TTA Cherokee Driver wrote:
: This is a very good point, though it's more emotional than practical. I
: do sometimes cringe when writing those large checks for long flights.
: However on the flip side if I owned I think I would cringe in the months
: when I would have to write large checks for all the fixed costs but I
: didn't fly the airplane very much if at all. And given my flying habits
: that second cringe would amount to far more money over time.

Maintenance doesn't have to be a bank-killer. There are more
cost-effective ways (read: owner-assisted annuals and preventative
maintenance) to keep a bird airworthy. The biggest potential cost savings
is to get a partner, or maybe two.

: I can see that view, however I would come out ahead that way because I
: did not pay several hundred dollars in fixed costs for the previous
: months when I only flew a few hours due to travel, weather, etc.

True... although I've got a somewhat skewed view since I've got a
unique agreement with my partners. They buy the parts, I put them on, the
mechanic inspects and signs it off.

: Which brings up the other advantage of the club over ownership: it's a
: lot easier to walk away if something happens medically or financially to
: make flying impractical.

Very true. It became obvious to me that if I wanted to fly more
than an hour a month, I'd have to own. For me, getting the partners was
enough to share the financial responsibility.

: Of course all this doesn't mean I don't fantasize about owning an
: airplane, but for me that fantasy also includes getting a windfall of at
: least $100,000 first

Aw... a descent-shape PA-28-140 can be had for $25-30k. I guess
my problem with flight clubs is that they cannot be run "cheaply."
Everything costs more when it's a club... insurance goes up (a lot!),
engine overhaul must be paid for in advance and done by the book (pay a
mechanic to take it off, send to to have overhauled, etc), etc, etc.

: YMMV

: We agree on this, it is a wise statement indeed

I'll stand by it and reiterate...

BTW, talk to me again in 6 months when I cussing working on the friggin'
thing again at annual time!

-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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