To any A&Ps out there.......

[CAP1]

MY CFI still has his own piper. one of the things he said he does, is to put money in an account just for that plane, every time he flies it. i think he said he puts X amount towards maint, and X amount towards the "engine" fund.

 his problem, is that he's spending all of his spare time teaching at the club, or flying for civil air patrol.....and rarely gets to fly his own plane anymore....but he still keeps it.

BTW..... i knew we'd get excellent advice from you. 

[Golfer]

I fly 15 hours a month. Money isn't a huge issue, but my dad is picky.

Anyways the one he is looking at now has the 180hp and bushmaster conversion. I'll post some pics soon, it's IFR ready, but not certified.

Money isn't a huge issue to many 15 year olds.  When you start paying the bills yourself it will matter because not many people can afford a $25,000/yr flying habit like you've got going right now.  Enjoy it while it lasts.

[Golfer]

BTW..... i knew we'd get excellent advice from you. 

I wouldn't call it excellent advice.  There are quite a few people here who own and have owned their own airplanes and I'm not one of them.  I've spent a lot of time managing the airplanes of others and that's where my paycheck comes from now but I've still yet to have an airplane to call my own.

I came close to pulling the trigger on an S1C last year, I had the check written for a Mustang kit that I tore up when I got an insurance quote I couldn't stomach paying once the airplane was running and now I daydream of various airplanes sitting in the hangar.  I really really really want to pull up from a trip in my work airplane and see my fun airplane waiting for me in the hangar...(daydreams some more)

[Tordon22]

Enjoy it while it lasts.

Amen to that. It looks like I'll be a freshly minted CFI by July. Already painting my "Will fly for food" sign.

[Tupac]

Money isn't a huge issue to many 15 year olds.  When you start paying the bills yourself it will matter because not many people can afford a $25,000/yr flying habit like you've got going right now.  Enjoy it while it lasts.

I meant the cost to m parents.

I'm 16, too.

[CAP1]

I meant the cost to m parents.

I'm 16, too.

I DIDN'T start flying till i was in my early 40's. i work my bellybutton off, make decent money....not great, but decent.....i've never been able to afford 15 hours a month.

[Golfer]

I'm 16, too.

So what?

[Tupac]

So what?

You said I was 15, 15 year olds can't fly solo but 16 year olds can.

[flight17]

You said I was 15, 15 year olds can't fly solo but 16 year olds can.

but your still young enough not to know about the money side of it.

[Tupac]

but your still young enough not to know about the money side of it.

You're right. I still have a concept of money though, because I've worked the last 2 summers.

[CAP1]

You're right. I still have a concept of money though, because I've worked the last 2 summers.

 do this.

take golfers suggestion, about planning the trip you were going to take. but plan how you're going to pay for this airplane.

 remember insurance, tie-down(or hanger space), planned maintenance, unplanned maintenance, etc. find out how much each is going to cost, how you're going to insure you have the funds, etc.

 one of the cessnas in our flight club is off-line right now, because it was/is a lease-back. the owner hasn't planned this stuff out. it failed its last anual....i can't remember for what it failed, but was told it's pretty pricey. on top of that, the engine has less than 50 hours left on it.
 due to both of these issues, it's off line. the guy doesn't have the money. it's ashame too, as i liked flying that one, even though it's also the one i had the electrical problems, and a partial engine failure(misfire bad enough to inhibit her ability to climb, happened right on takeoff) in. she was a nice flying airplane.

 but do that. sit down with your dad to do this.  you're lucky you're in this position. take full advantage, and learn...do it right. 

[Tupac]

Insurance for me is about $80 a month in a 172, and a hail shed is $88.

We've heard from several mechanics to put atleast $15 for every hour of flight into a maintenance fund

[Golfer]

Sounds like you've got it all figured out...

[Tupac]

Sounds like you've got it all figured out...

Not all, slowly getting there though. Thank for all the help and advice guys

[CAP1]

Not all, slowly getting there though. Thank for all the help and advice guys

KEEP WORKING at it with your dad. you're gonna find out it's a lot more expensive than you're thinking right now.

 i see a lot of people dig themselves in too deep with cars......i'd imagine it's a lot easier to do with an airplane. not trying to discourage ya....just tryin to be helpful.