Why we all want to own.

smigaldi said:
I think that was the effect he was going for. But it was not so bad when he explained that the price was not just the engine, but a new prop and an engine analyzer.
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The "while we're there" maintenance items can be pretty expensive. That's what ended up almost doubling the cost of my avionics upgrade. While the guy was in there, he added the music jacks, fixed a few other problems, and rewired the audio panel. I'm significantly more confident in my plane's electrical reliability now, but that's one of those things that hurts when you get the bill.
 
My airplane mechanic makes less than the guy who works on my bike. I certainly don't have the time to do it all, so I don't mind one bit. If I did I'd buy an experimental.
 
Psychology is a strange thing..
It costs me more to own than rent...
Yet, when I am between planes, and renting, I fly far less... Something psychological about the Hobbs meter running and I can see the dollars adding up... Yet, I will sign a 3 grand check for the annual and just shrug...

denny-o
 
steingar said:
My airplane mechanic makes less than the guy who works on my bike.
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That's so pathetic. Yet the bike mechanic doesn't have a license to loose, doesn't have to worry about the DOT doing an "inspection" or the labyrinth of "Regulations" to comply with. Not to mention having to sign for his work.
 
tonycondon said:
they havent really spent anything maintenance wise yet. they are coming up on their first oil change, will probably do that this week. need to rotate the tires too.that should be a good training opportunity

we did install 4 pt harnesses but that didnt cost more than the money for the belts plus an hour of A&P time to fill out the paperwork. need to do the same thing with fuel tank sumps sometime soon, they are leaking a little.

150s are cheap to maintain.
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That statement got a chuckle from me. I am repairing a nose strut and steering to stop a nose wheel shimmy,

the steering tubes that stick out of the bottom of the fuselage and attach the rudder pedals to the nose strut, are $1300+ for one and the other is $900.
The strut has a bronze bushing mounted in the lower end to guide the chrome portion into and out of the upper tube, $300. strut repck kit (7 pieces) $100.

1, 0-200 cylinder $731 plus 2 rocker arms at $240 each.

here is why we are replacing the cylinder. Thank you auto gas, some body likes auto fuel with alcohol, it is corrosive as it gets, and when you corrode the valves in the engine it gets expensive.
 

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Ted DuPuis said:
The "while we're there" maintenance items can be pretty expensive. That's what ended up almost doubling the cost of my avionics upgrade. While the guy was in there, he added the music jacks, fixed a few other problems, and rewired the audio panel. I'm significantly more confident in my plane's electrical reliability now, but that's one of those things that hurts when you get the bill.
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I learned to hate the "ya know, you ought to <> while you are at it"
when I was overhauling my cherokee.
 
steingar said:
My airplane mechanic makes less than the guy who works on my bike.
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Your mechanic needs a lesson in economics. I havea very short customer list. and I make way more than a bike mechanic.

My shop time is $50 per hour, and is the cheapest in the area. our local cessna dealer is $180 per hour shop time.
 
My mechanic is excellent and inexpensive. I should note that I pay less for him than the bike (read motorcycle) mechanic. That said, I wouldn't be surprised at all if he made far more than the motorcycle mechanic. I certainly prefer his company, at least in part since his face isn't covered in tattoos.
 
So - that spreadsheet....anyone still have it? I can't find it anywhere.
 
tonycondon said:
150s are cheap to maintain.
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That's if you maintain them right every year and not skimp on doing the needed repairs. I bought my C150 in February and in June when the annual was done I had a $3200.00 bill for my first annual. Those little things the previous owner put off caught up with me. The pre-buy caught some of them, but not all, so you can imagine how surprised I was when I got the bill.

The joys of ownership, I wouldn't have it any other way.:yes:
 
Tom-D said:
My shop time is $50 per hour
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Tom -- I think he was talking about shop time -- not what the motorcycle mechanic actually gets paid.

You'll find that shop time in a motorcycle shop exceeds $50 per hour in a lot of areas.
 
What's the name of the Cessna shop? I need to put it in my address book in big red letters.
Tom-D said:
Your mechanic needs a lesson in economics. I havea very short customer list. and I make way more than a bike mechanic.

My shop time is $50 per hour, and is the cheapest in the area. our local cessna dealer is $180 per hour shop time.
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Anthony said:
However, if and when I do decide to upgrade from the Tiger it will most likely be in a shared ownership arrangement of some kind.
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Partnership has worked out very well for Brent and I. No problems with aircraft availability, and splitting all those fixed costs is fantastic.

We might consider a third partner someday, or not. Added partners is diminished returns.
 
jesse said:
Nice Tony.....now I will be thinking of airplane ownership all day..not that I don't already.
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Same here... I'm ready to own. But I keep pretty busy taking care of this beast in the picture below, plus about 5 gliders. I don't do all the owner approved maintenance myself, but I do keep on top of it, schedule "work crews" and make sure an IA is available for the owner assisted annuals.

At least I'm not writing the checks.
 
Bill Jennings said:
Partnership has worked out very well for Brent and I. No problems with aircraft availability, and splitting all those fixed costs is fantastic.

We might consider a third partner someday, or not. Added partners is diminished returns.
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First you need another engine. ;)
 
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