Buying a plane after retirement

[Dead Eye Dick]

Much like the V tail Bonaza in the 60s-70s...the Doctor killer.

They bought airplanes that were above their skill levels.

I think you are close but not quite there.

It was the...

Forked Tail Doctor Killer
(but you are correct about the skill level. Easy to get those early Bonanza's too fast or in an ever deepening spiral. or both)

 

[jrhtx]

I looked at the same thing when I retired, even looked at a Mooney because a friend's brother had one and loved it. Decided it wasn't worth the money. First class tickets in the long run would be cheaper.

Think about this, JFK, Jr went down in a Piper Saratoga (high performance) with his wife and sister in-law. It is guesstimated he had only 30-40 hours in that airplane. About 300 hrs total.

 

[Mk16.5]

My buddy was a known AMP before he died…I think that’s the term. He was a mechanic, inspector, machinist

A & P, Airframe and Powerplant Mechanic. My brother was one.

 

[fpgt72]

I looked at the same thing when I retired, even looked at a Mooney because a friend's brother had one and loved it. Decided it wasn't worth the money. First class tickets in the long run would be cheaper.

Think about this, JFK, Jr went down in a Piper Saratoga (high performance) with his wife and sister in-law. It is guesstimated he had only 30-40 hours in that airplane. About 300 hrs total.

He was an VFR pilot that flew into IFR conditions, be it stupid or over confident in your skill set. It is real easy to get lazy when you hit a few hundred hours or so.

All of the little plane records are available, just look, and pilots time in type.

 

[fpgt72]

Same with owning a big boat, it’s retarded

It could be the same thing. I see a little airplane as a tool to travel to places harder to get to. If I still flew you can bet I would take a good look at flying to shooting events. Your own plane would make that real easy. And as I said if you have family in Halls TN it is real easy to do and no worry about things like a car as family is there. It was really nice.

As I am not a boat person I can't comment on them, but I think the travel aspect of a boat is much less than an airplane.

My advice to the op if he wants to go the little plane route, look at a Tiger or Cheetah the are about the quickest simple plane out there. I also flew a Musketeer, and while slower and more heavy the others in its class it was very roomy and had up scale features. It was just bigger feeling.

Most little planes will make a little 1960's British sports car feel big. If you are much over 6' and 200lbs it is going to be a tight squeeze, double that in the little trainers like a 150 or Thawk.

 

[Skunk]

I made money on both of my planes. The profit paid for all the fuel and maintenance…. Flight hours for free.

 

[akmike47]

It could be the same thing. I see a little airplane as a tool to travel to places harder to get to. If I still flew you can bet I would take a good look at flying to shooting events. Your own plane would make that real easy. And as I said if you have family in Halls TN it is real easy to do and no worry about things like a car as family is there. It was really nice.

As I am not a boat person I can't comment on them, but I think the travel aspect of a boat is much less than an airplane.

My advice to the op if he wants to go the little plane route, look at a Tiger or Cheetah the are about the quickest simple plane out there. I also flew a Musketeer, and while slower and more heavy the others in its class it was very roomy and had up scale features. It was just bigger feeling.

Most little planes will make a little 1960's British sports car feel big. If you are much over 6' and 200lbs it is going to be a tight squeeze, double that in the little trainers like a 150 or Thawk.

They consider them luxury items and fuck you accordingly. My last boat was considered a “yacht” do to the size so everything cost more

 

[Gemsbok]

Buddy of mine used to fly a Bonanza, but he started out in F-86's, so not much of a step up in performance from that trainer.
He refused to give it to his son, b/c the kid (45 yrs old) wasn't disciplined enough, even though he drives me nuts with his methodical and regimented approach to nearly everything.

 

[Dead Eye Dick]

He was an VFR pilot that flew into IFR conditions, be it stupid or over confident in your skill set. It is real easy to get lazy when you hit a few hundred hours or so.

All of the little plane records are available, just look, and pilots time in type.

Flying over the ocean at night, pretty easy to loose the horizon. Flying in instrument weather as a VFR pilot. It feels right when it’s damn near not. Your eyes and your ears and your butt will lie to you worse than a democratic politician from San Francisco.