Rneuwirth
Pre-Flight
I'll be done with my PPL training next month,and I've scheduled an instrument training course for Jan/Feb 2012. I'll be flying 200-300 hrs per year, with lots of flights of 800-1500 miles (over multiple days, no leg over 400nm). Only 2 traveling without much baggage. Not in much of a rush either.
Essentially all of my training will have been in 172s, and I am very comfortable in this platform.
I've been looking at both 172s and 182s online, and it looks like I can afford a low time airframe and engine 172, nicely outfitted for IFR ($55-80K range). It seems that a similar time and outfitted 182 might be quite bit more. Given my mission profile, is the difference in planes (heavier weight and a bit faster) worth it?
I plan to keep this plane for 4-5 years, at which point my parasite drag (i.e. children) expense should diminish quite a bit, making a move up into a more complex and capable plane a doable option.
Thanks in advance for your input.
(BTW my home base is in eastern Wyoming, and my flights will be eastward to the Chicago region and southeastward to Florida. Excepting deep winter with our -20 F days, I'd like to be free to travel mostly year round.)
Essentially all of my training will have been in 172s, and I am very comfortable in this platform.
I've been looking at both 172s and 182s online, and it looks like I can afford a low time airframe and engine 172, nicely outfitted for IFR ($55-80K range). It seems that a similar time and outfitted 182 might be quite bit more. Given my mission profile, is the difference in planes (heavier weight and a bit faster) worth it?
I plan to keep this plane for 4-5 years, at which point my parasite drag (i.e. children) expense should diminish quite a bit, making a move up into a more complex and capable plane a doable option.
Thanks in advance for your input.
(BTW my home base is in eastern Wyoming, and my flights will be eastward to the Chicago region and southeastward to Florida. Excepting deep winter with our -20 F days, I'd like to be free to travel mostly year round.)