Hey guys! I wanted to let you know I just launched an "Insiders" Newsletter where once a week I'm sharing an important lesson I've learned in aviation, links to my latest content so you don't miss out, and links to any other interesting or helpful content I've found. I'm also working on a HUGE project I can't announce yet but I'm going to be sharing more behind the scenes info with Insiders first - Subscribe (it's free) at: airplaneacademy.com/insiders
I'm 76 years of age now and had to give away flying after having had both a heart attack and a stroke, but I recall them as being the best years of my life, having started flying at the age of 16. Everything you said is true, I owned two aircraft which I purchased in my forties, first a Piper Cherokee 180 and then a Cessna 182M I really miss it now but it was just fantastic, the feeling you get from flying your own aircraft is a feeling of total freedom. I think you need to do it to understand. Over all those years I was lucky enough to have been endorsed on three different twins along with gas turbine and pressurised aircraft which I flew all over outback Australia. Keep up the good work, I can sense I'm listening to a real pilot at heart.
When I learned to fly, at a US Air Force flying club in the 1970s, we rented 150s for $7/hr wet, 172s for $10/hr wet, 182s for $13/hr wet, and a retractable Cardinal for $18/hr wet, or $15 dry for x-country flights. The 182 and Cardinal were IFR equipped and maintained. If we wanted to rent dry, 100LL was 52 cents/gallon. Those were the “Good Old Days”. And all the planes were kept in hangars, with 200’x13,000’ and 9000’ concrete runways.
I agree! Best video I've seen on this. I've subscribed because of it. Ultimately, I probably pay more in the long run for my aircraft over renting. But the ability to go when I please/ where I please/ and land wherever I please without rental restrictions makes it all well worth it! And, because I know my aircraft so well, I'm probably a much better pilot overall when flying it.
@@wabuchanan I really like your comment. It's one of the reasons, among many others, that I am seriously contemplating getting my own airplane. First things first, I hand to get my license. The round out and flare is kicking my hindparts! Fly well good people.
Excellent video, Now at 74, I've stopped flying for financial reasons only. I'll miss it more than life. Never owned an aircraft, always rented, no incidents or accidents in 36 years of flying. Absolutely loved it. Have subscribed to your site, wish you many years of safe and enjoyable flying.
Hi Richard, thanks for sharing. Is there a local EAA chapter you might be able to join to stay in the aviation community and still get to fly with folks? I can tell you're passionate about it so just wanted to throw it out there.
I heard this some time ago, ......buying an airplane is like getting married, you think you know what you have, but after a couple years you really know what you have.
I started flying when I was a teenager. Went thru a lot of money. Would not trade it for the world. My brother in law asked me why I have 2 airplanes. Told him I could not afford 3. Flying to Alaska in my 170 is on my bucket list. The wife said we are not doing that. I hope she will meet me there. Hope I get 1 more medical passed, recent cancer and a new hip scheduled for the end of this month. The wife has panicked over many flying situations, some as difficult as parallel parking a car. She has not been with me when I thought I would be dead in 2 heart beats. Based at 1c5. N4526V & N504FA. Oh!!! One of my flight instructors had his ticket signed by a Wright Brother. Delbert Koerner.
Haha! I love that and might have to use that one day.... owning 2 because you can't afford 3. Agree flying anything (particularly a taildragger) to Alaska would be a dream come true. It's on my list as well. I have flown myself IN Alaska but not TO Alaska.
It’s isn’t the FAA that adds cost to parts. That is like 10% maybe. It’s lawsuit liability coverage for parts makers. Every company is guaranteed to be sued at every crash. Companies that survive do so because their pricing model takes Into account payouts to legal claims. Aviation tanked since the 80’s when lawsuits skyrocketed. It’s also the reason insurance went up. And nobody discusses this.
Another problem that arose, and severely affects the price of parts is, bogus parts. Now, every part has to have "traceability", back to the manufacturer, and that is very expensive.
Lawsuits is a very very low factor that ads cost to aircraft parts. The main factor is FAA-PMA. PMA is an acronym for "Parts Manufacturer Approval". An FAA-PMA is issued under section 21.303. Each PMA part should be marked with the letters, "FAA-PMA," in accordance with 14 CFR Part 45, section 45.15: (1) The name. ... The issuance of the PMA letter authorizes (and requires) the PMA holder to mark the parts in accordance with the approved design.Feb 1, 2004 Parts Manufacturer Approval (PMA) - Regulations ... - FAA www.faa.gov › design_approvals › pma › pma_regs Aug 17, 2020 - Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR ). Part 21, Certification Procedures for Products, Articles, and Parts; Part 21, Subpart K, Parts ... People also ask parts manufacturer approval procedures - FAA www.faa.gov › documentlibrary › media › order PDF Jun 23, 2008 - 5. Who Needs A PMA? a. General Requirements. Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations. (14 CFR) § 21.303(a) requires any person. this is just a brief finding on what the real cost is all about and not just lawsuits. The information I have listed is the basic information I thought you might need to research further to fully understand how the cost of parts is generated in the aviation world with all of the mandatory testing. I have been in aviation for well over 50 years and have acquired a Airline Transport Pilot license, flight instructor rating for airplanes single and multi engine and instrument instructor. Also I have an Airframe and Powerplant mechanics license. I sincerely hope this helps you to understand that it is not lawsuits alone that add to the parts cost.
@@billb.5887 As to parts traceability. I worked in the offshore oil and gas equipment business. All parts had to have traceability not only to the manufacturing of the part but to the forging, treatment and testing of the raw material. I would be surprised if that is not part of the requirement for aviation as well. That doesn't come cheaply.
Definitely a quotable quote! I barely have two cents to rub together but my little Cessna seems happy enough as every penny I do have/get goes towards her upkeep :)))
Got my license in '76 and have owned 5 planes. Started with a Super Decathlon, 182, 177RG, T 210, Archer. I have loved them all. After you own a plane, the thought of flying a rental is sort of scary. I always wonder what did the last few pilots do to screw up this plane? Did they over stress it, shock cool the engine, over rev it, fly with the cowl plugs in, fly it low on oil, etc.?
Within a year of my divorce, I bought myself a plane, decided to do something for myself. I've now owned the plane longer than I was married. The plane has been way less expensive than the wife was.
@@TRPGpilot What does the airplane being less expensive than the ex-wife have to do with 'human relationships'? Perhaps you're reading too much into the comment.
It doesn't nag It doesn't mind if you look at other airplanes It goes where you want to go It doesn't cook but that is why airport restaurants have burgers When you leave it for another airplane there are no lawyers and alimony etc., etc., etc.
16 months into plane ownership and I'd say pretty much bang on on all accounts. 2 others big things I love about ownership... My seat is in the same place every time and I never have to unplug my headset.
How good is it when you jump into the aircraft and your jumper is on the back seat and you sunglasses are on the dash, and it still has the same amount of fuel in it as when you left it yesterday... love my airplane and the best thing is I built it... and I built my own hangar as well... it is the best thing you can do with your clothes on... never have regretted it 15 years on... 1300hrs on the clock still a good aircraft... that and whiskey nothing better in life... good flying to all... Barry form Australia...
The thought of being able to fly myself around, never going through security again, having my plane be exactly as I left it...I smile at the very thought.
Especially if you fly an aerobatic aircraft. I've owned a Scottish Aviation Bulldog and a Slingsby T57 Firefly, both were great fun to fly but expensive to keep. Money well spent in my opinion.
Charlie, The joy you are experiencing is shared by so many of us. I still look forward flying and learning many different types of aircraft. Next year will be my 50th in aviation since solo. It's a wonderful ride! Thanks for posting these videos.
I'm in a club with a few other guys renting a Champ at 50 bucks an hour tach time wet, plus 55 bucks a month. I may not be able to get anywhere fast, but I gets some cheap, beautiful sunsets with the window open, elbow hanging out. Good stuff....
There's a lot of great ways to fly affordably and Champ's are great planes. My boss in highschool had a Citabria B with the fuel injected 320 and inverted oil system that I traded work for stick time in. Sometimes I wonder how I didn't die in that thing with all the stupid things I tried to do in it. But she flew like an angel and exempt for a few minor issues that I caused it never missed a beat.
Like you said one of the biggest difference between renting and owning is when you rent you notice the money goes away when you fly, so it makes you want to fly less. When you own a plane the money goes away all the time most of which is when you're not flying, so it makes you want to fly more. I just started myself down the road of GA so keep up the good work.
#1 Totally Worth It (thought he'd be more on the fence) #2 Timing of Payments (rentals vs ownership) #3 Flying Alone (surprised he flew alone 95% of time vs w passengers) #4 Previous Owner's Sins (stuff they didn't maintain correctly that aren't obvious during PPI) #5 Cost of Parts (higher than you'd expect) #6 Hanger Space (cost & availability)
Might be the first channel ive seen that not only tells you the pros and cons but also assures pilots like myself that those sunsets and breaking through the cloud layer is 100% worth every dime. Great video man, keep it up!
Very interesting. I learned to fly first in tail draggers (Piper J3 Cubs) moving to Cessna 150s and sometimes 182s. I’ve often figured I’d buy one eventually, but life had other plans for me. C’est la vie. The fact is, fate fought me tooth and nail to prevent me full filling my desire to be an airline pilot. I started flying in 1968, when I turned 18. Whenever I had a spare fifty bucks, I took lessons and soloed. I desired to be a jet pilot, so I tried the Air Force. I needed a degree before they’d take me. So college bound taking widely spread lessons. After my degree the Vietnam War was winding down, so none of the Armed Services were taking pilot candidates. So, Law School. In my second year, I read that the Air Force wanted pilots, so I went to a recruiter who told me at 27, I was too old. 26.5 was the limit. So, shit, I graduated from Law School became a Prosecutor and then a Judge and I had no time for flying. Recently, I read that with as little as a simple Commercial License, airlines would hire and train, but, I was an old fart. So, fate gave me lots good things, but probably saved hundreds of passengers from death from my rotten landings😎
@@howardsimpson489 That’s awfully nice to read; thank you. But to end up in my Court you first must invent a time machine and go back to any year between 1986 and 2003, in order to be in any Court over which I presided. 😎
Common misconception is that the FAA is totally to blame for the expense of aviation. The truth coming from an aircraft manufacturer is that economies of scale don’t allow airplanes and parts to be cheaper. If they only sold 100 Honda Accords each year they would cost over $200,000 each. I work on the F-35 program and trust me when I tell you, they would still cost over $300M each of we were still making only 37 per year. At our 100+ a year rate the cost is roughly 1/3 per unit.
Alrightx2 Music research for common parts are not ongoing items. A 1960 Cessna 172 has less than 20% difference in changes from a 2020 one. But in 1960 they were selling a shitload of Cessna 172’s. If they sold 100,000 Cessna 172’s in one year the price would be less than $80,000 new.
dieselyeti yes but it’s a smaller part. Airlines hardly ever have accidents by comparison but the parts are still sky high. The liability is a slight issue compared to the lack volume sales.
