Looking at buying a plane.

[CAP1]

I know a couple of guys who have motorgliders...  An instructor here who flew F-15Cs loves to fly his Dad's motorglider.

Me, I want a bit more maneuverability so if I was going to get a plane, I'd probably end up with an RV kitplane.  There is even a docile 4-seat RV for those who want a good aluminum airplane and don't plan on turning it upside down.

wasn't the diamond da-20 originally a motor-glider?

[trigger2]

I think the best "bang for the buck" is to build a 2 seater Van's RV- 6,7,8

Plus since it is "experimental" you can do all your own maintenance and inspections, saving big $ not having to hire an A&P

Maybe HiTech could be so kind as to reply with some of his experiences in his RV-8?

[Golfer]

He has in the past.  It's expensive.

[eagl]

wasn't the diamond da-20 originally a motor-glider?

I dunno.  Never flew one.

[Chalenge]

There is a wealth of knowledge out there and many free rides to be had...  

S.S.A. (Soaring Society of America)

http://www.ssa.org/

Glider Insurance (and tow planes)

http://www.gliderinsurance.com/GliderHome.htm

and one of my favorite planes to see the Genesis 2. The GE2 is a cheap homebuilt and I have seen kits for (re)sale less than $10k.

[Strip]

I used to think aircraft were expensive to operate and maintain.....that was til I spent the equivalent of $30,000 an hour to run my dragster this year.

[Grayeagle]

OK ..

.."just gonna fly for fun .. point A to point B now an then."

Rent what you want when you want it.

Just my 2 copper.

-GE aka Frank

[CAP1]

I dunno.  Never flew one.

it's a pretty cool little airplane. i think it has the contenintal 105 horse engine in it now.....but have been told it originally had a rotax engine.

[CAP1]

OK ..

.."just gonna fly for fun .. point A to point B now an then."

Rent what you want when you want it.

Just my 2 copper.

-GE aka Frank

the only problem with renting......


i blocked out the clubs cessna for a trip to ocean city. the only time it was available was a 4 hour window. i booked it 3 weeks in advance. i had to have it back by 5pm on that sunday....and ocean city is a 40 minute flight....then an hour walk to the boardwalk.........owning my own, there wouldn't have been those constraints.

[Grayeagle]

Sheesh CAP .. guess it all depends on who yer dealin with. Apple Valley Airport out in the High Desert, I'd call 'em the day before and have a 172 whenever I wanted it, with or without instructor depending on what I wanted to do.

Never was part of a 'club' .. -shrug- .. just called the guys I was learnin to fly with

-GE aka Frank

[Chalenge]

My favorite fun fly events are rabbit chases with a 172 as rabbit. The guy establishes a flight from point A to B. The gliders will tow up or winch up and fly the same course for best time. Last one in (and someone ALWAYS lands out) buys the beer. Rabbit chases are usually less than 100 miles but club events can be much longer (requiring multiple launches).

And did I mention winch launches are similar to flying off the deck of a CV? Three thousand feet in forty-five seconds! Great stuff even when things dont quite go right. In this video the winch line breaks and the pilot executes a perfect procedure for landing. Check out how quiet gliders are!  NOT!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y8FP_MIB7gw&feature=related

[CAP1]

Sheesh CAP .. guess it all depends on who yer dealin with. Apple Valley Airport out in the High Desert, I'd call 'em the day before and have a 172 whenever I wanted it, with or without instructor depending on what I wanted to do.

Never was part of a 'club' .. -shrug- .. just called the guys I was learnin to fly with

-GE aka Frank

well...in all honesty.....that arose because they only have 2 cessnas left. when i first joined the club, they had 4 172's, a 152(all of which i was checked out in), 6 warriors, and a couple twins. they've cut down to 1 172, and the 152, but still have all the pipers.
 i won't transition to the pipers for now, as a lot of the ntsb reports i read are low time pilota that transitioned to pipers.....and i only have 207 hours. i know it seems kinda silly and anal, but it's my way of not becoming an ntsb report. besides....i honestly like the way cessnas fly.

 i willl someday own my own airplane....that's why i bought this shop. i didn't buy it to get rich. i bought it so i could have stuff i want. my own airplane if the first thing on that list. 

[Golfer]

You're intimidated by a Piper?  What about all the tens of thousands of pilots who did their first solo in Cherokees and somehow survived to tell their tale?

An extremely thorough checkout will take 2 hours and by the end of it you'll be looking for things to do.

[CAP1]

You're intimidated by a Piper?  What about all the tens of thousands of pilots who did their first solo in Cherokees and somehow survived to tell their tale?

An extremely thorough checkout will take 2 hours and by the end of it you'll be looking for things to do.

nonononono/.......not intimidated by it. i feel i'm better off not transitioning to a different aircraft till i've built more hours.
 right now, i'm in that 150 to 500 hour range that i read/hear so much about.

 i've flown my cfi's cherokee from the right seat, and kinda liked it..........and will check out in them when i feel more current/confident. for now.......i just do this as i know i'll not become an ntsb report through any possible mistake of my own. 

 chances are that had i originally flown a piper, i'd probably be saying the same thingt.

[Golfer]

All pilots regardless of hours are perfectly capable of balling up an airplane.  If you think sticking with one type is going to prevent that I'd have to disagree.  Exposing yourself to different airplanes, and a Cherokee isn't all that different, is a great way to build knowledge and experience.  Before you know it you'll want to fly a 182, Saratoga, Luscombe, Pitts and a glider.  Actually if I had to pick a perfect set of airplanes for someone to get a couple hundred hours in those would be them.

All the Cherokee will teach you is how to be on-speed as you come over the numbers or you'll float.  Not nearly as much as a extra knots in Mooney or a Cirrus will but you'll still float.  Aside from getting into the airplane I think the most significant difference between the 172 and the Cherokee is where you put the key.