Prior to COVID I was starting to explore owning a small plane. Until things stabilize, this is definitely a back burner project, but I’m still doing research and trying to educate myself. I’m a current airline pilot who hasn’t flown a piston engine in 25 years. The mission would be mostly solo flights, but the wife would want to come on some trips as well. Most flights would be in the 300-400 NM range on pleasure trips. I’d also want to be able to land on well maintained grass runways (Gaston’s). The possibility of a couple of 900 mile trips is there, but I’d most likely just buy an airline ticket. Also, I’m not the guy who will go fly just because it is a nice day. An airplane would just provide the ability to fly somewhere for recreation in a couple hours instead of burning a day driving. My personal limits once receiving proper training for a single would be no lower than 1,000’ overcast (over flat terrain), daytime only, and never in icing conditions. A twin would allow me to go down to minimums providing I had an alternate with better weather within 30-45 min with an engine out, as well as fly at night. A twin would also allow me to safely divert if an engine quits, where a single is an automatic forced landing (this is my biggest concern about singles). My max price range would be in the $130-140k range. For singles I have considered the 35 bonanza, 180’s (nice ones are prohibitively expensive), or a 235 hp Maule (I don’t like the idea of parking a fabric airplane outside on fishing trips if it rains). Other than the 180 or Maule, I’d want 160+ knot cruise speeds also. Twins are basically older 55 barons, or a twin commanche. A baron is a nicer plane, but it would really stretch what I’m willing to spend in operating cost. If a twin Comanche has the prop clearance to operate off of maintained grass runways, it would be much more affordable, and still fit the mission well. Annual flying would be in the 40-50 hour range.

Do you guys have any suggestions for things to consider or avoid? Also, since I view flying as a way to get somewhere fast rather than a passion, am I even a fit for GA?

I'd ask what your yearly operating budget is, or think it is.

Speed generally costs money.

Retracts add to annual maint expense, and lately seems to double the insurance costs. Twins triple that.

300-400 mile trips don't need 160 kt + speeds. I generally halved the travel time in my 100 kt C172 vs driving. My Bonanza cuts the time to one third or a little less. 140 kts will get you 400 nm in 3 hours allowing for climb.

RV-7?
Glastar Sportsman?

Or will you only consider certified options?

182 or DA40.

THose would serve you well with out the complexity of a retract gear.

Rgs,
Patrick

Culver Model V

A lot of guys will promote the airplane the own as the best option in order to get confirmation that they were smart. So let me be clear up front. My airplane (1981 Cessna P210N) would be the absolutely worst choice for your mission.

I think the Cessna 180 is a perfect match. There are 4 offered for sale in Controller right now. It is a great back country airplane, has robust systems, will have probably the lowest operating costs of any back country plane. Good support too.

More interested in certified, unless we’re talking something like a Pitts. I’d have fun flying aggressive aerobatics on a nice day, but not going for the $100 burger. There is a decathlon 7 miles from my house that I can fly for free, but I never have. Basic aerobatics or just flying around doesn’t interest me, I also don’t want to feel like I’m imposing on a neighbor even though I know his offer was sincere. I gave serious consideration to a Pitts instead of a traveling plane. I also keep coming back to a Maule. It’s a flying truck and I kind of like conventional gear, I always have. I live on a farm and could easily plant grass out back. It would be 2,100’ with power lines at each end, so a bonanza would be too tight for my comfort, but a Maule would have plenty of room. The difference in speed between a Maule and Bonanza would also not become a factor until you exceed 500 miles when you consider the time it would take to drive to an airport that would support the Bonanza vs leaving my house. I also have a 40x50 shop that could be converted into a hangar, but the door would be limited to about 36-37’ (due to the location of the building, the door position is limited to the narrow end). A Maule would clear, but a Cessna wouldn’t. A Maule would do everything that I want, I really like the way the whole back opens up for loading cargo, but the fabric is a concern. I’d be frequently keeping the airplane tied down at Gaston’s while I fish. Is it OK to have a fabric plane outside if it rains, or am I right to be concerned? Operating cost on a Maule and Bonanza are about a wash. Insurance is higher on the Maule due to the tail wheel, but maintaining a retract and a higher hull value basically offsets that. If I were doing more all weather flying a twin would probably win, but I’m only really going to fly on days that I can fish, go hiking, or do some other outside activity. I want to be able to file IFR, punch through an overcast layer, and go somewhere to play

Your 160 knot bushplane for $140K is a stretch.

