Cessna Cardinal 177 RG II v. Piper Arrow III (70s) v. Piper Arrow III (brand new)

As I said I'm fully aware of this... I already ruled out the new arrow,
so don't worry about that, I'm working on a job with Continental
Micronesia, if I can land that and get enough time I plan on moving on
to Air Tahiti Nui, then I move that plane down there, and I do plan on
maintaining it, the maintenance will be 100% behind the plane in the
environment. The plane WILL be stuck here for life. And yes, it will
get worse, Bora Bora = Salt on the Runway.

In terms of Leaseback, I also said it will be a privelege to memebers
not a right, if they mess up their out of renting it.

The 177 RG is in excellent shape, minus the engine, it is a immensly
well cared for airplane and the owner is an airline manager, the reason
it will be without a radio stack is because it is a GNS 430 system and
I want to replace it, so I had him reduce the cost based on him keeping
the GNS 430. Speaking of gear ups, the only Gear up I've heard of in
the whole time I was here was two guys on a Part 135 Checkride in which
case the gear lever wasn't lowered below the detent on a Chieftain by a
(of all things) 747 pilot with 20,000 hours.

And I do appreciate your advice, as I said already I'm off the 177 and
most likely going with an Arrow, there is a lot to be said for
simplicity (KIS, Keep it Simple), the retract is my preferred choice
because of it's versatility in emergency situations (gear ups on the
ocean would be a nightmare compounded with an ocean landing nightmare
to begin with).

The #1 point is to have a plane, and with my current living situation
(I have to commute to work by air shuttle that I should be flying, lol)
it's more benneficial for me to have my own plane.

SeeAndAvoid wrote:
When I saw this topic I figured I liked both types and would read on.
Until I saw "Hawaii" and "club/leaseback". Horrible combination.
I spend a fair amount of time out there, and I've seen what that salt
air does to decent airplanes. You want to drop half a mil on something
that will be eaten alive, and you think it'll last 30 years? It may, but
it'll probably be worth half or less what it'd be worth anywhere else.
Those guys you know that have had those airplanes that long, they
probably have no choice! Double whammy - hard to unload
corroded airplanes, and in the middle of the Pacific, those airplanes
are stuck there for life.
Then the abuse of a club or school, not to mention the ridiculously
high insurance costs. If you're going after the renter, most newer
ones will avoid these types if they aren't commercial rated. The
ones that are, let's say on vacation, may not care for the high
checkout requirement hourswise when they can get into a C172
fairly cheap and quick.
If this is a inter-island quick flight commuter, multiple daily flights
possibly, you're just begging for a gear-up somewhere. Either
by pilot error (depending on the experience/familiarity) or the
poor gear design (this is bottom of the barrel for retractables
except for maybe the Cutlass), or that dreaded salt air taking
it's toll - or all of the above. Really going on faith there, and
I'll say again, I like both of these types, but not for this mission.
Jay could be on to something, a (mostly) composite airframe
that is fixed gear. Cirrus SR20 or Diamond Star would fit
this, or possibly a Liberty XL2. Depending on which, and
what year, you could build a small fleet with half a mil. Avgas over
there aint cheap and these are more economical than what
you have in mind.
Call me fickle, self-oriented, greedy, snobby, what have you, but I do
not fly and will not own a fixed-gear plane.
I wouldnt use any of those words, but I'll be nice
That's a whole lot of very capable airplanes you're ruling out. Guess I
have to ask, what's your #1 point in doing this? To have an airplane
for your personal use that you occasionally rent out, for tax purposes?
Or is it the possible profit in the leaseback? Or you being coaxed by
some guys trying to unload an airplane and get a new sucker to take
over the leaseback situation - often a real stinker of a situation.
(no avionics, high time engine, probably high time airframe, likely some
damage history being rented/clubbed, guaranteed of at least some corrosion
for $50k? - no favors being done there)
Either way, with either of these types, forget about a profit. You might
have the occasional good luck of nabbing a commercial student, but
overall they'd probably sit - except when you're flying it = no profit.
Meanwhile, those lowly 172's would be renting 10x as much as
yours, making those owners a...................profit. You have looked
into what insurance is, right? For that $70k Cardinal (after engine
rebuild, and tack on whatever you spend on it) I bet it's at least
$6k a year on a leaseback.
Good luck in whatever you decide, proceed with caution. Remember,
you said any advice is appreciated!
Chris