Jay wrote:
: I'm taking my PPL and trying to locate a
: decent/depedable 152 to purchase rather than
: keep renting.

I understand the desire to buy a plane for instruction. I didn't
do that, and ended up spending a fair bit more money on my license than I
needed. A Cessna-152 or 150 makes a great trainer and is probably what
you are used to flying, but you should consider what you plan on using it
for when you finish your license. If you're like me, you think you'll be
happy with something to bop around the pattern.... which gets boring
surprisingly quickly. I was (fortunately) swayed into buying a Cherokee
instead. It's just as cheap to maintain (fixed gear/prop, common
engine/airframe), negligibly more expensive to operate (you don't have to
fly at 75%, you know), and can be had for slightly more than a Cessna 152.
If you can do cargas, a Cessna-150 or Cherokee-140 runs great on it
for cheap. When you're done with your license, you can pack two people in
it with baggage and fuel, or three with less and go somewhere.

The Cessnas seem to carry a bit more market value for a roughly
equivalent airplane. They all fly the same, however.

Hope that helps a bit... just what worked out for me and a few of
my pilot buddies.

-Cory
--
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* The prime directive of Linux: *
* - learn what you don't know, *
* - teach what you do. *
* (Just my 20 USm$) *
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