High wing to low wing converts...or, visa versa?

You know what I realized? They are ALL good.

True Dave...I'd be happy with a nice C-172, Cherokee, whatever. So long
as I can afford it and it's in decent condition, I'll take it.

While we all felt that way at first, Jack, I think some of us are trying to
save you from the learning curve that goes with buying that first plane.

My experience seems to be all too typical. We truly thought we'd be happy
with our Warrior forever. I lavished money on it, fixed it up to the "nth"
degree, and -- just four years later -- had to sell it, because my kids were
getting too big.

Well, "had to" is a bit strong -- we could have made do with it. But 300
fpm climb on a hot summer day, and having to stop for fuel on our way to OSH
proved that we had reached the practical limits of a 150 horsepower engine
with four people aboard.

I would have been SO much better off financially, in the long run, to have
bought a Pathfinder/Dakota/Skylane back in '98, rather than taking the
interim step with buying the Warrior. But who knew? I'd never heard of
Usenet, and had no idea that there were so many valuable aircraft ownership
resources available online.

Now, you do. And the Arrow should keep you happy for a long while!
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

Jay Honeck wrote:
While we all felt that way at first, Jack, I think some of us are trying to
save you from the learning curve that goes with buying that first plane.

And I definitely appreciate it.

-- had to sell it, because my kids were getting too big.

Hey, I won't have that excuse...done having kids, they're already too
big :-)

Now, you do. And the Arrow should keep you happy for a long while!

Given my longer term aviation goals, I know I'll be happier/more
satisfied with the Arrow vs. a C-172/Cherokee class plane. If, however,
it proved that I couldn't swing something like the Arrow due to
acquisition cost, higher insurance, etc. and had to settle for something
more basic, I'd be ok with it. I'm just happy that things are working
out with the partnership and airplane in the works.

Of course, the big question for this year just may become where to park
at Oshkosh...North-40 or Vintage? :-)

--
Jack Allison
PP-ASEL, IA Student, Piper Arrow purchasing student

"When once you have tasted flight, you will forever walk the Earth
with your eyes turned skyward, for there you have been, and there
you will always long to return"
- Leonardo Da Vinci

(Remove the obvious from address to reply via e-mail)

Of course, the big question for this year just may become where to park at
Oshkosh...North-40 or Vintage? :-)

Now I may get lambasted for this, but I still don't feel that it's "right"
to park a Piper Arrow in the Vintage section -- even if, technically, it's
old enough.

Call me a purist, but there's just something wrong with parking a plane that
looks exactly like a current-production aircraft (because, well, it IS
identical) next to a classic old Navion or Comanche.

In a few years I suppose my Pathfinder will be eligible for "Classic"
parking -- but you'll still find me happily watching departures from my lawn
chair out in the North 40...
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

Jay Honeck wrote:

Now I may get lambasted for this

What? You getting flamed? :-)

Call me a purist, but there's just something wrong with parking a plane that
looks exactly like a current-production aircraft (because, well, it IS
identical) next to a classic old Navion or Comanche.

Hmmm, interesting point Jay. Might there be some nasty backlash form
the "pure" vintage crowd? Good question to ponder over the next six
months :-) Hey, at least it's not an Arrow IV with, IMHO, the extremely
goofy looking T-tail.

Actually, that would be an interesting topic to hear from folks on both
sides of the fence. Perhaps a future post.


In a few years I suppose my Pathfinder will be eligible for "Classic"
parking -- but you'll still find me happily watching departures from my lawn
chair out in the North 40...

That's one aspect of the North-40 that, IMHO, is *very* compelling.
While being more centrally located in a place like Vintage sounds good,
there's just something about kicking back in the morning/evening
watching departures and arrivals that makes camping with everyone in the
North-40 a ton of fun.

--
Jack Allison
PP-ASEL, IA Student, Student Arrow Buyer

"When once you have tasted flight, you will forever walk the Earth
with your eyes turned skyward, for there you have been, and there
you will always long to return"
- Leonardo Da Vinci

(Remove the obvious from address to reply via e-mail)