If ever I can manage to return to flying, because of my interest and because of expense, it will necessarily have to be two seat homebuilt. FAR less restrictive economically, and more sweat equity invested and far less cash than a factory bird. More pride in ownership even, arguably. Did really enjoy the Cessnas back in the day though.
the fact that you fly mostly alone i think is one of the key things, could be be flying a 150 if you wanted to save some money but obviously it limits your capabilities. for someone on a "shoestring".. 150/152, pa28 or 172 is the way to start off I think.
Friends I ride Harleys with have a favorite expression - "HD stands for Hundred Dollars !" It's true, everything seems to start at $100 and goes up, including what you carry out in your hand. But I tell them - "Yeah, well buy an airplane and that HD will look real nice !" Great video !
I’m not a pilot but have always been fascinated by flight and all things aviation. Your videos are awesome and I’m subscribed. I’m flying vicariously thru your videos and loving it!
Nice video! @0:30 Hanger space might be nice, but another option is tie-down space. Rates are much lower for out-door storage of the craft. There are some down-sides. For example, if a sand storm covers your glass, then rain turns that into mud, you've got some cleaning to do with your pre-flight check. You can get covers for your outside storage . . . There are many other considerations, and you'll just have to decide which is best for you. We once had a new-to-us Aeronca Champ. It was tied down out on the tarmac. In order to do maintenance on the tarmac, the airport moved our Champ to temporary tie-down space with the intention of moving it back after the work was done. Unfortunately, the cables in the temp space were neglected and corroded. We didn't inspect those because it was not our space. As things like this go, a storm came in with very strong winds. The rusted cables broke and our new plane was blown across the taxi way, across the runway, and half way up a prominent hill. It was a total loss. The facilities were at fault and the airport's insurance cut a check. @2:08 Yes, the gov't is to thank for that, but for more reasons than you said. Each part manufactured has a certificate (you might not see it when you buy the part, but it is tagged through the whole manufacturing process) showing each step of the process, including where the ore came from, who processed the ore into a billet, and each step that was taken on it until it became an airplane part. Keeping and tracking that data for each individual part is expensive. It pays off if/when there is a part failure that can be traced back to materials, for example, and they can look up all of the parts that were made with those same materials, or if there is a problem caused by a specific step in manufacturing and they can identify all of the parts that underwent that same process and recall them before many planes crash. You do not want to find that your craft has a bad part while you're in the air.
2:08 its not ONLY the FAA approval process that makes airplane parts expensive - in fact, its not even MOSTLY due to that. The FAA certification cost is a sunk cost that the airplane manufacturer had to recoup in the first few thousand airplanes built. They cant bank on recouping that money in replacements 20 years later (except for routine maintenance parts that are expected to be replaced periodically). No the biggest part of the cost is low production volumes. They just dont sell that many of them so production runs are only a few hundred copies of a part. The tooling cost and setup fees at the factories, and cost of sub-components purchased from their manufacturers in small volumes - that is the main thing that makes airplane parts expensive.
Very well spoken. I've seen many videos similar to this one. But your sincere, straight-forward demeanor is what sets you apart. My dad sold his C172 long ago. Ever since, I've considered buying my own C172. Thanks for your thoughts !
Thanks Charlie. Great job. Keep it up! I am in my 70s and returned to flying after 30 yrears by purchasing an Ercoupe 415-C so that I can fly under the light sport rules. I love it. It keeps me sharp and allows me to participate as part of the local aviation community. Associating with other pilots is a great experience.
I’m 65 and an Ercoupe is my #1 fantasy airplane. I say fantasy because my wife won’t fly and we don’t need another activity that only one of us enjoys (she has horses). But I REALLY enjoy being up there looking down. I love being in control and also honing my smoothness and precision. I don’t need a cross-country plane, but a ‘coupe could get me there on that rare occasion. For just punching holes in the sky at a reasonable cost, Ercoupe seems to be a great fit.
I was thinking the 6 things you mention pertain to boat owning above a certain size (before 8k people scream at me). I'm no longer able to fly for health reasons and am relegated to flight simming but I truly appreciate you sharing your gratitude and being humble about your place in history, so refreshing. Just for that I subscribed. Thanks!
The REAL show of what the difference in Pricing is in Aircraft parts is, is when you look at the EXACT SAME Part for Experimental, and Certified...and the Certified one is anywhere from 3-5 times more expensive..even though it's made on the same machinery with ZERO physical difference..other than that little STC stamp
Or, "Your 4th Cousin (The only living relative the Attorney could find) Flew into the side of a Mountain..CESSNA AND LyCOMING MUST PAY!!!!!"..that one killed ANY new GA Aircraft for a decade, and tripled prices
Excellent dose of aircraft ownership reality, and I realized this very early on in my flight training. Consequently, as much as I love the feeling of flight, I decided against continuing my PPL lessons.
I live in England and the closest I ever get to flying is on MS Flight Sim but I really enjoy your videos and subscribed from day one. Your enthusiasm is so evident. I totally agree with your philiosophy on the spending it is the same for any hobby (mine are motorcycles and kayaking) so long as it's not causing you financial problems just enjoy it!
I worked for a helicopter company. One reason parts are so expensive is the liability attached to them. A bolt you can buy at a hardware for 50 cents is $10 if it is aircraft certified. If the bolt fails and an aircraft goes down, the liability attached to it is mega millions. Aircraft defy gravity, and occasionally gravity wins.
I think most people who are fine with flying in an airliner are nervous about small aircraft, even though they’re embarrassed to admit it. Therefore, as a new pilot, you might feel let down many friends and relatives take a pass on flying with you (or anyone else). I agree with all your surprises...excellent observations.
I’m a Private Pilot as well owning an older C172E. I lived in North Texas (Flower Mound) and hangared my plane at Denton (KDTO). We recently moved to a private Airpark in eastern Washington right next to Stateline, Idaho. In your video, I noticed that you landed at Cedar Mills (3T0) and you talked about flying up into the mountains in Idaho, so I really related to that as well as loving aviation. I’m getting ready to retire at 40 years in aviation i.e. 24 with Boeing & 16 with the company I currently work for, BAE Systems. When I was 19, I went in the Air Force and my first plane ride was from Houston Hobby (KHOU) to San Antonio (KSAT) and I’ve been in love with aviation ever since. Really enjoyed your video! Keep them coming! I can share some of my videos I taken here in the Inland Northwest. Take Care & Fly Safe!
Hi Kenny - thanks for sharing! You live in a gorgeous place to fly... jealous! Cedar Mills is one of the more adventurous strips down here as you know, and it's still nothing compared to where you live, ha! Fly safe.
I do really appreciate your candid and realistic views expressed in your videos, as someone soon to embark on flying lessons, this is really useful information. Keep em coming and hope you make it to the UK sometime , maybe in Senior's M2?!?! cheers
Thank you for putting out so much positive energy. Magic words for me are gratitude, joy and self esteem, and this video is definitely a you can-do it offering, in these times of so much negativity. Happy Landings, Always
Great video. I worked as a commercial pilot for a time, lots of PIC time logged and flown lots of different types but I've never owned my own plane, there have always just been too many other things to spend money on (I am in to classic cars, that doesn't help!). I had a friend who for years owned a Grumman Tiger that he never flew but would let me fly whenever I wanted, that was sweet, until it dawned on him that he was paying for me to have an airplane and sold it...selfish bastard! I envy you the ability to just drive to the airport and take off in your own airplane, I really do.
darkswami actually flying is a lot about seeing nature in a totally unique way. Way different experience up front than the pax are getting in the back with their heads in their devices.
Mark Berry Well said and, also, don’t forget to honor the Creator who gives us good eyes, coordination, intelligence, hearing, balance and the health and ability to earn $$$$ sufficient to fly around this amazing creation!
I always wanted to do what you are doing! At this point in my life I am pleased to live vicariously through your experience. You are flying for the same reasons I would be flying. Glad I found your channel. Glad I will be notified of further videos! Thanks for your effort making them for us.
At my local airfield, many of the hangars are occupied by RVs and boats. Speaking with the manager of the airport, she said they'd love to have those spaces back for aircraft, but the renters have long-term contracts, possibly perpetual, and simply will not relinquish the spaces. Hangar space is at a premium and, at least at this airfield, this is one reason why.
Say “Hello” to your newest Subscriber, who, back before you were probably birthed, took her checkride from ADS. Back then I lived in the apartment complex on Sojourn, and was able to walk across the field to Addison Airport. It’s all built up now including doubling the runway length. Great video and glad I found your Channel!
With respect to high cost of parts, I suspect the costs of configuration control and QA are significant contributors. But those are safety-related functions.
Just subbed, great video. You hit the nail on the nail when you said " Mission " it all boils down to forecasting your possible mission(s). You just don't really know when you are starting out what that will be. You have a lot of flexibility with the 182 in terms of mission possibilities and that in the end is what you paid for. The 1 percent of the time you are fully loaded with the family or friends and you have that experience flying is when as you mentioned you don't regret anything. You can buy a $100-$150,000 new exotic vehicle and it's worthless in 5 years, or you buy a plane and sell it in 10 years for almost the same as you have invested minus operational costs, which all go towards the experience factor; which is priceless and in the long term and more cost effective than a vehicle ie: " bang for the buck". It all boils down to mission, or purpose to ascertain the real value in anything one does, more importantly in flying. Got my light sport ticket and thought I needed a 6 seat piper Malibu, guess what ? I am still flying light sports, why? my forecasted mission never warranted me ultimately getting so much aircraft. Something I did not know until I actually flew more than the required hours. So for me short hops for 100 dollar hamburgers has been good enough with the rare exception when I take a friend out for a cross country flight ( hopefully not on a 100 degree day !! lol ) across the state for the weekend. Most new pilots not building hours for their commercial rating or even IFR for eventual hire by the airlines will only need their version of the James Bond Aston Martin, and not the Chevy Chase family truckster, so bearing that in mind, one can build hours living the dream for less than renting or buying a plane without all the bells and whistles depending on rating ie: IFR, CFI1 etc. and still be able to justify living the dream. Keep up the good work !
Hi Rodney - glad you enjoyed the video! I really liked your comment and think there's a lot of wisdom in it. Buying the plane for your average mission and not your 1-2% of the time mission can save you money and headache for sure.
Great video..my advise is the same as the video's (well maybe a tad more pessimistic but I'm older and do it for a living). If you're thinking of buying a GA aircraft then 1) don't 2) if you ignore # 1 and can still cover your living expenses then don't over analyze the expenses and just enjoy your plane and 3) always, always, always be ready to use your credit card to purchase a commercial ticket if you have to return home and the weather or other issues (like the ole lady and kids barking at you) are maxing out your ability to flight plan (you can always return to get your plane another day)
I've found the courts are unintentionally responsible for the cost of aviation. I was doing a Cessna factory tour in 2006 and we were discussing the unit cost of 172s. Cessna said $100,000 of the cost was for Cessna's liability insurance because they can be sued for 40 years after the aircraft was made. At the time, that was almost 1/3rd the cost of the plane. Bankruptcies also play a part. Since most air services are considered essential, they will get as much relief in court as they need to remain in operation. So, if you sell 10 tires on credit (because in aviation we are usually paid after a service is rendered) and on average get paid for 1 after the purchaser goes bankrupt, you start charging 10x as much to make sure you make your profit on the first unit sold and can continue to do business after your client goes bankrupt and has their debts forgiven. if you need to compete to sell, then you distribute that loss among all your products, even the ones sold in private sale and so the prices end up astronomical for simple items. I like your video.
