|
Ed,
I bought a plane to learn to fly back in '90. It was a Piper Cherokee Six. What I liked about having my own plane was that I didn't have to schedule a rental, I could get my instructor to sign off on long cross-country trips, and I was the only one flying the plane. I could leave junk in it and not have to worry about making it look perfect every flight. It seemed to me like the cost was about the same, but the convenience was great. I could just go out to the airport, jump in, and hit the skies--once I had soloed. I had my instructor give me written permission to fly long cross-countries between Colorado and Arizona whenever I wanted. Choosing a plane is up to you, and we discuss different planes here. Some like high-wing Cessnas. Others like low wing planes, like the Cherokee. That's a matter of personal preference. If you want cheap, the 150 series is good, and so is the 140 series Cherokee. You'll find a posting that shows where you can read all about used Cherokees in The Hangar. You have to consider the possibility of a more complex aircraft, if you have such needs. Why buy a trainer today if you're going to sell it in less than a year and buy a real cruiser? Better to just wait and go through the process then and get that dream Bonanza or Cirrus SR20 that you plan to keep for several years. Even if you traded your trainer in, the airplane purchasing process is risky, time and energy consuming, and there's always the broker's commission. Anyway, those three planes all have good reputations if you get one that has been well-maintained and if you get that all-important pre-purchase inspection. But, your particular circumstances have to play a part, too.
------------------
DJSchaut
__________________
DJSchaut
|