130 Knots and $140K will get you into a Maule, 182, 180, maybe 185, 205, or 206. Bonanza's have nice stout gear too, but you will not land as short.

Your point to point fuel cost is almost a wash.

Insurance is higher on taildraggers.

Maintenance goes up with each system you add to the plane.



Tim

Fabric in the rain isn't a concern. It's UV and cold temp cycles that cause the concern. Often the paint will fail long before the fabric does, but some paint and fabric combinations don't give you the option of simply stripping and repainting. You wind up having to redo the fabric.

So, hangaring a Maule most of the time at your farm and flying/parking it in the rain while you fish/have a relaxing weekend/whatever is not an issue.

Try one on for size. Literally. The cockpit is not roomy and the seats don't move very far. 3 or 4 hours in the saddle might be kind of rough.

Speaking of Maule- I had the bug to look at Husky's earlier this year.

a very nice one can be had for that price- solid plane, 120kts. still in production.

I do love C180 as well. and they are all metal. but they'll be significantly older compared to something like a Husky or a Maule.

A guy that I used to fly with a bunch before I changed planes at work had a 210 and loved it. He is really tall and his head would hit the ceiling in a bonanza. His wife also said that she wasn’t going to climb over a wing to get in, so the 210 was the obvious choice.

I considered a 182. It is a fantastic plane that would do everything, but if I’m going to fly a more off-road type plane, I want a tailwheel simply because I like them. I have some time in 182’s, and lots of time jumping out of them, but they don’t really do it for me. The 180 that you mentioned would be perfect, but I think that the wingspan would be too much for my shop. I’d either like a go somewhere in a hurry machine, or something that I can beat the hell out of and keep at home. I also think that I’d be more likely to use a plane if it was at home.

I have flown a 180 hp Maule before. It is what I learned to fly tailwheel in. Most flights would be going to Gaston’s by myself to fish. If the wife went, she’s tiny and we would fit in anything. Also, I can’t sit longer than 3-4 hours in an airliner before I need a bathroom break, so a 2-3 hour flight in anything won’t be that bad. Realistically, anything that I’d own would be in an unheated hangar (northern Oklahoma) with the exception of 4-5 nights a month providing that nothing other than scattered rain was forecast. Fishing is a fair weather activity in my book.

I have flown a 180 hp Maule before. It is what I learned to fly tailwheel in. Most flights would be going to Gaston’s by myself to fish. If the wife went, she’s tiny and we would fit in anything. Also, I can’t sit longer than 3-4 hours in an airliner before I need a bathroom break, so a 2-3 hour flight in anything won’t be that bad. Realistically, anything that I’d own would be in an unheated hangar (northern Oklahoma) with the exception of 4-5 nights a month providing that nothing other than scattered rain was forecast. Fishing is a fair weather activity in my book.

Jeff,

You have given this some thought which is good.

You are correct that any airplane is fun for awhile, but a traveling airplane is fun forever.

A friend just went through the same discussion, 25 years with airlines, little GA experience. It was painful for him but he ended up in a good place. He tried to buy a good Bonanza, but couldn’t find one, put a deposit on a Twin Comanche that was sold out from under him, he put a deposit on a late model Mooney but got his money back after he sat in it, and ended up buying a BE55 Baron that needs some work.

My only advice is to buy one in good condition.

Go take a ride in one; go to lunch in it, get the experience.

Using a broker is sometimes a good idea; it might save you money and will save you pain.

Hey Jeff,

Everything is a compromise. There is almost no one perfect anything.

If you didn't need 160 KTs (or there abouts), I'd suggest a Piper Archer/Cherokee 180... unless you need a real tailwheel bush plane.

However, given your missions, I'd strongly recommend you look into the Beechcraft Travel Air. I think you'd find it fits your profile pretty handily. ~ ME