Completely agree with what you said. I probably could have elaborated on that point in the video but was trying to keep it short. All of those reasons definitely contribute to making a $50 part cost $450. Replacing the strut fairings on my airplane was an absurd amount - four of them cost like $1,800 if I remember correctly (it was 4 years ago now).
.....no...that is what you chose to do. A smartt businessman would merely ensure that they got paid up front for the tires. You make sure that your customers have the credit. Any idiot would realize that charging 10x the price of each tire would dissuade customers from buying the tires in the first place. If your industry standard is to get paid after services are rendered then you only render the service that you get paid for When I go buy tires for my car I don't get the tires mounted on any credit but my own. My only concern then is with the value of the tire.
Wow, the law sure changed on how long a manufacturer is liable. Cessna only began making piston aircraft again when the law was changed to 18 years liability instead of infinity. So when did the law change from 18 years in the 1990's to 40 years currently?
@@AirplaneAcademy I have an ASW20L glider, with water ballast bags that I was told (when I bought it) leaked. Several years ago I asked for the price of a replacement. £1000 (currently about $1300)! For a plastic bag?? Enjoyed the video, thanks.
I purchased my C-150 from a retire FAA inspector. The mechanic that did the pre-buy inspection was very pleased with the condition given it was a 30+ year old airplane. Owning the plane was one of the greatest experiences of my life. Enjoy!
One year I had an unexpected engine failure that cost me $50K. If you think the worst case scenario is an early overhaul consider when you have no useful core. Engine had 1050 since factory new.
PMA stands for Pay My Ass. Edit: after listening to your entire video I subbed. Seems to me you have the best attitude towards what comes with owning an airplane. Yes, Cessna parts.. as well as everyone else for the most part, have outrageous prices.. Congrats on the 182, in my opinion it's the way to go. Relative to driving who cares if you don't cruise at 185, beats the heck out of driving. Oh, be careful with corrosion. Make sure your mechanics check the boot cowling areas and under the floor. Check your tire pressure often, pre flight every time (one of our customers prop struck a cone, don't know how he didn't see it) Watch your temps and good luck!
i bought an unfinished rotorway 3 years ago,its actually 30yrs old,needed tons of work,eventualy got it running sweet and balanced,but my truck driving co workers all ask the same question"why"as if im crazy,my wife was furious cos it could have been a home improvement,etc,negatives all around.flying an aircraft is great,but to get to also own one,is on another level,so therefore i salute you sir,as im not as crazy as people make out.must sign off now,the nurse has just fetched my medication.aviation is the drug,so keep ringing the bell,well done.will subscibe when i get out of here.(just joking the foods not that bad)great channel.ed.
Good vid. Long time ago I know I was going to buy an airplane. Put my name on the waiting list for a hanger thinking it was going to be a while before I was contacted. To my surprise 1 week later I was called. Had to turn it down because I didn't have a plane yet and was months away from getting one. When I finally did get a plane it took months before a hanger became available. I used to be a fanatical gun guy and competitor. Keeping the plane safe and flying put a stop to that...lol Looking at $30k to replace a failed and failing panel. Frustrating and expensive at times but I love it.
There are a few reasons parts are so expensive. The big one is liability. When you pay $300 for a part that'd be $30 on a car, most of that money is going into liability insurance and legal funds to deal with the inevitable lawsuits that all of these companies deal with from time to time. You could also argue that the extreme levels of R&D and quality control are also really the result of this, since a part that's more reliable is less likely to end up causing a lawsuit in the first place. Even the high level of regulation might tie into this, since passing stringent government standards gives the company good ground to stand on in a lawsuit as well. Aside from that, you're also paying more because of small production volumes, and then there's just plain old greed, charging inflated prices because they know they can get away with it.
Max Archer this is incorrect. The biggest part of the problem is the economies of scale. Take it from someone who works on the biggest weapons program in history. If Honda only made a few hundred Accords each year they would cost almost as much as a new Cessna 172.
The only difference between the older Cessna voltage regulators, and the ford car ones, is the paperwork (&price)..... they still had the ford logo on them.
John Veld this is mostly true. But that voltage regulator difference means they are different than vehicle alternators and that means they aren’t sold in high volumes which also bumps the price up.
At about 3:09 the right cowling bolt is dancing up and down like crazy. I was laughing because you were talking about maintenance that the previous owner slacked on. Stay safe out there. I miss flying in Texas.
Thanks to you, I'm going to check out a 152 for sale this Saturday. If all goes well, I'll buy it and get my license in it. You were right about looking for hangar space. I've already secured a spot in a community hangar at a small airport. Your channel has become one of my favorites, so thanks agian for sharing your experience.
@@stephenjordan8712 Hey Stephen. I didn't buy the plane. My bank would only give me a 4-year loan which made the monthly payment too big. Cessna 150's and 152's have really jumped in price. I probably could have made 10 grand by buying it and reselling it. Looking into building an Afford-a-plane, lol.
G'day, Here in Oz, the local version is, "If it has Wheels, Wings, or Tits...; then it WILL Cause you TROUBLE...!" But, as to renting a Fcukbuddy... Where I come from, about the most insulting thing a person can have happen to them is to discover that their partner has Bin-Fakin' Sexual Enjoyment and Orgasm at them. So, how execrably low would your Self-Esteem need to be, before you choose to pay a Stranger to pretend to like you sufficiently well as to smile at you, listen to your opinions, get naked with you, take you to bed, and then pretend to like you enough to have sex with you - and finally fake Orgasm at you ? If you can't actually afford one of your own, for real ; then renting, and pretending that to be "Real" whilesoever the Contract lasts, will always prove to be an expensive & disappointing waste of money... Just(ifiably ?) sayin', Have a good one. Stay safe. ;-p Ciao !
Haha it was something I was surprised by. I did get the hangar BEFORE I started by airplane search because I was surprised by how difficult it was to find.
Retired RN here who loves Aviation. Not a pilot and have no plans to be, but I love watching the folks who live the dream. Just noticed you had the best of the best sub you - Juan Browne. What a compliment! A couple others you may know of are Victor over at VASAviation and Allec Joshua Ibay. Promise I won’t be so chatty in the future and leave the “airways and airwaves” open for you real pilots. Happy New Year!
You're living the dream for sure! And I subscribed so I can live it vicariously thru your videos and those of others I've followed for a number of years! I've always wanted to be a pilot and fly back since the days of Sky King! You'll need to look that up because it was twice as long ago as you've been alive. Took flying lessons when I was in my 20's but never followed thru for one reason or another, not cheap for one thing. I flew paragliders for a few years, but even that didn't satisfy the flying bug from the point of being able to manipulate flaps, throttles and ailerons etc. Fly safe, stay safe and have a blast learning to fly your Dad's new Citation!!! I'm glad you get to live your dream!
RE: Costs of the little fiddly bits it is true that the government puts a lot on a company for its part to be certified but c'mon...the Cessna 182 has been flying, in some form, since 1956. Sooner or later those development costs should have been paid for and you'd think they could produce a faring (or whatever) for a reasonable price.
If that were all it was, another company would manufacture the parts and get rich. It not only is the cost of making the part, it has to be tracked from manufacture and then forever. I have a friend who is a AI for a major aviation company. He'll need a rivet, get a bag of them from the parts department. The bag will have all the tracking information on it. Some of those rivets can cost $10. He uses what he needs and the rest have to be thrown out since the bag has been opened. The making and tracking of parts for the FAA to be sure the parts keeping your airplane airworthy aren't chinesium knockoffs is very expensive.
@@williampotter2098 @Jeff Bergstrom. Well cars have a lot of paperwork too. Another difference is sales volume. There are THOUSANDS of cars and associated parts sold every year. Planes - in the 10's to very small 100's. Amortize across across those different volumes - you get quite different costs.
Exactly. 35-year T1 diabetic here. Insulin is now pushing $400 per vial (9-day supply). Was $25 per vial when I was first diagnosed. Talk about feeling raped by the drug companies. No comparison to people who have actually been raped - not going there at all. But seriously though. I know new forms of insulin have been released but that research & development cost has long ago been paid.
@@billyoung8118 and it's not like you have a choice either, a very good friend of mine was a T1 and it eventually got him because he couldn't afford the cost of the insulin. I feel for you brother, stay on top of it. No matter what. The alternative is much, much worse. Drug companies really should be ashamed of themselves for taking advantage.
Pro tip from an aircraft engineer .Never, unless you have to use Cessna parts. PMA parts are just as good, just as legal....and cheaper. Second tip .Unless you are using your aircraft for hire use a part 43 maintenance outfit. Why pay 145 prices when you don't have to?
@BLKCFII Parts manufacturer approval That is parts made by other firms to the same specs ,but with a lower mark up. Just as good. if you get maintenance done ask for them.....otherwise you get the higher price stuff.
@BLKCFII it's a good aircraft...another pro tip Before purchase get a good neutral engineer to go over it and look out for major AD's and SB's that hasn't been done or are coming up.
@BLKCFII older aircraft not so much but you would be Suprised how many have been missed and/or are not done to the latest version. Get a good engineer to give it and it's paperwork a good going over
@@cestriankiwi Funny you said that to a future Cardinal owner, an AD just recently came out on them for center spar inspection on the lower plate. Follow-up to the corrosion SB that requires dressing, and NDT if any corrosion was removed.
Thank you for this I'm starting to learn how to fly, currently on circuits working towards my first solo but this is a definite end goal for me later down the line on owning my own aircraft. Awesome video man and thank you for all the details!
I needed a 30 amp toggle switch for my old piper tomahawk. The one from piper with the FAA sticker was $220. I found the exact same toggle switch at a home depot that was the same serial number, manufacturer, and even color. $2.43.
This is great advice.. saved me a lot. I tried to buy something within my budget that did it all and allowed comfort. That’s why I went a fully loaded piper m500. Comfortable at levels and great cross country machine! I got for a great price also….. In Xplane simulator.
Well done! Thoughtful and a credit to the industry. I've taken many years off from flying (stopped to have kids), and have been wrestling with getting back into it. This is a great encouragement to move forward.
@@AirplaneAcademy you, sir, have earned my respect with this simple and respectful response to an honest piece of feedback. Aviation people are good people 🤗
"Here in Texas [...] hangar space is really, really hard to come by." And there is your business idea right there. Let me know when the idea makes you the first million $ Good Luck!
I believe the reason for the shortage is you can’t make any money on hangers. Land cost and construction cost are just too high, ive looked at it several time and several different directions
@Brent King I agree no one is going to invest in building hangars in order to lose money. In a down turn, I've seen hangars sit vacant for months, even years. That's why I think the exclusive use practice of allowing only aircraft in hangars is all wrong. Put up a row of hangars and let anyone rent the space, airplane or not. If an aircraft is not regularly parked in the hangar, the rent goes up to the same sq/ft cost as local storage barn rental. Park an airplane inside and get a 'discounted' rental rate. The reason boats and RV's get parked in airplane hangars is because that space is usually cheaper than a dedicated boat/RV storage facility. I think it would encourage more hangar construction if the landlord knew in advance the building would have alternative uses that would reduce the risk of being empty generating no revenue.
