. An other has a 172 and a Cutlass. The other has 2 172s and a 182 (but the 182 is a rebuilt salvage airplane, or so I was told).

I'm equidistant between Sanford (KSFB) and Orlando Executive (KORL). There's a little activity at Orlando Apopka (X04) but that's over an hour away. And still not much variety.

I don't have the money to buy an airplane right now, but a club is doable. There just isn't any variety in the clubs. I'm looking at doing some acro for which I'll have to drive to Leesburg. It's not terrible, but not convenient either. I also know unless I buy a plane or a partnership I won't be able to do any solo. Ever.

So I lament the availability of rental/club aircraft in my area. Hence my desire for a complex, acro, IFR amphibian. Twin. :D

John
 
Many industries seem to converge towards a small handful of national players according to a power law distribution; why hasn't this pattern of M&A/consolidation played out for aircraft rental?
 
GeorgeC said:
Many industries seem to converge towards a small handful of national players according to a power law distribution; why hasn't this pattern of M&A/consolidation played out for aircraft rental?
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Probably because nobody big enough wants to make a small fortune out of a big one...
 
gitmo234 said:
I love my straight tail '56 C172 but I still look fairly often. Lots of times I look just to compare my purchase vs going rates (I did very well), other times its strictly to day dream.

She knows I look but that I'm not going anywhere
Click to expand...

That about sums it up for me. The Tiger fits my mission nicely, but I always wonder.... What if???

And then reality ($$$) sneaks in and I come back to, the Tiger is juuusssstttt right! :wink2:
 
As my non-pilot neighbor likes to remind me: "Dude. You have a PLANE!"

I mostly refuse to look at TAP or Controller or even to set foot in a Cirrus because I will just end up torturing myself or worse... breaking myself!

But I totally get it. A few times I've gone in there to research prices for some topic on this board and I find myself lingering on certain models. :D
 
docmirror said:
You got the right plane.

From a Bonanza owner.

There are days I wish I had a Tiger, but happy with my plane for now.

Welcome.
Click to expand...

This quote intrigued me. What is it about the Tiger you pine for while in your Bo?

If my job will quit sending me away, and this crappy weather WILL go away, I'm hoping to get my check ride in later this month. Been cruising all the plane porn sites and I'm all over the board, too. I really want a Bo -36 but I just don't think it hits the price/80% requirements. I keep coming back to a 182 or better yet, R182. But there is a whole lotta love for those Tigers.
 
Frogs97 said:
This quote intrigued me. What is it about the Tiger you pine for while in your Bo?

If my job will quit sending me away, and this crappy weather WILL go away, I'm hoping to get my check ride in later this month. Been cruising all the plane porn sites and I'm all over the board, too. I really want a Bo -36 but I just don't think it hits the price/80% requirements. I keep coming back to a 182 or better yet, R182. But there is a whole lotta love for those Tigers.
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The nicest thing about the AA-1/AA-5 (AG as well) series to me is the ability to crack open the canopy in flight. Second with that big canopy wide open and the back seat folded down, it is very easy to load cumbersome things like bicycles. The Tiger will accept 2 full frame bikes, or two bags of golf clubs with no real effort, contortions, or bleeding.

They also fly quite nicely and give you the best speed in a fixed gear 180hp plane. As for being a 'toy', the line has a wide selection of modifications and customizations available for it to make it a personalized machine.
 
Henning said:
The nicest thing about the AA-1/AA-5 (AG as well) series to me is the ability to crack open the canopy in flight. Second with that big canopy wide open and the back seat folded down, it is very easy to load cumbersome things like bicycles. The Tiger will accept 2 full frame bikes, or two bags of golf clubs with no real effort, contortions, or bleeding.

They also fly quite nicely and give you the best speed in a fixed gear 180hp plane. As for being a 'toy', the line has a wide selection of modifications and customizations available for it to make it a personalized machine.
Click to expand...

Is that with 2 or 4 bodies. Could you fit a family of 4 with a couple of golden retrievers in the baggage area?
 
Frogs97 said:
Is that with 2 or 4 bodies. Could you fit a family of 4 with a couple of golden retrievers in the baggage area?
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Have to be be small. The bikes only go in with 2 people. What you are talking about is an A-36/PA-32 mission.
 
Frogs97 said:
This quote intrigued me. What is it about the Tiger you pine for while in your Bo?

If my job will quit sending me away, and this crappy weather WILL go away, I'm hoping to get my check ride in later this month. Been cruising all the plane porn sites and I'm all over the board, too. I really want a Bo -36 but I just don't think it hits the price/80% requirements. I keep coming back to a 182 or better yet, R182. But there is a whole lotta love for those Tigers.
Click to expand...

Well, I have an old Bo, no annual gear swing, lower insurance, reduced workload, well supported 4 cyl engine, supported prop, better seats, better panel, simple flaps, simple fuel system, and some other minor things.
 
I'm enjoying this thread. I've owned an AA-5A Traveler, a Pitts S2A, a 182 with the Texas Skyways 285 Hp STC and now a Maule MX7-180C. Each plane has satisfied the aviation niche I was most interested in at the time. Unfortunately, my peripheral interests in other niches never goes away.

I used the Traveler for medium distance XC flights with my road bike to participate in some organized rides (like the Seattle to Portland ride each summer). Then the acro bug hit pretty hard. I satisfied it for a while with a rental Citabria, but finally was driven to buy the Pitts. After several years of friendly competition in IAC events, I lusted for longer vacation trips with my new wife, and newer dog, so the Pitts was sold and I got the 182 (N529JK, John Kennedy Jr's first plane). After cruising up and down the eastern seaboard to resorts with their own landing strips, I slowly shifted my interests to back-country flying. Bye-bye 182 and hello Maule. To get more back-country opportunities with my Maule, I returned to the Pacific Northwest where we plan to retire.

There are lots of backcountry strips in this neck of the woods, but I still think about the higher speed XC trips I'm missing and there are times when I long for the opportunity to tumble a plane across the sky for 30 minutes. My ideal wish list for filling a LARGE hangar would be my Maule, a Steen Skybolt, a Mooney M20F, and a Gweduck (the composite version of the Grumman Widgeon amphib). When I complain over beers with friends about the miserable twists of fortune that keep me from owning more than 1 plane at a time, I don't get any sympathy - unless I am commiserating with other pilots! I share all of your sideways glances at other flying machines!
 
Yeah, it's a disease.

Right now I have 'Aerostar-itis' pretty bad. Jonesing to push the levers on ~650HP of turbocharged fuel guzzling power and point it vertical!
 
docmirror said:
Yeah, it's a disease.

Right now I have 'Aerostar-itis' pretty bad. Jonesing to push the levers on ~650HP of turbocharged fuel guzzling power and point it vertical!
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Carpe Diem, the Aerostar is a great plane, Stratobee still have his for sale...fresh engines...?:yesnod::lol: :popcorn:
 
Multiple plane ownership makes aviation cheap. A large chunk of cost is infrastructure costs. You can get a hangar that will hold four planes and an apartment for less than a house saving you money.:D
 
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