On Thu, 22 Apr 2004 12:26:20 -0700, Captain Wubba wrote:

Steve, I agree with most everything you have said, but I honestly *do*
think that (if done properly) it can indeed be cheaper in the
medium/long run to purchase your own plane than to rent it. We bought
our old (1963) Musketeer for $26,000 3 years ago. We flew it a *ton*
(i.e. over 500 hours the first year, 400 hours the next and it will be
about 400 hours for this last year). When all of the costs have been
factored in (gas, tiedown, all maintenence, insurance...everything but
the opportunity cost on the money) it came to $47 per hour (wet). The
cheapest rental 152 on our field is $67 an hour. Now we are selling
the Mouse at a profit to a club. And I'll probably use my proceeds to
buy another one


Unlike renting, you are actually building an equity position in an
aircraft. When it's time to step into to another plane, you'll realize
some portion was going back into your pocket as equity. Even if it costs
$90/hr to rent and $110/hr to own, which makes more sense in the long
run? Renting means $90/hr you'll never see again. At $110/hr, you'll be
able to realize some of it as equity and have much more control over when,
where and for how long you fly.

After all that, I do want to say thanks for sharing your information. I
have no idea how common it is, but it's nice to hear that some actually
are able to own cheaper than they could rent. I find the thought of
the possibility to be rather exciting.