This is the second time I’ve watched this and you are spot on! Having owned an Archer outright as well as a partnership, i have experienced much of what you describe. The reality that most flying is done alone seems to be the real world, at least for me. Thanks for the great work.
I subscribed this morning when your video popped up in my feed. I am a novice flight summer, but I enjoyed your educational videos that I watched. Thanks.
@@ShroomKeppie I own a boat - 15 ft with a 25 hp motor with 5 hours on it when bought. Paid $15 for it - then it was my parents. Wished I could afford a plane.
Sounds like owning a sailboat. Good luck finding a slip to keep it in, every little thing is crazy expensive, but then the wind is free so sailing cost like $2.
@@markfox1545 The quote marks are to signify that I am a former owner and that I agree with you about things to watch for. Sorry if you took it the wrong way.
Here's my .02 opinion about PMA and approved parts being so expensive. I don't care. There is a lot going on behind the scenes that you may not be aware of. I know a guy who got an STC for a cargo pod for a Super Cub. You would NOT believe how much paperwork, testing, etc. that he had to do. It took him two years. He isn't going to work for nothing, so he baked that into his price for the pod. As to why he had to do that, there are a large number of regulations that the FAA uses for certifying things, including modifications and approved parts that are a result of crashes, fatalities and so forth. I can easily say that we have the safest, most unrestricted general aviation in the world and we didn't get that way by being sloppy. My opinions are my own, and they cost you nothing, so feel free to ignore them.
You're correct in the Unrestricted GA we have here, And I get that STC processes are extensive and Expensive..it is frustrating though to see, 2 identical parts, side-by-side, from the same manufacturer vasty different in price because one is Certified and the other isnt....On the plus side..that has also fueled the incredible Grown in Experimental Aviation over the years.
JMO 40-50 yrs ago bush flying, some people discovered that airplane tagged parts were 10x the price of identical parts available locally. $300 for an airplane alternator that could be bought for $25 or rebuilt for $10, etc Back then there were MECHANICS not just parts replacers. 50 yrs CP, AP Most people ran car gas waaaay before STCs.
You may not care, but the certified market is dying because of that dynamic. That cost is not immaterial to those seeking to enter the avocation considering the increasing hollowing out of the middle class. We can chew gum and walk at the same time. We can 1) hold the draconian nature to attempting to shoehorn recreational piston aircraft not flown for revenue into the price model of revenue work (which is what currently occurs) as a major detractor to progress, and frankly a classist gentrifier , AND 2) agree that people shouldn't be expected to work for free. You're presenting a false dichotomy in attempting to rationalize the stasis of the former because of the mythology of the latter. Of course there are those in this hobby for whom (1) is not the bug, but the feature. That's another part of the hobby that doesn't make it inviting to new entrants. For my money (and I'm an aircraft SOLE-owner, I don't have a partner to subsidize my costs, e.g. I put my money where my mouth is), EAB is really the future of the market on a socioeconomic shift alone.
@@GonzoT38 I'm an aircraft owner also. It isn't a "Hobby" for me - I live in Alaska. Not many roads to choose from; gentrification, unlike in many areas in the lower 48, is not an issue. What I meant when I say I don't care is that I won't trade safety for economy. The consequences are much too dire and I fly places where ditching and failure would be catastrophic if even possible, and even then would be pretty western to wait out a rescue somewhere where I'm not at the top of the food chain. You know, bears. I put my faith in that system of regulation, as much as I hate regulation, because it works. Furthermore, I can also chew gum and land in a crosswind on a frozen river, with two sled dogs fighting in the back. Don't ask me how I know that.
@@hotrodray6802 I wonder why I could never get hull insurance on my Cub in Alaska? There were a lot of crap airplanes flying around there that I wouldn't want flying over my house let along getting aboard. I had an ELEVATOR cable fail in a PA-12 once because some previous backyard A&P used a .10 cent sleeve instead of a Nicopress sleeve, and probably crimped it with a battery lug tool. You get REAL INTERESTED in your certified parts when the damn hardware store junk fails in flight!
Just bought my first plane yesterday, a 177RG and watched this video and was pleased to see it mirrored everything i have researched so far.... not cheap but worth it! Great video!
Thinking same when he mentioned cost of parts. Nice 2 seat VANS RV would be fine. All the RV pilots I spoke with however said absolutely don’t get an RV as first plane since they are fast and somewhat unforgiving compared to the usual trainers.
@@reinhart482 RV-12's are used as trainers. I wouldn't call 45 Kt's stall speed clean and 41 kts stall speed 2nd notch flaps as "fast", but I would say that the joy stick is "sporty" and you can fly it like a joy stick on a RC rig, with your finger tips. It's also very, very low workload for a new pilot. The other RV models, however, exception being the RV-9, are indeed fast planes.
I'm in the looking phase. It's my first airplane purchase and to say that I'm a little nervous about it would be an understatement. This is a good video for those of us looking to buy their first plane. Have you run the numbers and found your hourly cost to fly your own plane? Never mind, you answered that at 7:00. BTW, loved your other video on the Cessna 182 being like cheating. Love that plane!
Hey guys! I wanted to let you know I just launched an "Insiders" Newsletter where once a week I'm sharing an important lesson I've learned in aviation, links to my latest content so you don't miss out, and links to any other interesting or helpful content I've found. I'm also working on a HUGE project I can't announce yet but I'm going to be sharing more behind the scenes info with Insiders first - Subscribe (it's free) at: airplaneacademy.com/insiders
I'm 76 years of age now and had to give away flying after having had both a heart attack and a stroke, but I recall them as being the best years of my life, having started flying at the age of 16. Everything you said is true, I owned two aircraft which I purchased in my forties, first a Piper Cherokee 180 and then a Cessna 182M I really miss it now but it was just fantastic, the feeling you get from flying your own aircraft is a feeling of total freedom. I think you need to do it to understand. Over all those years I was lucky enough to have been endorsed on three different twins along with gas turbine and pressurised aircraft which I flew all over outback Australia. Keep up the good work, I can sense I'm listening to a real pilot at heart.
My favorite aviation quote: "If God had meant for man to fly, he'd have given us more money."
Good one 👍🏻
When I learned to fly, at a US Air Force flying club in the 1970s, we rented 150s for $7/hr wet, 172s for $10/hr wet, 182s for $13/hr wet, and a retractable Cardinal for $18/hr wet, or $15 dry for x-country flights. The 182 and Cardinal were IFR equipped and maintained. If we wanted to rent dry, 100LL was 52 cents/gallon. Those were the “Good Old Days”. And all the planes were kept in hangars, with 200’x13,000’ and 9000’ concrete runways.
Mine is from an instructor "just remember to keep the greasy side down and the shiny side up"
My sentiments exactly. I had to give up flying when it became too expensive!
Norbert Siewert the new MSFS will put you back into the skies.
I've watched a ton of "my first plane" ownership videos. This by far was the best straight forward video I have seen to date. Nicely done sir.
Thanks so much for saying so... that means a lot to me! Really glad you enjoyed it.
Absolutely.
Im fwd link to friends.
Even other pilots.👍
I agree! Best video I've seen on this. I've subscribed because of it. Ultimately, I probably pay more in the long run for my aircraft over renting. But the ability to go when I please/ where I please/ and land wherever I please without rental restrictions makes it all well worth it! And, because I know my aircraft so well, I'm probably a much better pilot overall when flying it.
Thanks so much! And I completely agree with this.
@@wabuchanan I really like your comment. It's one of the reasons, among many others, that I am seriously contemplating getting my own airplane. First things first, I hand to get my license. The round out and flare is kicking my hindparts! Fly well good people.
Excellent video, Now at 74, I've stopped flying for financial reasons only. I'll miss it more than life. Never owned an aircraft, always rented, no incidents or accidents in 36 years of flying. Absolutely loved it. Have subscribed to your site, wish you many years of safe and enjoyable flying.
Hi Richard, thanks for sharing. Is there a local EAA chapter you might be able to join to stay in the aviation community and still get to fly with folks? I can tell you're passionate about it so just wanted to throw it out there.
I heard this some time ago,
......buying an airplane is like getting married, you think you know what you have, but after a couple years you really know what you have.
I started flying when I was a teenager. Went thru a lot of money. Would not trade it for the world. My brother in law asked me why I have 2 airplanes. Told him I could not afford 3. Flying to Alaska in my 170 is on my bucket list. The wife said we are not doing that. I hope she will meet me there.
Hope I get 1 more medical passed, recent cancer and a new hip scheduled for the end of this month. The wife has panicked over many flying situations, some as difficult as parallel parking a car. She has not been with me when I thought I would be dead in 2 heart beats. Based at 1c5. N4526V & N504FA. Oh!!! One of my flight instructors had his ticket signed by a Wright Brother. Delbert Koerner.
Haha! I love that and might have to use that one day.... owning 2 because you can't afford 3. Agree flying anything (particularly a taildragger) to Alaska would be a dream come true. It's on my list as well. I have flown myself IN Alaska but not TO Alaska.
Great story! :))
pilotgu
,
"The wife said we are not doing that. I hope she will meet me there."
Some enthusiasts swear a "suitcase drill" works wonders.☺
My dad had a C170 and flew it from England to Australia in the 1988 Vintage air rally.
I really wish we kept it but unfortunately we couldn’t.
It’s isn’t the FAA that adds cost to parts. That is like 10% maybe. It’s lawsuit liability coverage for parts makers. Every company is guaranteed to be sued at every crash. Companies that survive do so because their pricing model takes Into account payouts to legal claims. Aviation tanked since the 80’s when lawsuits skyrocketed. It’s also the reason insurance went up. And nobody discusses this.
Another problem that arose, and severely affects the price of parts is, bogus parts. Now, every part has to have "traceability", back to the manufacturer, and that is very expensive.
Lawsuits is a very very low factor that ads cost to aircraft parts. The main factor is FAA-PMA. PMA is an acronym for "Parts Manufacturer Approval". An FAA-PMA is issued under section 21.303. Each PMA part should be marked with the letters, "FAA-PMA," in accordance with 14 CFR Part 45, section 45.15: (1) The name. ... The issuance of the PMA letter authorizes (and requires) the PMA holder to mark the parts in accordance with the approved design.Feb 1, 2004
Parts Manufacturer Approval (PMA) - Regulations ... - FAA
www.faa.gov › design_approvals › pma › pma_regs
Aug 17, 2020 - Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR ). Part 21, Certification Procedures for Products, Articles, and Parts; Part 21, Subpart K, Parts ...
