From 5d45805aa526b754b55518f8f31dbb68be6c37e4 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001 From: Rachel Brindle Date: Fri, 17 Apr 2020 10:58:08 -0700 Subject: [PATCH] Thoughts on buying a plane --- .spelling | 4 ++++ src/flying/buying_a_plane.md | 44 ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 2 files changed, 48 insertions(+) create mode 100644 src/flying/buying_a_plane.md diff --git a/.spelling b/.spelling index 999d1af..59131be 100644 --- a/.spelling +++ b/.spelling @@ -337,6 +337,7 @@ idk scifi starship fanfic +seater - src/astronomy/astrophotography/index.md Cafuego's astrodslr @@ -570,3 +571,6 @@ mid-2018 neverwinter - src/programming/ios/localizing.md objc.io + - src/flying/buying_a_plane.md +prebuy +3-5k diff --git a/src/flying/buying_a_plane.md b/src/flying/buying_a_plane.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..5b2b976 --- /dev/null +++ b/src/flying/buying_a_plane.md @@ -0,0 +1,44 @@ +# Buying a plane + +There's all sorts of guides from people on how to do this. Here's my process. + +## Deciding on a kind of plane to buy + +- Figure out your "mission" (what will encompass the 90% of flights you plan to do?) + - For me, most of my planned flights are cross country flights. In particular, I have a desire to make a 410 nm trip as much as I can (as opposed to flying commercially, which will still be a portion of the trips). I'd prefer this trip to take less than 3 hours each time I do it. Putting that in numbers, I want something with at least 500 nm range (not including reserves) that can fly at least 140 kts true. + - For multiple reasons, I want something equipped for IFR. +- Nice to haves: + - Control stick. I just prefer it to a yoke. + - Glass panel. + - Low wing. They're just cooler. + - Faster is better, of course. +- Unnecessary: + - I don't need to carry passengers. There's no need for me to own something that has 4 seats. I'll be perfectly fine with a 2 seater. I could also be fine with a single seater, but that makes getting a checkout much more annoying. + - Off airport operations, while dope, are not for me. + +So, with that in mind, I essentially am skipping all the trainers, because they simply don't have all the range (nor are they fast enough to make this flight in less than 3 and a half hours). + +With all this, I'm probably going to either get something experimental, a Grumman Tiger, or a Mooney. + +## Deciding on which particular plane to buy + +My questions, on how to go from staring at listings on barnstormers to owning a plane. + +- How do I decide whether to reach out to the seller? +- How heavily should I favor more local planes to less local? + - Very. +- How do I find an A&P to do the prebuy? + - Like, how do I even find one? + - How do I make sure they're trustworthy/do a good job? +- How much will a prebuy run me? I expect around 3-5k, probably. + - From what I've read, a prebuy essentially turns in to an annual. +- How do I find a CFI to give me a checkout in the plane? +- If I don't have the cash up front, how do I get a loan for it? + - Yeah, in this economy, I'd much prefer to have as a few outstanding loans as possible. +- Anything else I should know on the buying front? +- Once I actually buy it, how do I find a place to store it? + - Is getting a hangar worth it in SMO? (Probably not, tie down is fine, though) +- How do I get insurance/who should I get insurance from? + - AOPA's recommendation. + +So much I don't know.