wrote:
On 21-Jul-2006, "Rom" wrote:


First of all: Thanks for the detailed answer - I really appreciate it.

If you plan on moving toward an instrument rating, and if you live in the
Denver area, then a 150/152 probably won't be the best choice. I'd consider
a Cherokee 140 as a "basic first airplane" that will provide better than
marginal performance and range, Much more likely to find a Cherokee that is
IFR equipped, too.

Instinctively (I think) I had this sort of hit list in mind for a first
aircraft: C150/C152, closely followed by a C172 or a PA28. And yes,
much easier to find a PA28 with a current IFR then a C150/C152. A few
bucks more, but not that much.

I actually stated (don't laugh!) writing a quick database application
for comparing various aircraft for sale - different sort criteria for
the results (TTAF, SMOH, SNEW, damage, avionics, interior, exterior,
damage history, etc.) - but that's subject for yet another post.

For the record: I am using FileMaker 8.0 (Advanced Edition) so it
should work on both Windows XP and Mac (should be easy to deploy it to
a web site as well, but that's not part of the objectives for Rel 1.0
of this thing). The one piece I am having a hard time (even designing)
is the agent to parse through the web sites to mine the check the free
text normally associated with a for sale post (something like "1976
CESSNA 150, 4900 TT, 1250 SOH , IFR !! , DME, Transponder, 3 radios,
fresh annual, air paint, good int., For Sale - $22,900" has a lot of
information packed into a single line in the posting - making sense of
that without human intervention can be quite tricky - doable, but
tricky)

The objective here is to have something that helps me and could
potentially help someone else as well - I can't be theonly guy out
there with this problem.

Sorry, I digress...

Few questions:
1. Are my estimates around the right range?

What estimates are you talking about? Cost for a 150/152? You may be a bit
optimistic for a low time, IFR equipped one. Cost relative to renting? If
you are only flying 1000 hrs/year owning will be a LOT more expensive.
Break even point is probably around 200 hrs/year. You might consider a
partnership.

Yeah, I have about 15 or 20 C150's and C152's I picked up from the web
(various sites, mostly www.controller.com) and the average asking price
is just north of $22K, but there are a few South of 20K - but higher
TTAF, high SMOH, things like that).

BTW: can anyone recommend more aircraft for sale web sites?

2. What can a no-rating owner expect for insurance per year on a
C150/C152 here?

As a non-pilot the insurance is essentially for training. You might call an
insurance broker that specializes in aviation insurance for a quotation.
They will give estimates for a "hypothetical" plane.

Yeah. I'll do just that.

3. Maintenance... Tricky, I know... but what are the average cost on
annuals?...

Can be all over the map. However, ON AVERAGE, you might figure on $1000 to
$2000 per year for routine maintenance on an older 150/152. Maybe a few
hundred more for a Cherokee 140 or a 172. A small part of this would be the
annual inspection itself. More will be for correcting the problems that the
inspection finds. This number assumes that you do some of the easiest stuff
(like oil changes) yourself. It does not include a reserve for eventual
overhaul or replacement of the engine

Great! - this helps out a lot!

4. What should I look for here?

Look for as in maintenance? You will look for a shop you can trust, that
has experience in your model of airplane. You might get recommendations
from members of this board.


Yep. I'll do just that

The reason I have to ask all these is to pacify my CFO (aka. wife) as
to the costs related to flying...

A pretty common domestic issue among pilots.

And all this time I thought I was the only one with a problem like
that... ;-)


-Elliott Drucker

Thanks, Elliott. I really appreciate it. This helps out a lot!!

Rom