People also ask
parts manufacturer approval procedures - FAA
www.faa.gov › documentlibrary › media › order
PDF
Jun 23, 2008 - 5. Who Needs A PMA? a. General Requirements. Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations. (14 CFR) § 21.303(a) requires any person. this is just a brief finding on what the real cost is all about and not just lawsuits. The information I have listed is the basic information I thought you might need to research further to fully understand how the cost of parts is generated in the aviation world with all of the mandatory testing. I have been in aviation for well over 50 years and have acquired a Airline Transport Pilot license, flight instructor rating for airplanes single and multi engine and instrument instructor. Also I have an Airframe and Powerplant mechanics license. I sincerely hope this helps you to understand that it is not lawsuits alone that add to the parts cost.
@@billb.5887
As to parts traceability. I worked in the offshore oil and gas equipment business. All parts had to have traceability not only to the manufacturing of the part but to the forging, treatment and testing of the raw material. I would be surprised if that is not part of the requirement for aviation as well. That doesn't come cheaply.
"As long as I can afford this, this is where I want to be spending my time, energy and effort." Many Thanks for that piece of my Mission statement!!!
Definitely a quotable quote! I barely have two cents to rub together but my little Cessna seems happy enough as every penny I do have/get goes towards her upkeep :)))
Got my license in '76 and have owned 5 planes. Started with a Super Decathlon, 182, 177RG, T 210, Archer. I have loved them all. After you own a plane, the thought of flying a rental is sort of scary. I always wonder what did the last few pilots do to screw up this plane? Did they over stress it, shock cool the engine, over rev it, fly with the cowl plugs in, fly it low on oil, etc.?
Within a year of my divorce, I bought myself a plane, decided to do something for myself. I've now owned the plane longer than I was married. The plane has been way less expensive than the wife was.
Perhaps you need to put greater effort in being be more successful in human relationships, an aircraft is an inanimate object . . . .
@@TRPGpilot What does the airplane being less expensive than the ex-wife have to do with 'human relationships'? Perhaps you're reading too much into the comment.
@@2whl4re Perhaps, happy flying with your aircraft anyway. Air-planes are amazing machines.
It doesn't nag
It doesn't mind if you look at other airplanes
It goes where you want to go
It doesn't cook but that is why airport restaurants have burgers
When you leave it for another airplane there are no lawyers and alimony
etc., etc., etc.
@J CalhounI am as far from being European as it is possible to be. I will leave it there . . .
16 months into plane ownership and I'd say pretty much bang on on all accounts. 2 others big things I love about ownership... My seat is in the same place every time and I never have to unplug my headset.
There is a lot to be said for both of those things! You know the airplane is the same as how you left it.
Mine hasn't moved for 14 years! Nice, huh?
Love that.
At $1200 a pair, I don't leave my Lightspeed Zulu PFX headsets in the airplane. The constant heat or cold is really hard on them.
Mark Reynolds Why Mark.
How good is it when you jump into the aircraft and your jumper is on the back seat and you sunglasses are on the dash, and it still has the same amount of fuel in it as when you left it yesterday...
love my airplane and the best thing is I built it... and I built my own hangar as well...
it is the best thing you can do with your clothes on...
never have regretted it 15 years on... 1300hrs on the clock still a good aircraft...
that and whiskey nothing better in life...
good flying to all...
Barry form Australia...
You sound like a fun guy to shoot the shit with. G'Day!
Completely agree! Boy that would be somethin' to fly in Australia. Gonna need a bigger plane to get there but maybe one day :)
@@AirplaneAcademy
My son fly's A350-100 so he can get you over the ditch...
The thought of being able to fly myself around, never going through security again, having my plane be exactly as I left it...I smile at the very thought.
Owning a aircraft (airplane) is pricy on the ground, but "PRICELESS" in the air.
Well Said
Especially if you fly an aerobatic aircraft. I've owned a Scottish Aviation Bulldog and a Slingsby T57 Firefly, both were great fun to fly but expensive to keep. Money well spent in my opinion.
@@milanondrak5564 Their is NO drug in the world, can give you the high a aerobatic airplane can give you.
@@antoniobranch Absolutely.
...And how long can you stay in the air?
Charlie, The joy you are experiencing is shared by so many of us. I still look forward flying and learning many different types of aircraft. Next year will be my 50th in aviation since solo. It's a wonderful ride! Thanks for posting these videos.
Thanks Bruce. Congrats on 50 years in aviation! What an accomplishment!
I'm in a club with a few other guys renting a Champ at 50 bucks an hour tach time wet, plus 55 bucks a month. I may not be able to get anywhere fast, but I gets some cheap, beautiful sunsets with the window open, elbow hanging out. Good stuff....
There's a lot of great ways to fly affordably and Champ's are great planes. My boss in highschool had a Citabria B with the fuel injected 320 and inverted oil system that I traded work for stick time in. Sometimes I wonder how I didn't die in that thing with all the stupid things I tried to do in it. But she flew like an angel and exempt for a few minor issues that I caused it never missed a beat.
Like you said one of the biggest difference between renting and owning is when you rent you notice the money goes away when you fly, so it makes you want to fly less. When you own a plane the money goes away all the time most of which is when you're not flying, so it makes you want to fly more.
I just started myself down the road of GA so keep up the good work.
Very much agree with this.
3:12 the right screw is wiggling. Right when you spoke about the previous owner keeping maintenance up
i thought No1 would be how many 'friends' that you haven't seen for years come out of the woodwork.
#1 Totally Worth It (thought he'd be more on the fence)
#2 Timing of Payments (rentals vs ownership)
#3 Flying Alone (surprised he flew alone 95% of time vs w passengers)
#4 Previous Owner's Sins (stuff they didn't maintain correctly that aren't obvious during PPI)
#5 Cost of Parts (higher than you'd expect)
#6 Hanger Space (cost & availability)
Might be the first channel ive seen that not only tells you the pros and cons but also assures pilots like myself that those sunsets and breaking through the cloud layer is 100% worth every dime.
Great video man, keep it up!
Thanks so much! Glad you enjoy!
Very interesting. I learned to fly first in tail draggers (Piper J3 Cubs) moving to Cessna 150s and sometimes 182s. I’ve often figured I’d buy one eventually, but life had other plans for me. C’est la vie. The fact is, fate fought me tooth and nail to prevent me full filling my desire to be an airline pilot. I started flying in 1968, when I turned 18. Whenever I had a spare fifty bucks, I took lessons and soloed. I desired to be a jet pilot, so I tried the Air Force. I needed a degree before they’d take me. So college bound taking widely spread lessons. After my degree the Vietnam War was winding down, so none of the Armed Services were taking pilot candidates. So, Law School. In my second year, I read that the Air Force wanted pilots, so I went to a recruiter who told me at 27, I was too old. 26.5 was the limit. So, shit, I graduated from Law School became a Prosecutor and then a Judge and I had no time for flying. Recently, I read that with as little as a simple Commercial License, airlines would hire and train, but, I was an old fart. So, fate gave me lots good things, but probably saved hundreds of passengers from death from my rotten landings😎
If I end up in court, please let it be yours.
@@howardsimpson489 That’s awfully nice to read; thank you. But to end up in my Court you first must invent a time machine and go back to any year between 1986 and 2003, in order to be in any Court over which I presided. 😎
Common misconception is that the FAA is totally to blame for the expense of aviation. The truth coming from an aircraft manufacturer is that economies of scale don’t allow airplanes and parts to be cheaper. If they only sold 100 Honda Accords each year they would cost over $200,000 each. I work on the F-35 program and trust me when I tell you, they would still cost over $300M each of we were still making only 37 per year. At our 100+ a year rate the cost is roughly 1/3 per unit.
Yup. That’s the law of any production: the bigger is the number of units produced, the lower the price.
Also the research that is done relates closely to safety. So it could be argued the cost is worth it.
Alrightx2 Music research for common parts are not ongoing items. A 1960 Cessna 172 has less than 20% difference in changes from a 2020 one. But in 1960 they were selling a shitload of Cessna 172’s. If they sold 100,000 Cessna 172’s in one year the price would be less than $80,000 new.
Liability insurance is a big part too, as OEMs and parts mfrs get sued anytime there's an accident.
dieselyeti yes but it’s a smaller part. Airlines hardly ever have accidents by comparison but the parts are still sky high. The liability is a slight issue compared to the lack volume sales.
I tell people that when buying a used aircraft, and face it, most private aircraft are 40+ years old, the purchase price is just the down payment.
The cheapest part of owning an airplane is.
The owner.
A nice life quote. Can be said about anything.
I just stole your quote! Been in aviation awhile, never heard that one! HAHAHAHAHAHA
the 2 happiest days of a AC owners life - the day they buy the plane and the day they sell it...
If ever I can manage to return to flying, because of my interest and because of expense, it will necessarily have to be two seat homebuilt. FAR less restrictive economically, and more sweat equity invested and far less cash than a factory bird. More pride in ownership even, arguably. Did really enjoy the Cessnas back in the day though.
Nailed it.
the fact that you fly mostly alone i think is one of the key things, could be be flying a 150 if you wanted to save some money but obviously it limits your capabilities. for someone on a "shoestring".. 150/152, pa28 or 172 is the way to start off I think.
Friends I ride Harleys with have a favorite expression - "HD stands for Hundred Dollars !" It's true, everything seems to start at $100 and goes up, including what you carry out in your hand. But I tell them - "Yeah, well buy an airplane and that HD will look real nice !" Great video !
I joke with friends that owning a boat means, Bust Out Another Thousand.
I'm not a pilot and I will never own a plane but I really enjoy listening to you as you share real life experience!
Thanks so much! Glad you enjoy the channel!
I have developed health issues with age and can no longer fly.
"BOY" do I miss it.
Yes the "JOY" of flying is like no other.
Do you qualify for Basic Med? If not, you can still join CAP and be an observer for many free hours in a plane.
@@jeffreypierson2064 Safety pilot.
I believe they have exemption certificates depending on your ailment. There's a possibility you could still fly.
@@dabneyoffermein595 Stroke with High BP and 'residual dizziness'.
@@chrisemmert1387 oh gosh. does the dizziness come and go , hmmmm,,, just trying to think of a way
I’m not a pilot but have always been fascinated by flight and all things aviation. Your videos are awesome and I’m subscribed. I’m flying vicariously thru your videos and loving it!
Thanks Roger! Glad you've found them helpful!
Nice video!
@0:30 Hanger space might be nice, but another option is tie-down space. Rates are much lower for out-door storage of the craft. There are some down-sides. For example, if a sand storm covers your glass, then rain turns that into mud, you've got some cleaning to do with your pre-flight check. You can get covers for your outside storage . . . There are many other considerations, and you'll just have to decide which is best for you.
We once had a new-to-us Aeronca Champ. It was tied down out on the tarmac. In order to do maintenance on the tarmac, the airport moved our Champ to temporary tie-down space with the intention of moving it back after the work was done. Unfortunately, the cables in the temp space were neglected and corroded. We didn't inspect those because it was not our space. As things like this go, a storm came in with very strong winds. The rusted cables broke and our new plane was blown across the taxi way, across the runway, and half way up a prominent hill. It was a total loss. The facilities were at fault and the airport's insurance cut a check.
