Comments on: What Should I Look For When Shopping For A Plane?

By: Chad

Chad — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 07:12:11 +0000

i would say a mooney of some kind, its cheap and its effiecient, the operating hours are fairly small…

By: soldierof the 82ndAirborne

soldierof the 82ndAirborne — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 06:05:42 +0000

one that flys

By: bedroomeyes#1 s

bedroomeyes#1 s — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 03:57:53 +0000

a bus???

By: Ray K

Ray K — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 23:09:55 +0000

Given the criteria you list, I think the Mooney M20 series is your best bet. Someone else mentioned this, and I agree. You don’t have a large useful load, but it is a great plane. I owned one years ago, and since retiring from professional flying, will probably give up my 400 series Cessnas and go back to Mooney. Time Between Overhaul for these planes is going to be 1,800 to 2,000 hours. The airframe should be good for 30,000 hours on most civilian planes. Look for a plane with about 5,000 hours or less total time, 1,000 to 1,200 hours on the engine (roughly mid-time) and no damage history. Be watchful of the avionics on board. Some of the older Mooneys will have some pre-historic stuff in the panel. Be aware, too, that the standard panel layout for the pilot’s instruments will probably not be there. No big deal, just have to get used to it. Your PPL is good for any recip that weighs less than 12,500 pounds gross. You’ll just have to get checked out in complex aircraft. Again, no big deal at all. The manual gear on the M20 is all but bullet proof. Just don’t forget to extend it. Make sure it is firmly locked into position under the panel and leave your cat’s eye open so you can easily see the gear-down light. I speak from experience, having almost landed mine without the gear handle being locked, and having stupidly closed the cat’s eye. Anyway, the insurance will be the booger for you. You may need to build some time with a check pilot to get that price down. It’s a great little plane, and if you get one I know you’ll enjoy it. Best of luck. An 18,000+ hour pilot.

By: calnicke

calnicke — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 22:06:00 +0000

For a low wing, four people and luggage, I would recomend a Piper Cherokee 180. It is easy to fly, fits in your price range, and should be easy and cheap to insure and maintain. A low end Mooney might be good too or a Cherokee Arrow, but these add constant speed and retractable gear. The added maintenance and insurance costs might be prohibitive (not to mention landing with the gear up). Also consider a share in an aircraft or joining a flying club. It reduces costs considerably if you don’t fly that many hours a year.
Although you can fly beyond TBO (on condition) it is borrowed time since many parts will be worn beyond limits when it is overhauled, costing more than if you just overhauled the engine.
Most aircraft depreciate by how much TBO they have left, so there isn’t much advantage financially either way. I would buy one that has 1/3 to half time sinice it will give you many hours and years to fly.
As for airframe time, I find it doesn’t matter if the aircraft has been taken care of. I find the best aircraft are ones where the hours match the age. A 40 year old aircraft with 2000 hours has spent a lot of time sitting, which is just as bad (sometimes worse) than a trainer with 10,000 hours on it in half the time. Before you buy make sure you have a prepurchase inspection done by an unbiased mechanic, the price is well worth it!
To find out how complex an aircraft you can fly, call an aviation insurance company to find out what they will insure you on. Insurance is the limiting factor for low time pilots. Jets and turboprops are definitely out.