I need a plane

[Mcstealth]

Just got my license, and the rental on the fiield is down for a week plus right after my check ride. I know the schedule for the rental is going to backed up with all the other students. There is my first instructor's 172, but he won't friggin call me back. It is actually a pretty nice 172 with 180hp, an auto pilot, extended tanks, 430, etc. But it doesn't do me any good if he won't call me.

A little shy about looking for a partner on the field given my whopping 100hr log book.

grrrrrrrr

David

[carusoam]

You have just bumped into another reason to search for your own mooney...

Or a partnership...

-a-

[richardheitzman]

Good luck David. There is NO rental aircraft in Kerrville. I have looked. I cant even find one in SAT or Fredericksburg. Boerne Stage is another possible but I have not been there in so long that I dont know what they have. I think there is a guy in Austin that is looking for a partner on a M20J for $25K but that is too far for me to drive. Maybe you can use it. search for Mooney on www.barnstormers.com and it should pop up.

[DaV8or]

Didn't Parker used to own/instruct in a 172 in the Kerville area? I know he doesn't have the plane anymore, but he had a partner I think and the plane may still be in the area. Maybe Parker can help.

[N33GG]

The good old days when there was a variety of aircraft for rent at almost every airport are long gone.  Very sad, and a good reason to just bite the bullet and buy your own.

[NotarPilot]

As one of the newer, first time airplane owners, on here I can say nothing beats the freedom and joy of owning your own plane and I extremely happy with my Mooney.  If you can make it happen by all means, DO IT!

[N33GG]

In my life, there has never been a better market to be a buyer. If you can't afford a Mooney, you stii have plenty of more affordable options to at least get you in the air.

[M20Kid]

David -

I had the same dilema several years ago and decided to purchase an economical airplane that I could afford without a partner and that was simple to fly.  I settled on a Cherokee 140 and it's been a great airplane for many years.  Since I recently purchased a Mooney 231 I need to let my Cherokee go to someone else.  I just sent you a PM with my contact information if you have any interest.

Tailwinds!

[N33GG]

My first aircraft was a cream puff Cherokee 140.  Wish I had never sold it!

[aerobat95]

Man I can tell you this....If you can afford one now is the time and it is so much nicer than the rental market.  For one it is yours and you can go fly your baby whenever you want and go for as long as you want.  If you want to fly for one hour and stay there a week you can....and two you can equip it they way you want to....seats are torn and it bothers you....you can get them fixed.  Plane smells like 40 year old farts.....you can buy a new interior.  It does cost more but to me it is the way to go.  YOLO!!!

[N33GG]

One of the issues of rentals for me was never knowing how the last pilot(s) treated the plane.  When you own your own plane, you know exactly what the issues are.  For me, peace of mind!

[M20Kid]

Before I bought an airplane I was at the mercy of the rental places to have an aircraft that 1) I was checked out in and 2) that was not already booked.  These two caveats grounded me on nearly all the nice days I wanted to go fly.  I love having the key in my pocket and knowing there's an airplane just waiting for me at the airport.

[aviatoreb]

Quote: M20Kid

Before I bought an airplane I was at the mercy of the rental places to have an aircraft that 1) I was checked out in and 2) that was not already booked.  These two caveats grounded me on nearly all the nice days I wanted to go fly.  I love having the key in my pocket and knowing there's an airplane just waiting for me at the airport.

[DaV8or]

I just did my BFR yesterday and because I didn't get it done last month, I had to rent a plane to do it. I used a Warrior with about 8000 trainer hours on it and about as primitive as Gilligan's Island. Shoot me if I have to go back to that.

[jetdriven]

We got tired of renting a 172 for 120$ an hour that was a 99-knot, no wheel pants, no armrest, no-GPS, faded paint, crumbling royalite, wheel shimmying POS.  Half the time it was out of service.  It wasnt even fun anymore.  FWIW, the Piper Arrow at the aero club was 132 KTAS and 155$ an hour. The cost of the Mooney on an hourly basis is comparable to the 172, and is 50% faster.

[jax88]

A lack of rental aircraft in the SAT area was one of the reasons I purchased.  Between the management at the big airport trying to free up lease space for larger operations and the closing of the big flight school over a contract dispute, the choices are pretty much nil now.

[Mcstealth]

I am going to start a flying club. At least that was my first impluse thought.

[gregwatts]

Sunquest Aviation, at F45 in Florida, rents an M20J for $180 per hobbs hour. I am not a math major, but .......if you fly 50 hrs per year, that is $9K....plus 6.5% tax.....of which you get no equity whatsoever.

I am from the "you should own" political party!

The partner thing.....not for me.

Once you have a set of airplane keys to call your own..........life will never be the same!

 

My opinion only!

[Ned Gravel]

I was in a partnership for close to a year.  That went south and taught me a lot about partnerships.  I like owning my own.

[TonyPynes]

I struggled with the partner versus single owner route. Even talked to some partnerships and looked at the schedule of reservations on the plane. I also talked to some clubs. I knew I wanted greater access to a plane from the first time I took a lesson. For me the spirit or the reason for being a GA pilot centered around freedom. Freedom can in this instance be defined as being able to take off when i wanted, for as long as I wanted.

When it came time to actually buy I asked myself why did I want to own.

For me there was only one real reason to buy my own plane - convenience.

It isnt cheaper for sure. I dont get to buy the best or latest avionics.

But when you enter into a partnership you give up some convenience and for me that was a deal breaker. yes it would be cheaper to partner but the compromise was too great.

For me the freedom I was reaching for as  a private pilot was to fly when and as long as my money would allow me.

 

 

 

 

 

[aviatoreb]

Quote: jetdriven

The cost of the Mooney on an hourly basis is comparable to the 172, and is 50% faster.

[aviatoreb]

Quote: gregwatts

Sunquest Aviation, at F45 in Florida, rents an M20J for $180 per hobbs hour. I am not a math major, but .......if you fly 50 hrs per year, that is $9K....plus 6.5% tax.....of which you get no equity whatsoever.

[PilotDerek]

For me, I was planning on buying from my first lesson. I might have rented a while if there was anything closer than a hour drive. It was discouraging that there was an airport 10 min from my house but no rentals (in fact I go months without seeing another pilot on my home field). I would pass two other airports on my way to rent as they had nothing as well. Nothing beats the feeling of walking out to your own plane. There are good planes for reasonable prices out there. 

[robert7467]

I have a 66 M20C

Less than 100 hrs on engine and prop.

PM me for more details.

[PilotDerek]

Robert,

Didn't you just buy your plane? Not my buisness just curious., but why are you looking at selling it already?