@2:08 Yes, the gov't is to thank for that, but for more reasons than you said. Each part manufactured has a certificate (you might not see it when you buy the part, but it is tagged through the whole manufacturing process) showing each step of the process, including where the ore came from, who processed the ore into a billet, and each step that was taken on it until it became an airplane part. Keeping and tracking that data for each individual part is expensive. It pays off if/when there is a part failure that can be traced back to materials, for example, and they can look up all of the parts that were made with those same materials, or if there is a problem caused by a specific step in manufacturing and they can identify all of the parts that underwent that same process and recall them before many planes crash. You do not want to find that your craft has a bad part while you're in the air.
Love your honesty! No bull just a common sense straight shooter!
Thanks so much! Trying to be
Loved you're videos Charlie. Unfortunately, I am signing off from RUclips. Too much censorship. Happy flying and hope to see you at a fly in!
2:08 its not ONLY the FAA approval process that makes airplane parts expensive - in fact, its not even MOSTLY due to that. The FAA certification cost is a sunk cost that the airplane manufacturer had to recoup in the first few thousand airplanes built. They cant bank on recouping that money in replacements 20 years later (except for routine maintenance parts that are expected to be replaced periodically). No the biggest part of the cost is low production volumes. They just dont sell that many of them so production runs are only a few hundred copies of a part. The tooling cost and setup fees at the factories, and cost of sub-components purchased from their manufacturers in small volumes - that is the main thing that makes airplane parts expensive.
NO ITS THE GUB'MENTS FAULT! lol
Very well spoken. I've seen many videos similar to this one. But your sincere, straight-forward demeanor is what sets you apart. My dad sold his C172 long ago. Ever since, I've considered buying my own C172. Thanks for your thoughts !
Thanks so much for the encouragement and compliment! Means a lot.
Thanks Charlie. Great job. Keep it up!
I am in my 70s and returned to flying after 30 yrears by purchasing an Ercoupe 415-C so that I can fly under the light sport rules. I love it. It keeps me sharp and allows me to participate as part of the local aviation community. Associating with other pilots is a great experience.
Awesome! I have never flown in one myself, but they look like cool airplanes for sure!!
I’m 65 and an Ercoupe is my #1 fantasy airplane. I say fantasy because my wife won’t fly and we don’t need another activity that only one of us enjoys (she has horses). But I REALLY enjoy being up there looking down. I love being in control and also honing my smoothness and precision. I don’t need a cross-country plane, but a ‘coupe could get me there on that rare occasion. For just punching holes in the sky at a reasonable cost, Ercoupe seems to be a great fit.
I was thinking the 6 things you mention pertain to boat owning above a certain size (before 8k people scream at me). I'm no longer able to fly for health reasons and am relegated to flight simming but I truly appreciate you sharing your gratitude and being humble about your place in history, so refreshing. Just for that I subscribed. Thanks!
Thanks and pumped to have you! Yes a lot of parallels on ownership experience with boating.
The REAL show of what the difference in Pricing is in Aircraft parts is, is when you look at the EXACT SAME Part for Experimental, and Certified...and the Certified one is anywhere from 3-5 times more expensive..even though it's made on the same machinery with ZERO physical difference..other than that little STC stamp
And you can put that same part on your certified aircraft with a 337. Been there, did that, got the tee shirt and the 337
No. The difference is the liability insurance carried by the manufacturer. You all want money when shit goes wrong. Stop complaining.
Lawsuit happy culture.... Sure my significant other screwed up and got too slow in the pattern, BUT CESSNA NEEDS TO PAY!
Or, "Your 4th Cousin (The only living relative the Attorney could find) Flew into the side of a Mountain..CESSNA AND LyCOMING MUST PAY!!!!!"..that one killed ANY new GA Aircraft for a decade, and tripled prices
STC stamp? Perhaps you mean PMA stamp.........
Excellent dose of aircraft ownership reality, and I realized this very early on in my flight training. Consequently, as much as I love the feeling of flight, I decided against continuing my PPL lessons.
I live in England and the closest I ever get to flying is on MS Flight Sim but I really enjoy your videos and subscribed from day one. Your enthusiasm is so evident. I totally agree with your philiosophy on the spending it is the same for any hobby (mine are motorcycles and kayaking) so long as it's not causing you financial problems just enjoy it!
Thanks for watching and joining in the discussion! I totally agree with you. Also, LOTS of fun to be had with MSFS!
I worked for a helicopter company. One reason parts are so expensive is the liability attached to them. A bolt you can buy at a hardware for 50 cents is $10 if it is aircraft certified. If the bolt fails and an aircraft goes down, the liability attached to it is mega millions. Aircraft defy gravity, and occasionally gravity wins.
Excellent Presentation on the truth about aircraft ownership!! Subscribed. Juan
Thanks so much! Glad you think so and pumped to have you as a subscriber.
Cannot agree more than Juan, subscribed too! Well done :)
Juan- the man, the myth, the legend
idk, Juan. I watch your videos (and subbed on your Patreon) and I'm like, "UUmm...that's kinda scary. I odn't know if I wanna do that."
High praise indeed.
I think most people who are fine with flying in an airliner are nervous about small aircraft, even though they’re embarrassed to admit it. Therefore, as a new pilot, you might feel let down many friends and relatives take a pass on flying with you (or anyone else). I agree with all your surprises...excellent observations.
I will go up anytime with anybody
@@mikedineen7857 I’m with you on that.
I'm a pilot/Engineer & A&P and I sold my 337 because it was more economical to rent. Insurance cost after 9/11is insane.
Definitely understand. Pretty cool you had a 337 tho! Interesting airplane.
is that the plane that looks like they forgot to finish the rear section
@@harpoon_bakery162 mix-master. Multi -engine, centerline front, centerline rear.
@@jgmatp bada-bing
@@harpoon_bakery162 They finished the rear section by installing another engine. (wink)
I’m a Private Pilot as well owning an older C172E. I lived in North Texas (Flower Mound) and hangared my plane at Denton (KDTO). We recently moved to a private Airpark in eastern Washington right next to Stateline, Idaho. In your video, I noticed that you landed at Cedar Mills (3T0) and you talked about flying up into the mountains in Idaho, so I really related to that as well as loving aviation. I’m getting ready to retire at 40 years in aviation i.e. 24 with Boeing & 16 with the company I currently work for, BAE Systems. When I was 19, I went in the Air Force and my first plane ride was from Houston Hobby (KHOU) to San Antonio (KSAT) and I’ve been in love with aviation ever since. Really enjoyed your video! Keep them coming! I can share some of my videos I taken here in the Inland Northwest. Take Care & Fly Safe!
Hi Kenny - thanks for sharing! You live in a gorgeous place to fly... jealous! Cedar Mills is one of the more adventurous strips down here as you know, and it's still nothing compared to where you live, ha! Fly safe.
I do really appreciate your candid and realistic views expressed in your videos, as someone soon to embark on flying lessons, this is really useful information. Keep em coming and hope you make it to the UK sometime , maybe in Senior's M2?!?! cheers
Thanks for that feedback and glad to hear that it's been helpful! Enjoy the lessons, they are very fun!
Thank you for putting out so much positive energy. Magic words for me are gratitude, joy and self esteem, and this video is definitely a you can-do it offering, in these times of so much negativity. Happy Landings, Always
Thanks for saying this, that's nice of you! Glad you enjoyed the video!
Great video. I worked as a commercial pilot for a time, lots of PIC time logged and flown lots of different types but I've never owned my own plane, there have always just been too many other things to spend money on (I am in to classic cars, that doesn't help!). I had a friend who for years owned a Grumman Tiger that he never flew but would let me fly whenever I wanted, that was sweet, until it dawned on him that he was paying for me to have an airplane and sold it...selfish bastard! I envy you the ability to just drive to the airport and take off in your own airplane, I really do.
Controlling a machine that flies you through the air, safely. What's not to love? Kiss the sky and honor creation!
Totally agree!
It'll fly you through the air. "Safely" is up to you. I've watched too many VFR into IMC videos to think there's anything "safe" about GA.
"honor creation" flies around in a product of science. 😎
darkswami actually flying is a lot about seeing nature in a totally unique way. Way different experience up front than the pax are getting in the back with their heads in their devices.
Mark Berry Well said and, also, don’t forget to honor the Creator who gives us good eyes, coordination, intelligence, hearing, balance and the health and ability to earn $$$$ sufficient to fly around this amazing creation!
I always wanted to do what you are doing! At this point in my life I am pleased to live vicariously through your experience. You are flying for the same reasons I would be flying. Glad I found your channel. Glad I will be notified of further videos! Thanks for your effort making them for us.
Hi Craig - thanks for chiming in and I appreciate you watching! Don't be a stranger in the comments.
At my local airfield, many of the hangars are occupied by RVs and boats. Speaking with the manager of the airport, she said they'd love to have those spaces back for aircraft, but the renters have long-term contracts, possibly perpetual, and simply will not relinquish the spaces. Hangar space is at a premium and, at least at this airfield, this is one reason why.
3:07 you had cowling screws come loose on the takeoff roll
I seen that, hmm.
Looks like quite a big bulge in the cowl there too that probably needs to be forced down to get that fastener to engage.
Sketchy AF
Looks like dzus fasteners, good spot, these buggers can look like theyre engaged when theyre not
I gently bang around the cowling edge with my fist during the walk-around, but it still happens. That's why they put more than one fastener on there.
Say “Hello” to your newest Subscriber, who, back before you were probably birthed, took her checkride from ADS. Back then I lived in the apartment complex on Sojourn, and was able to walk across the field to Addison Airport. It’s all built up now including doubling the runway length. Great video and glad I found your Channel!
And you have about 700 new subs. Twins?
Welcome! Thanks so much. Pumped to have you as a subscriber.
With respect to high cost of parts, I suspect the costs of configuration control and QA are significant contributors. But those are safety-related functions.
Just subbed, great video. You hit the nail on the nail when you said " Mission " it all boils down to forecasting your possible mission(s). You just don't really know when you are starting out what that will be. You have a lot of flexibility with the 182 in terms of mission possibilities and that in the end is what you paid for. The 1 percent of the time you are fully loaded with the family or friends and you have that experience flying is when as you mentioned you don't regret anything. You can buy a $100-$150,000 new exotic vehicle and it's worthless in 5 years, or you buy a plane and sell it in 10 years for almost the same as you have invested minus operational costs, which all go towards the experience factor; which is priceless and in the long term and more cost effective than a vehicle ie: " bang for the buck". It all boils down to mission, or purpose to ascertain the real value in anything one does, more importantly in flying. Got my light sport ticket and thought I needed a 6 seat piper Malibu, guess what ? I am still flying light sports, why? my forecasted mission never warranted me ultimately getting so much aircraft. Something I did not know until I actually flew more than the required hours. So for me short hops for 100 dollar hamburgers has been good enough with the rare exception when I take a friend out for a cross country flight ( hopefully not on a 100 degree day !! lol ) across the state for the weekend. Most new pilots not building hours for their commercial rating or even IFR for eventual hire by the airlines will only need their version of the James Bond Aston Martin, and not the Chevy Chase family truckster, so bearing that in mind, one can build hours living the dream for less than renting or buying a plane without all the bells and whistles depending on rating ie: IFR, CFI1 etc. and still be able to justify living the dream. Keep up the good work !
