nholmes9 Posted February 23, 2019 Report Posted February 23, 2019 Hello - I'm a low time commercial pilot (~300 hours TT) and am starting down the road of aircraft ownership. I'm currently renting from where I did my IFR and commercial tickets, but it's becoming increasingly difficult to schedule a rental for day trips, overnights, weekends and accommodating changes in weather, schedules, etc. They are a training shop first, so they need the airplanes there for the business, I 100% understand it. At the same time, however, I would like to be able to put those ratings to use and take some longer trips. I attended an aircraft ownership seminar put on by the US Aircraft Expo yesterday in Clearwater, FL (KPIE). I happened to stop and talk for a while with a Mooney Sales Rep -- Lee Drumheller from Premier Aircraft Sales based in Alabama, real nice guy. I mentioned to him that I was starting to look at a variety of used aircraft that could get us (myself, wife and daughter) from Fort Myers to Atlanta in a reasonable amount of time: about 3 hours. Of course, he suggested a Mooney! haha. Specifically, a J Model could get the job done with ease. I have no Mooney experience, other than knowing they are fast and have seen a few on the ramp and in hangars -- but that's it. Lee suggested that I post a message here to see if anyone here is willing to educate me a little bit on the pros and cons of a Mooney, a walk around, or possibly a ride in one. I'm in Fort Myers, FL flying out of KFMY -- but anywhere near here Punta Gorda, Naples, or up in St Pete, Clearwater or Tampa is also fine, I don't mind coming to you. In the meantime, I'll start looking through some of the information here and start learning what I can. Thanks in advance!
M20F Posted February 23, 2019 Report Posted February 23, 2019 It really just boils down to how much money you can comfortably dispose of in a year. If you want a J then expect $30k worse case. If you buy a C-150 figure $10k worse case. Like a boat buying the asset is just the start of the adventure.
Hank Posted February 23, 2019 Report Posted February 23, 2019 Look further down on the Home page, there's a Florida owners forum. Seems there's a breakfast group meeting around the state, too.
carusoam Posted February 24, 2019 Report Posted February 24, 2019 Welcome aboard, nh. Lee D. Is an excellent resource. You are already committed to aviation... ownership is the lower cost alternative... Mooneys are best known for... Speed Efficiency Safety It’s been these three legs since 1958... Put your budget together... Annual expenses... annual maintenance, hangar costs, insurance... hourly expenses... fuel oil other maintenance related things... Add some training, databases, reserves... Add some portable devices a GPS, handheld radio, and CO monitor... Compare to.. renting.. club planes... shared ownership... For homework... Visit all American aircraft... they have Mooneys for sale.. web site details... and planes you can physically sit in... in TX... For Maintenance questions we have A few mechanics around here, and some companies that provide great support...a lot depends upon your location... and what you want... For insurance we have an MSer that has been incredibly helpful for years... Find Parker... Some MSers bought their first plane this year... one guy is in his 23rd year with the same Mooney... others have been Mooniacs for decades... Good luck with getting your search started... PP thoughts only, I spoke with Lee D. A few months ago... and sat in a brand new Ovation.... Best regards, -a-
nholmes9 Posted February 25, 2019 Author Report Posted February 25, 2019 Thanks for all the replies. I am currently in homework mode getting all those numbers together. Yea, he (Lee D) had an Ovation at the show on Friday, it was nice. I'll check out the FL group and start stopping at the FBO on Friday's for lunch and look for some Mooney's on the ramp.
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