"Dude" wrote in message ...
As far as I know, there is no other way to be able to fix your own plane
than build it or be an AP.

Yes there is. Buy an amateur built experimental. The only
maintenance you can't perform on it is the annual condition inspection
(which can be performed by an A&P, rather than an IA).

In the OP's case, if he just wants a plane that he can maintain
himself, the best bet would be to sell the 172 and buy a homebuilt.

John Galban=====N4BQ (PA28-180)