Hi Rodney - glad you enjoyed the video! I really liked your comment and think there's a lot of wisdom in it. Buying the plane for your average mission and not your 1-2% of the time mission can save you money and headache for sure.
Great video..my advise is the same as the video's (well maybe a tad more pessimistic but I'm older and do it for a living). If you're thinking of buying a GA aircraft then 1) don't 2) if you ignore # 1 and can still cover your living expenses then don't over analyze the expenses and just enjoy your plane and 3) always, always, always be ready to use your credit card to purchase a commercial ticket if you have to return home and the weather or other issues (like the ole lady and kids barking at you) are maxing out your ability to flight plan (you can always return to get your plane another day)
I've found the courts are unintentionally responsible for the cost of aviation. I was doing a Cessna factory tour in 2006 and we were discussing the unit cost of 172s. Cessna said $100,000 of the cost was for Cessna's liability insurance because they can be sued for 40 years after the aircraft was made. At the time, that was almost 1/3rd the cost of the plane.
Bankruptcies also play a part. Since most air services are considered essential, they will get as much relief in court as they need to remain in operation. So, if you sell 10 tires on credit (because in aviation we are usually paid after a service is rendered) and on average get paid for 1 after the purchaser goes bankrupt, you start charging 10x as much to make sure you make your profit on the first unit sold and can continue to do business after your client goes bankrupt and has their debts forgiven. if you need to compete to sell, then you distribute that loss among all your products, even the ones sold in private sale and so the prices end up astronomical for simple items.
I like your video.
Completely agree with what you said. I probably could have elaborated on that point in the video but was trying to keep it short. All of those reasons definitely contribute to making a $50 part cost $450. Replacing the strut fairings on my airplane was an absurd amount - four of them cost like $1,800 if I remember correctly (it was 4 years ago now).
.....no...that is what you chose to do. A smartt businessman would merely ensure that they got paid up front for the tires. You make sure that your customers have the credit.
Any idiot would realize that charging 10x the price of each tire would dissuade customers from buying the tires in the first place. If your industry standard is to get paid after services are rendered then you only render the service that you get paid for
When I go buy tires for my car I don't get the tires mounted on any credit but my own. My only concern then is with the value of the tire.
@@AirplaneAcademy absurd until you consider their true value 😁
Wow, the law sure changed on how long a manufacturer is liable. Cessna only began making piston aircraft again when the law was changed to 18 years liability instead of infinity. So when did the law change from 18 years in the 1990's to 40 years currently?
@@AirplaneAcademy I have an ASW20L glider, with water ballast bags that I was told (when I bought it) leaked. Several years ago I asked for the price of a replacement. £1000 (currently about $1300)! For a plastic bag?? Enjoyed the video, thanks.
I purchased my C-150 from a retire FAA inspector. The mechanic that did the pre-buy inspection was very pleased with the condition given it was a 30+ year old airplane. Owning the plane was one of the greatest experiences of my life. Enjoy!
Awesome! Those are fun airplanes. I was sooo close to buying one before I found my 182. Real nice to fly!
@@AirplaneAcademy The 182 is a few steps above a 150 :) and a much better IFR platform. Enjoy and stay safe.
One year I had an unexpected engine failure that cost me $50K. If you think the worst case scenario is an early overhaul consider when you have no useful core. Engine had 1050 since factory new.
PMA stands for Pay My Ass.
Edit: after listening to your entire video I subbed. Seems to me you have the best attitude towards what comes with owning an airplane. Yes, Cessna parts.. as well as everyone else for the most part, have outrageous prices.. Congrats on the 182, in my opinion it's the way to go. Relative to driving who cares if you don't cruise at 185, beats the heck out of driving. Oh, be careful with corrosion. Make sure your mechanics check the boot cowling areas and under the floor. Check your tire pressure often, pre flight every time (one of our customers prop struck a cone, don't know how he didn't see it) Watch your temps and good luck!
i bought an unfinished rotorway 3 years ago,its actually 30yrs old,needed tons of work,eventualy got it running sweet and balanced,but my truck driving co workers all ask the same question"why"as if im crazy,my wife was furious cos it could have been a home improvement,etc,negatives all around.flying an aircraft is great,but to get to also own one,is on another level,so therefore i salute you sir,as im not as crazy as people make out.must sign off now,the nurse has just fetched my medication.aviation is the drug,so keep ringing the bell,well done.will subscibe when i get out of here.(just joking the foods not that bad)great channel.ed.
Haha thanks for the comment, Eddy!
Good vid.
Long time ago I know I was going to buy an airplane. Put my name on the waiting list for a hanger thinking it was going to be a while before I was contacted. To my surprise 1 week later I was called. Had to turn it down because I didn't have a plane yet and was months away from getting one. When I finally did get a plane it took months before a hanger became available.
I used to be a fanatical gun guy and competitor. Keeping the plane safe and flying put a stop to that...lol
Looking at $30k to replace a failed and failing panel.
Frustrating and expensive at times but I love it.
Thanks for sharing. It can be frustrating sometimes, but for me it's always been worth it.
About 5 of 6 shocking things he brought up, you could replace "airplane" for "boat" ownership..
Or "home"
There are a few reasons parts are so expensive. The big one is liability. When you pay $300 for a part that'd be $30 on a car, most of that money is going into liability insurance and legal funds to deal with the inevitable lawsuits that all of these companies deal with from time to time. You could also argue that the extreme levels of R&D and quality control are also really the result of this, since a part that's more reliable is less likely to end up causing a lawsuit in the first place. Even the high level of regulation might tie into this, since passing stringent government standards gives the company good ground to stand on in a lawsuit as well. Aside from that, you're also paying more because of small production volumes, and then there's just plain old greed, charging inflated prices because they know they can get away with it.
Max Archer this is incorrect. The biggest part of the problem is the economies of scale. Take it from someone who works on the biggest weapons program in history. If Honda only made a few hundred Accords each year they would cost almost as much as a new Cessna 172.
@@lucifermorningstar4548 Liability does increase the end cost.
The only difference between the older Cessna voltage regulators, and the ford car ones, is the paperwork (&price)..... they still had the ford logo on them.
John Veld this is mostly true. But that voltage regulator difference means they are different than vehicle alternators and that means they aren’t sold in high volumes which also bumps the price up.
You could get the exact same spec VR at an auto parts store, back in the day
At about 3:09 the right cowling bolt is dancing up and down like crazy. I was laughing because you were talking about maintenance that the previous owner slacked on. Stay safe out there. I miss flying in Texas.
Resolved! Thanks for pointing it out.
Thanks to you, I'm going to check out a 152 for sale this Saturday. If all goes well, I'll buy it and get my license in it. You were right about looking for hangar space. I've already secured a spot in a community hangar at a small airport. Your channel has become one of my favorites, so thanks agian for sharing your experience.
How has buying a plane for your training worked out for you?
@@stephenjordan8712 Hey Stephen. I didn't buy the plane. My bank would only give me a 4-year loan which made the monthly payment too big. Cessna 150's and 152's have really jumped in price. I probably could have made 10 grand by buying it and reselling it. Looking into building an Afford-a-plane, lol.
Flying is really cheap. It's being on the ground that's expensive. I never seem to spend money whilst flying.
If it flies, floats or f...ks it’s probably cheaper to rent.
G'day,
Here in Oz, the local version is,
"If it has Wheels, Wings, or
Tits...; then it
WILL
Cause you
TROUBLE...!"
But, as to renting a Fcukbuddy...
Where I come from, about the most insulting thing a person can have happen to them is to discover that their partner has Bin-Fakin' Sexual Enjoyment and Orgasm at them.
So, how execrably low would your Self-Esteem need to be, before you choose to pay a Stranger to pretend to like you sufficiently well as to smile at you, listen to your opinions, get naked with you, take you to bed, and then pretend to like you enough to have sex with you - and finally fake Orgasm at you ?
If you can't actually afford one of your own, for real ; then renting, and pretending that to be "Real" whilesoever the Contract lasts, will always prove to be an expensive & disappointing waste of money...
Just(ifiably ?) sayin',
Have a good one.
Stay safe.
;-p
Ciao !
I rent anything for a few weeks before a purchase. By then you'll know what's going to annoy you.
"If it floats or it flies, rent; don't buy"
If it has tires or tits, it is going to cost you a lot of money and frustration.
@@WarblesOnALot now I'm not an expert but, that sounds like someone you don't need in your life!
Me: I'm an overly analytical person.
Also me: "Forgets to consider hangar space."
No hate bro, it happens to the best of us :P
Haha it was something I was surprised by. I did get the hangar BEFORE I started by airplane search because I was surprised by how difficult it was to find.
Nice!
Retired RN here who loves Aviation. Not a pilot and have no plans to be, but I love watching the folks who live the dream. Just noticed you had the best of the best sub you - Juan Browne. What a compliment! A couple others you may know of are Victor over at VASAviation and Allec Joshua Ibay.
Promise I won’t be so chatty in the future and leave the “airways and airwaves” open for you real pilots. Happy New Year!
Thanks for chiming in! I think that's wonderful that you are enthusiastic about aviation. Glad to have you here! And yep I saw that, pretty cool!
You're living the dream for sure! And I subscribed so I can live it vicariously thru your videos and those of others I've followed for a number of years!
I've always wanted to be a pilot and fly back since the days of Sky King! You'll need to look that up because it was twice as long ago as you've been alive. Took flying lessons when I was in my 20's but never followed thru for one reason or another, not cheap for one thing. I flew paragliders for a few years, but even that didn't satisfy the flying bug from the point of being able to manipulate flaps, throttles and ailerons etc. Fly safe, stay safe and have a blast learning to fly your Dad's new Citation!!! I'm glad you get to live your dream!
Hi Don - thanks for subscribing! Never done a paraglider, I'm sure that's gotta be fun in a really unique way. I'll have to check out Sky King!
You re so right! Thats exactly my thoughts 👍🏻 There is no price for a „ thats mine“
Fly safe dude and greets from Germany
Thanks!
RE: Costs of the little fiddly bits it is true that the government puts a lot on a company for its part to be certified but c'mon...the Cessna 182 has been flying, in some form, since 1956. Sooner or later those development costs should have been paid for and you'd think they could produce a faring (or whatever) for a reasonable price.
If that were all it was, another company would manufacture the parts and get rich. It not only is the cost of making the part, it has to be tracked from manufacture and then forever. I have a friend who is a AI for a major aviation company. He'll need a rivet, get a bag of them from the parts department. The bag will have all the tracking information on it. Some of those rivets can cost $10. He uses what he needs and the rest have to be thrown out since the bag has been opened. The making and tracking of parts for the FAA to be sure the parts keeping your airplane airworthy aren't chinesium knockoffs is very expensive.
@@williampotter2098 @Jeff Bergstrom. Well cars have a lot of paperwork too. Another difference is sales volume. There are THOUSANDS of cars and associated parts sold every year. Planes - in the 10's to very small 100's. Amortize across across those different volumes - you get quite different costs.
