There's a lot of very spirited discussion that occurs on Beechtalk regarding the merits of specific aircraft, some get negative and personal and that is unfortunate. BUT... the emotion behind these discussions (arguments) is evidence that we all love certain aircraft for valid and often personal reasons.

An airplane is very often the single largest investment an owner will ever make, in many cases the aircraft cost more than the home the owner lives in! Think about that, most of us spend around 5000 hours a year in our homes... but less than 500 a year in our airplanes!

I had a client a few years ago who bought a King Air with the intention of upgrading it to a G1000... his wife asked what it cost and without thinking he told her.

She replied "that's more than our house cost!"

He still has legacy avionics... but he does have a new home!

So... what is your favorite airplane and why?

I can sleep in my airplane but I can’t fly my house

That solves the value debate there for me

aeronca champ
one of the first models I owned and someday likely to be my last
flying using only what is required to offset gravity, nothing extraneous

I'd venture to guess the vast majority of us own airplanes that cost less than our house? I know mine did.

That's probably true, there's a lot more piston owners than turbine owners, I live in the turbine world so I tend to be guilty of viewing everything through that lens.

Topic says, “Why do you love your Airplane?”, but question in opening asks about “favorite airplane”. Will answer the topic question... only have one airplane.

1. Because it gets me to work in a fraction of the time it would take in a car or going commercial.

2. It has turned my commutes from something I dreaded to an activity to which I look forward.

3. Can more easily combine customer and factory visits into the same work week.

4. On rare occasions of personal use, again transforms dreaded trips in traffic, to enjoyable flights.

5. Was the most capable plane for our mission that was able to get insurance to learn to fly. Still great economy and performance for majority of trips.

6. As much as the other points, has prodded an aging guy to take on a new learning experience and challenge. Very significant.

Because she she loves me
TRAINING two weeks ago


My Aerostar drinks more fuel than 4 drunken Irishmen....but worth every gallon and thankfully the $ keeps growing back.

First time ever shutting down an engine on her. 8,000 feet....because 8,000 was safer than 6,000.
Performed flawlessly.

Pulled mixture on right engine first, flew a bit with it windmilling to see performance then did
Doug R's Drill (Thanks Doug!!) and shut down. Flew a bit to watch her climb and climb then Started right back up. Same procedure with left engine.
Got this pic prior to restarting.

More reasons

She is strong...VNE of 246 knots
Ifin my dumb self gets into a T-Storm I might come out the other side in one piece...no plans to ever experiment T-Storm penetration.

She is PHAST...for having tractor enginZ...I have seen 250 knots true @ FL230

She is pressurized

She cost about 1/2 as much to operate as the King Air F90 I do NOT have

Lotz more reasons that keep me smiling

Because it flies
Because it’s mine

Because I can afford it and it does everything I need...

You are doing it wrong.

That part is supposed to be turning when you fly.

Mike C.

Me three.

You are doing it wrong.

That part is supposed to be turning when you fly.

Mike C.

Doesn't work on a jet. No one can tell.

Mike C.

My favorite airplane is my Debonair. It has done everything I ever asked it to do and is still a pleasure to fly after my 4,000 hours in the airplane.

My 441 will get my family from -10c to 30c in .25 days and I'll have a blast on the way.