Some very good comments so far.

A couple of other items for consideration. If your use requires overnight
or multiple days, by owning you won't have "minimums per day" costs. For me
that discouraged renting and paying for an aircraft while it sets.

Another one, is if after a year or so, if it isn't getting the flying time
for break even, you can always consider a co-ownership at that time and sell
1/2 of it. You would be in a good position, as you wouldn't have to rush
into it and could be selective on whom you sell to. Over the long term, a
well maintained used aircraft will usually appreciate. For example, in
1984, when I was considering starting a co-ownership, the local college was
selling their 1976 C172 for $10,000. It was nicely equipped, as they used
it for IFR/Commercial training, but was getting high time on the engine and
the interior was showing its wear. Today $40,000?

Good luck and enjoy.


"Wendy" wrote in message
rvers.com...
I've searched through the archives, and there is a lot of useful
information
there concerning buying and affording an airplane. My question,
specifically, is this: If I bought a 1977-ish Cessna 172 that is IFR
equipped with a low time engine for, say, around $45,000, can I beat the
rental cost ($77/hr) over the course of a year flying 150-200 hrs a year?
(The purchase price is based on looking through aso.com at $50K asking
price- surely the asking price is not going to be the selling price?)

The answer my research in r.a.o seems to yield is "maybe", and anything
less
than 150 hrs would be "no". I fly for enjoyment, and even though I am a
woman I don't mind tinkering around with things; an airplane would
obviously
involve a lot of tinkering

TIA-

Wendy