"ks_av8r" writes:

You use the same equipment and get more familiar with it as opposed
to flying rentals. You know the maintenance history. Usually no
"per day minimums" if you want to take it overnight.

That's an excellent point. After only nine months of ownership, I am
already terrified to think how little I knew not just about the
specific planes I was flying, but about planes in general. When I
bought my Warrior, I couldn't even have shown you where the vacuum
pump and carburetor were with all the cowling removed, and I don't
think that my instructors could have either. Taking care of a plane
is the *other* half of flying.

Plus a well maintained used aircraft will generally increase in
selling price so the money spent on the original purchase can often
be considered an investment.

Possibly, though prices have been level or declining on a lot of used
aircraft recently (of course, so have many stock prices).


All the best,


David