Exactly. 35-year T1 diabetic here. Insulin is now pushing $400 per vial (9-day supply). Was $25 per vial when I was first diagnosed. Talk about feeling raped by the drug companies. No comparison to people who have actually been raped - not going there at all. But seriously though. I know new forms of insulin have been released but that research & development cost has long ago been paid.
@@graemejwsmith smh ...
@@billyoung8118 and it's not like you have a choice either, a very good friend of mine was a T1 and it eventually got him because he couldn't afford the cost of the insulin. I feel for you brother, stay on top of it. No matter what. The alternative is much, much worse. Drug companies really should be ashamed of themselves for taking advantage.
Pro tip from an aircraft engineer .Never, unless you have to use Cessna parts. PMA parts are just as good, just as legal....and cheaper. Second tip .Unless you are using your aircraft for hire use a part 43 maintenance outfit. Why pay 145 prices when you don't have to?
@BLKCFII Parts manufacturer approval
That is parts made by other firms to the same specs ,but with a lower mark up.
Just as good. if you get maintenance done ask for them.....otherwise you get the higher price stuff.
@BLKCFII it's a good aircraft...another pro tip
Before purchase get a good neutral engineer to go over it and look out for major AD's and SB's that hasn't been done or are coming up.
@BLKCFII older aircraft not so much but you would be Suprised how many have been missed and/or are not done to the latest version.
Get a good engineer to give it and it's paperwork a good going over
@BLKCFII You are welcome.I hope both of you enjoy the magic of flight
@@cestriankiwi Funny you said that to a future Cardinal owner, an AD just recently came out on them for center spar inspection on the lower plate. Follow-up to the corrosion SB that requires dressing, and NDT if any corrosion was removed.
Thank you for this I'm starting to learn how to fly, currently on circuits working towards my first solo but this is a definite end goal for me later down the line on owning my own aircraft. Awesome video man and thank you for all the details!
Wow what a refreshing attitude! Thank you & you have gained another subscriber.
Thanks so much and pumped to have you!
I needed a 30 amp toggle switch for my old piper tomahawk. The one from piper with the FAA sticker was $220. I found the exact same toggle switch at a home depot that was the same serial number, manufacturer, and even color. $2.43.
Same part number or serial number. I hope it's not the same s/n
You pay, pay, and pay for the TSO!
I'm surprised GA is still alive.
@@jamesmiller7911 It isn‘t, really.
@Brad Cohen He never said he bought it out used it. Just that he found it. Don't be a troll.
I kept hitting pause to see where that radio sound was coming from, thought it was on my end.
"If you think aviation is too expensive, maybe you should take up tennis." - My flight instructor.
This is great advice.. saved me a lot. I tried to buy something within my budget that did it all and allowed comfort.
That’s why I went a fully loaded piper m500. Comfortable at levels and great cross country machine! I got for a great price also…..
In Xplane simulator.
Well done! Thoughtful and a credit to the industry. I've taken many years off from flying (stopped to have kids), and have been wrestling with getting back into it. This is a great encouragement to move forward.
Thank you so much! I really appreciate your kind words and glad you enjoyed the video.
Can you turn off the music next time you record? Good content but hard to hear over the noise in the background.
Thanks for the feedback - yes I'll turn it down some (or all the way) next time :)
@@AirplaneAcademy you, sir, have earned my respect with this simple and respectful response to an honest piece of feedback. Aviation people are good people 🤗
You may have a hearing problem if the music worries you, just saying.
@@gregoryconnor9333 true
No it’s not
"I know there's a lot of money in aviation. Because I contributed a whole bunch!" _________ I can't remember who said this.
@Jeff R Or watched one go by once
"Here in Texas [...] hangar space is really, really hard to come by."
And there is your business idea right there. Let me know when the idea makes you the first million $ Good Luck!
I believe the reason for the shortage is you can’t make any money on hangers. Land cost and construction cost are just too high, ive looked at it several time and several different directions
@Brent King I agree no one is going to invest in building hangars in order to lose money. In a down turn, I've seen hangars sit vacant for months, even years. That's why I think the exclusive use practice of allowing only aircraft in hangars is all wrong. Put up a row of hangars and let anyone rent the space, airplane or not. If an aircraft is not regularly parked in the hangar, the rent goes up to the same sq/ft cost as local storage barn rental. Park an airplane inside and get a 'discounted' rental rate. The reason boats and RV's get parked in airplane hangars is because that space is usually cheaper than a dedicated boat/RV storage facility.
I think it would encourage more hangar construction if the landlord knew in advance the building would have alternative uses that would reduce the risk of being empty generating no revenue.
This is the second time I’ve watched this and you are spot on! Having owned an Archer outright as well as a partnership, i have experienced much of what you describe. The reality that most flying is done alone seems to be the real world, at least for me. Thanks for the great work.
I subscribed this morning when your video popped up in my feed. I am a novice flight summer, but I enjoyed your educational videos that I watched. Thanks.
The only thing that brings $$ to the eyes more than Boat is Airplane
The happiest days of a boat owner - when buying it and selling it. lol.
If it flies floats or fucks, rent it.
@@tompinnef6331 I was conflicted selling mine. Certainly cannot say I was happy.
@@ShroomKeppie I own a boat - 15 ft with a 25 hp motor with 5 hours on it when bought. Paid $15 for it - then it was my parents. Wished I could afford a plane.
Sounds like owning a sailboat. Good luck finding a slip to keep it in, every little thing is crazy expensive, but then the wind is free so sailing cost like $2.
As a "former" owner of an aircraft, I hear ya brother!
Are you a former owner or not? What's with the speech marks?
@@markfox1545 The quote marks are to signify that I am a former owner and that I agree with you about things to watch for. Sorry if you took it the wrong way.
I am just starting my flying journey (still studying for the student license) but glad you showed up in my recommended list! Subscribed!
Awesome! Thank you for subscribing. Pumped to have you. Best of luck to you on the awesome journey ahead and blue skies!
Very refreshing to hear an upbeat, realistic approach to aircraft ownership. Good job!
Thanks so much!
Owning an airplane is like going into a restaurant with no prices on the menu-if you have to ask the price you cannot afford it.
And hopefully, the bill won't have an ending price.
I can never let my wife see this video.
Unless she loves flying also.
@@arniewilenken237 Which she doesn't :(
Here's my .02 opinion about PMA and approved parts being so expensive. I don't care. There is a lot going on behind the scenes that you may not be aware of. I know a guy who got an STC for a cargo pod for a Super Cub. You would NOT believe how much paperwork, testing, etc. that he had to do. It took him two years. He isn't going to work for nothing, so he baked that into his price for the pod. As to why he had to do that, there are a large number of regulations that the FAA uses for certifying things, including modifications and approved parts that are a result of crashes, fatalities and so forth. I can easily say that we have the safest, most unrestricted general aviation in the world and we didn't get that way by being sloppy.
My opinions are my own, and they cost you nothing, so feel free to ignore them.
You're correct in the Unrestricted GA we have here, And I get that STC processes are extensive and Expensive..it is frustrating though to see, 2 identical parts, side-by-side, from the same manufacturer vasty different in price because one is Certified and the other isnt....On the plus side..that has also fueled the incredible Grown in Experimental Aviation over the years.
JMO
40-50 yrs ago bush flying, some people discovered that airplane tagged parts were 10x the price of identical parts available locally. $300 for an airplane alternator that could be bought for $25 or rebuilt for $10, etc
Back then there were MECHANICS not just parts replacers.
50 yrs CP, AP
Most people ran car gas waaaay before STCs.
You may not care, but the certified market is dying because of that dynamic. That cost is not immaterial to those seeking to enter the avocation considering the increasing hollowing out of the middle class. We can chew gum and walk at the same time. We can 1) hold the draconian nature to attempting to shoehorn recreational piston aircraft not flown for revenue into the price model of revenue work (which is what currently occurs) as a major detractor to progress, and frankly a classist gentrifier , AND 2) agree that people shouldn't be expected to work for free. You're presenting a false dichotomy in attempting to rationalize the stasis of the former because of the mythology of the latter. Of course there are those in this hobby for whom (1) is not the bug, but the feature. That's another part of the hobby that doesn't make it inviting to new entrants.
For my money (and I'm an aircraft SOLE-owner, I don't have a partner to subsidize my costs, e.g. I put my money where my mouth is), EAB is really the future of the market on a socioeconomic shift alone.
@@GonzoT38 I'm an aircraft owner also. It isn't a "Hobby" for me - I live in Alaska. Not many roads to choose from; gentrification, unlike in many areas in the lower 48, is not an issue. What I meant when I say I don't care is that I won't trade safety for economy. The consequences are much too dire and I fly places where ditching and failure would be catastrophic if even possible, and even then would be pretty western to wait out a rescue somewhere where I'm not at the top of the food chain. You know, bears. I put my faith in that system of regulation, as much as I hate regulation, because it works.
Furthermore, I can also chew gum and land in a crosswind on a frozen river, with two sled dogs fighting in the back. Don't ask me how I know that.
@@hotrodray6802 I wonder why I could never get hull insurance on my Cub in Alaska? There were a lot of crap airplanes flying around there that I wouldn't want flying over my house let along getting aboard. I had an ELEVATOR cable fail in a PA-12 once because some previous backyard A&P used a .10 cent sleeve instead of a Nicopress sleeve, and probably crimped it with a battery lug tool. You get REAL INTERESTED in your certified parts when the damn hardware store junk fails in flight!
Just bought my first plane yesterday, a 177RG and watched this video and was pleased to see it mirrored everything i have researched so far.... not cheap but worth it! Great video!
Fantastic. People I've met that own 177's LOVE them. Congratulations!
Apart from the excellent presentation and editing, the pitching about subscriptions convinced me to subscribe. Well done, happy flying.
Thanks so much! Really appreciate the feedback and glad to have you as a subscriber!
As soon as I figured out how much it cost to own my sailboat, I sold it.
components, maintenance, performance for the horsepower..... are why I prefer experimentals over factory planes.
I'm with ya on this one!
Definitely understand the argument!
Thinking same when he mentioned cost of parts. Nice 2 seat VANS RV would be fine. All the RV pilots I spoke with however said absolutely don’t get an RV as first plane since they are fast and somewhat unforgiving compared to the usual trainers.
@@reinhart482 RV-12's are used as trainers. I wouldn't call 45 Kt's stall speed clean and 41 kts stall speed 2nd notch flaps as "fast", but I would say that the joy stick is "sporty" and you can fly it like a joy stick on a RC rig, with your finger tips. It's also very, very low workload for a new pilot. The other RV models, however, exception being the RV-9, are indeed fast planes.
Randy van Vliet yeah I was mostly around RV-8 9 and 6 Many Guys performing aerobatics
You're not just paying for the replacement parts, you're also paying for the 8130-3.
I'm in the looking phase. It's my first airplane purchase and to say that I'm a little nervous about it would be an understatement. This is a good video for those of us looking to buy their first plane. Have you run the numbers and found your hourly cost to fly your own plane? Never mind, you answered that at 7:00. BTW, loved your other video on the Cessna 182 being like cheating. Love that plane!