Hey everyone. I am new to this forum and am looking for some opinions. After high school (In 1988-1990) I attended a technical school and received my A&P degree, but never went into the field, for several reasons. But I have always loved flying and have an underlying passion for it. Last month while on vaction with my family in Orlando, I ran accross a tourist brochure from Warbird Adventures advertising flying either a T-6 Texan or an old Bell 47 helicopter. In school we had a Bell and I couldn't resist. Needless to say, I am hooked and am actively pursuing my pilots certificate. I am a little older and more financially secure (not rich). I will plan on renting for a while to rack up a few hours and experience. I am in a somewhat isolated rural area and my local FBO only has 1 plane to rent - a 172 I beleive. But I am still looking for my own plane to purchase. I have a wife and 3 kids and want to be able to take off for a weekend with the whole family and have a great time. Plus just be able to take of by myself or with a buddy and cruise around for a while. Best case senario is to actually take vacations and longer trips without dealing with all the major airline BS. I am looking for a good, reliable plane to handle my family and needs for the long term, not upgrading every few years. What do you reccomend? I have been looking at Piper Cherokee 6's and Lances most. That would usually allow me to transport my entire family and occasionally a guest. I am just looking for a good 6 seat plane that flies well and is reliable. I have read several threads on this forum talking about training and flying in as many aircraft as possible, and I see the advantages in that. Is there anything to be said for getting a plane you plan on keeping for 10-20 years and being comfortable with the way THAT plane flies?
Why would you plan on keeping a plane 20 years? How long do you keep your cars? I suggest that unless you buy one and wear it out, you would do the same with a plane that you use essentially for private transportation.
You are indeed in a dilemma with a family of 5. As most 4-place singles aren't really good for four full size passengers, the same can be said for most 6-place singles. You begin to run up against weight/fuel tradeoffs, especially when it comes to carrying baggage and this can dilute its efficiency on longer trips. It sounds like your kids are small right now but somehow they have seem to add on some weight and height as the years pass. [For them it will be vertical. For us old(er) farts it becomes horizontal.] I have a co-worker who asked me the same questions a few years back as he was in the identical situation as you are and settled on the Saratoga (part ownership). One of the things he did was to get the brood together, along with baggage expected on a trip and start loading up different airplanes until he found the one which was the most comfortable for everyone, then did the calculations to see if it was mission suitable as well. I thought it was a great idea. You then need to fly it and fly it as loaded (ballast) to see if you enjoy its flying and handling qualities as well. Take your time and don't make any snap decisions. For practical considerations you may want to be looking for a light twin, a la Baron or such. As for keeping an airplane for 20 years... Why the hell not? They are NOT like cars at all. The only things which would cause you to want to switch would be dislike for the aircraft, change in mission requirements, etc. Warning... shameless plug follows...: I've had my Comanche now for 27 years and I enjoy each flight as if it were the first. No kidding. Folks have tried to sell me other aircraft and none meets my mission requirements better than this one for what I have invested in it. Most won't even come close regardless of price. After 27 years, I'm getting real close to having it the way I want it too! [by the way, I gave the same pitch to my friend who is the part owner of the Saratoga, and sure enough he bought a Comanche too] Good luck in your searches and let us all know how it works out. Planefly
I seem to keep planes around 10 years, and move to a bigger size single as I get bigger in size (e.g.: Champ, T-6, T-28). I imagine I will be looking at a TBM or Skyraider next if my weight keeps the current pace.
Thanks for the opinions guys. The more I think about it I am leaning towards a regular 4 seater. My Father-in-law used to have a Mooney and swears by them. So he's got me looking in that direction. After all, how often will I have the whole family along. If it becomes an issue I can always upgrade. Jeff
