Dakota's are great planes. You can load 4 adults, bags and 72 gal of fuel. I would flight plan about 130- 135 kts in mine. You'll burn 12-14gph.
As a rental....I think insurance would kill. Maybe find a couple guys with some decent TT (couple hundred hrs or more)that could use the extra load, speed, etc and name them on insurance. Charge them a low fee and hourly cost to help offset your fixed costs.
Based on your wording, I think you are implying a dakota may be more expensive to insure as a rental, than say a 172? My question would be why is that? Fixed gear, no constant speed prop, not complex, shouldnt they be pretty similar in regards to rental insurance rate? Is it the horsepower??
What exactly is your payload? 4 people and bags 80% of your flights while you build time? Because you made it sound like you are going to be building time and an Archer will still fit 4 reasonably sized people with fuel to the tabs when that mission comes up (and it will come up much less than you think). If you are wanting a Dakota simply to avoid the occasional fuel stop because it'll fly a little further, that's a terrible trade off in costs.
The problem with a high performance plane for you will be a myriad of things. Maintenance costs are higher on the 6 cylinder, fuel costs are 3-5 GPH more, and insurance will be sky-high for you as a student.
Finding a partner who's willing to split a 3-4x normal premium on insurance with you and all the wear and tear you will personally put on the plane while learning to fly it will be difficult, especially with you wanting to fly hundreds of hours and take it for 8 day trips routinely. Finding someone who wants to do all that while renting it out as well will be nearly impossible.
You shouldn't definitely try your plan, because who knows? Maybe another student wants in or something. But you should also be ready to backtrack to a more realistic plan when your original likely doesn't work out.
So to address your points in order here, from my very uneducated perspective, it appears to me the dakota has the edge over the archer. But I honestly havent researched the archer enough to make the comparison. Im basing that on a quick look at range payload and speed. You certainly have valid points on the maintenance and fuel. Im not worried so much about the fuel, but the engine cost does concern me.
in regards to insurance, My assumption I would pay whatever amount the insurance increases. I know it would be more than half the cost, and I wouldnt expect anyone to pay any portion of my share. (this is part of the reason why i want to build time quickly)
The more i read into this the less using it as a rental looks possible. another poster suggested finding just a couple of other pilots and putting them on the insurance, and I think that would be more down my alley. Im certainly not renting it to a flight school.
Picking the partner will be much harder than picking the plane (and much riskier).
But if you have a partner, keep in mind that at your level, you will be raising insurance rates for both (unless he too is training).
Having said that, if you are flying for a commercial rating, I would suggest buying something much smaller (that is easy to sell) first so you can build time cheaply and at your convenience. If you can buy an IFR capable (think Nav/ILS/LOC, no GPS) Cessna 150/172 or Cherokee 160, they will use half the fuel of a 236, build the same skills, and be cheaper to insure. Then, once you have your CPL and IR, look to sell and buy into a partnership (or find a partner to buy with). While a good XC machine is cool, keep in mind that for ratings you need hours not miles. The transaction costs of buying and selling a good, solid smaller plane will be less than the difference in operating costs with the bigger faster aircraft. Plus you will not have to schedule around a partner.
Alternatives, look for existing partnerships in Arrows, 182s, and Commanches. Buying into an existing partnership may be better because the partners will have experience dealing with each other, and structures (or at least habits) in place to manage things with the other pilots. Just keep in mind that partnerships are harder to sell, and many existing ones will shy away from approving low time pilot new members.
Thanks for the partnership advice. This is really what I was looking for. So I didnt mention but I also have access to a 150 that I can fly fairly cheaply. (basically fuel cost) I have that option if I want it, and ill probably exercise it occasionally when I just want to go out and put around..But again, my primary goal here is to fly the family, and once i get commercial, co-workers and product. (payload is my main concern)
Lets say I were to take your advice, I could go by a 45,000 dollar 172 tomorrow. burn up 250 hours of engine, and then sell it for whatever. But I am concerned how long it would take me to sell. I see ALOT of small airplanes for sell, that have long posting dates on them. what the chances I could really move it quickly and get into something else?
The longer i stay on this forum the more I think I should just not partner and not rent and eat noodles.
I have a question for the OP.
When you talk about flying with four people, is this your family?
If so and two are kids, they likely don't weigh much either.
Big difference between four men that weigh 180 to 200 each, and one man at 180 to 200, wife between 100 to 140, and two kids who are maybe 30 to 80 each. Before my wife and one daughter passed away, the four of us could fly in a 172 with full tanks, and payload to spare. After many years of not owning a 172, but having several other planes since, I have ordered a new 172. My typical flying is about 40% alone, 30% the girlfriend and I, 20% the girlfriend our HUGE great dane (191 lbs ) and I, 10% the girlfriend my daughter ( now a grown adult) and our dog plus myself. Even if I have to leave a bit of fuel behind, even a 172 can easily fly any normal trip I want to do. Often a bigger and more powerful plane, is just not needed as often as people think they will use it. I bought a Bonanza not because I wanted it, but to keep my wife happy, when she was still alive she wanted more room for all of us, because we then also had two great danes, although they were normal size for a dane those two, not HUGE like my current dane is. Ive had 9 great danes, so i understand normal sized, and my current dane which is freakishly large, or as my vet puts it " I have never in my 35 year career as a vet seen a dane so large, I'm not sure whether to treat him as a dog or a horse".
So at the beginning, the bulk of my time will be alone. Once I get around 100 hours, and really feel comfortable (or however long it takes) i will rarely fly alone. Once i get a commercial, If Im not flying family, Ill be flying for work. Again, not alone. Yes your described the weights about right, but the kids do grow!
How did your 172 do on speed and range? Im not opposed to a cessna, but I really prefer a piper.
Sorry to hear about your wife and daughter.
Thanks for all your input everyone. I know I ask alot of questions about your points. Trust me I am just doing it to really try and get this straight in my head about what makes the most sense. I hope i didnt since like I was trying to debate anyone
) because of what it would take for him to rent to get the hours he needs, and the initial costs it would take for me to get a plane and instruct without going broke.
