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Pogamassing

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  1. Two experiences led to my interest in aviation. My family has a camp in the north woods of Ontario. The best way in is by float plane, and one of my fondest childhood memories was the last leg of our trip when we would pile all of our supplies into a Beaver. The pilot of that plane - Mel - was a childhood hero of mine. Fast forward to age 10. My cousin graduated from the Naval Academy. My jaw dropped when the Blue Angels' A-4 jets tore a hole in the air over the grandstands. That was it for me!!
  2. Thank you everyone for the replies - the willingness to share your accumulated knowledge on this forum is very much appreciated. I've read through your replies several times. I took yesterday off work and spent the day bouncing around in a 172. Flew KSDL to KSEZ to 40G to KINW to KPAN back to KSDL. Lots of time to play with the G1000 (which is still new to me - my old plane had a 430/530), and to think about what exactly I want in an airplane. My thoughts: First, nearly all of my hours are on the East coast. Density altitude back at sea level was more of a theory than a reality. Yesterday was stunningly gorgeous in AZ, cool temps up high, and the 172 was wheezing coming out of 40G and around the San Francisco peaks. I got as high as 10,500', and there wasn't too much more power to be had. Bottom line, I need a turbo. Second, since I've only recently gotten back into flying, most of my (limited so far) time has been getting to know Phoenix airspace. Getting back in the groove of flying an airplane, radios, etc. Yesterday reminded me that what I really love about flying is going somewhere just for the sake of going somewhere. What did I have to do in Valle, Arizona yesterday? Absolutely nothing, but it looked interesting on the map so off I went. Would I be as comfortable taking that trip in a twin? Maybe not. And I'd be missing something by focusing on only getting to and from my planned destination. I believe it will take me awhile to get comfortable with the complexity and cost of a twin. I need to build another few hundred hours of skills before I get into the multi world, as there is more that can go wrong and everything is happening much faster. Third and most importantly is my family. My wife is supportive of me flying again. It will take time to get her comfort level to the point where she will be at ease piling the entire family in the plane for a long XC. That means baby steps with her, and building more time. Time = money, so I need an efficient way to build that time. So where am I now ... twin is off the list. Someday in the future perhaps, but I'm not there yet. A maintenance surprise with a twin is just not a proposition that appeals to me right now. I'd rather spend that money flying. A 210 is also off the list. I don't need that hauling capacity in the near future. When I do, I'll trade up. That leaves me really down to the following: 182T (most expensive option it seems, but I've got plenty of 182 time and it would be an easy transition) 231/252 (Never even sat in one, but the more I read the more intrigued I become) Something Piper - Turbo Arrow or Comanche? (though many seem worn and need of significant upgrades) So that's where I'm at. Focus for the next few years will be building hours, some business travel, shorter hops with the family until my wife gets 100% comfortable.
  3. Thank you everyone for the replies. As I consider usage more, here's the most realistic use of the plane. We get out of AZ a lot in the summer - usually to Utah, Colorado or California. This summer we will be in Park City for the most of the summer. What will realistically happen is that we'll drive up as a family with the SUV loaded to the hilt. I'll fly home commercial SLC to PHX after a week or so to check in at the office for a day or two. If I have a plane, I'll fly back solo. Another one or two round trips by me solo (or with the family and a very light baggage load) before I leave the plane in AZ, fly back commercial PHX to Utah and drive with the family home. Most of our family trips would probably be a variation of this in the future as well, even if I did have a plane. There will be business use as well. Pre COVID, I spent about 30 days a year traveling for work. Usually California and Colorado. Things changed in 2020, but before my meetings transitioned to ZOOM there were lots of flights to Sacramento and Denver. I believe that we are in the 8th or 9th inning of this pandemic, and I expect to hit the road again soon. If I could cover that distance safely and efficiently in my own aircraft (both north of 500 nm) that would be a game changer. Kids and wife would not be on those trips. So I really don't need the flying SUV..... A 310 intrigues me. And a buddy who has an SR22 absolutely refuses to fly and night or with his family in anything but the SR22 or a twin due the the chute or the redundant engine. But as I consider the actually flying, it's a pretty straight shot up to Utah over mostly desert with not too much hard mountain flying. Empty desert, yes. But hardly the Alaskan wilderness or an ocean crossing. The flight to Denver is trickier, but I'm not going to hop directly over the San Juans even if I could. So perhaps the 310 is a sledgehammer where none is needed? And it should be noted I don't have my multi engine rating yet. It's a Q2 goal to complete.
  4. Thanks Mlm20C & RobertGary1. Anyone have a good experience with a particular broker?
  5. Greetings everyone. This is my first post, so I apologize if this has been a topic that has been beaten to death. I recently returned to flying after a 10 year hiatus. I am instrument rated with about 550 hours of time. 400 hours of that time was in a Diamond DA-40 I owned back when I was flying regularly. I am looking for an aircraft that can safely transport my wife and our two young children from Phoenix, AZ primarily to destinations across the West and Southwest (including around and over the Rockies and Sierra) ranging from 250 to 500 nm. I weigh about 180 lbs, wife is about 140 lbs, kids combined are under 100 lbs. We'd like the capability of carrying luggage, but nothing crazy. Initial plans are to fly VFR, but I want an IFR capable aircraft. My wife is not a pilot. My budget is $250K, give or take 50K either way. I am very early in my search, but am considering the following aircraft. Cessna 182T Cessna 310 (CAPX vs OPX makes this very appealing to me) Cirrus SR22 Cessna 210 is appealing as well, but with the kids being small I don't know if I need that kind of capacity. And honestly, I don't know a ton about Mooney aircraft. However, about 15 years ago I did do a hard IFR flight from Manhattan Kansas to Lake of the Ozarks in a 1965 Mooney M20C with a Johnson Bar! Any thoughts, comments, etc are much appreciated.
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