Aircraft Ownership

So, what is it like to own an airplane?  I suppose it is different for others so I can only answer what it is like for me. But for sure it's not like owning anything else.

I never dreamed of owning an airplane. Oh, I flew commercially once in a while, and of course I saw small planes at airports occasionally and I flew some as an Aviation Electronics Technician in the Navy.  But never in my wildest dreams did I think I would ever own and fly an airplane. I was 50 before I even entertained such an idea as getting a pilot's license. Our kids were grown and gone, my wife was going back to school getting advanced degrees, my career was going literally nowhere, so "What the heck, might as well give it a try".

I was well into my flight training before buying 146. I read about as much as I could on airplanes and really took a liking to 150s.  I guess it just happened that I had the money, the price was right, and the airplane was for sale.  I'd like to think I knew a lot about the purchase and the airplane but alas, much of it was just really good luck. I have seen a lot of 150s over the years and I don't consider many as nice as 146 mostly because it is low time and because it hasn't been part of a flight school fleet.  The pre-purchase inspection revealed it was a good airplane with a high time engine and poor radios.  I figured I would address the problems as needed but for a price of incredibly low price of $8,750 I could own an airplane, so I bought it.  It was October of 1993.

Today owning and flying my own airplane is a major part of my life. Hardly a day goes by without thinking of 146 in one way or another.  Although I don't fly a lot, maybe 60 hrs a year at the most, I really enjoy tinkering with the airplane, which is unlike many pilots I guess. To my way of thinking, expense is considerable. Not counting the cost of the airplane and the overhaul, I spend about $4,500 per year with this activity.  This first 7 years I've spent just over $44,000 on this airplane that's worth I've been told $23,000.  I don't like to think about that part. Retirement hasn't seemed to allow me to spend more time with the airplane and flying. In fact I'm probably spending less as we've bought an Airstream travel trailer and seem to spend quite a bit of time with it. Wives seem to have a lot of influence on airplane ownership as generally they are not that enthusiastic about aviation interests. Mine it typical in that she puts up with it pretty well. I enjoy the time I do spend with 146 and enjoy the opportunity to let others know of my experiences via the Internet.  Each week, I write of my aviation experiences so others may know what it is like for one person to own and fly a Cessna 150 airplane.

2008 was a big year for 146 as we bought a lot on an airstrip in Salome Arizona and had a hangar erected on it. It does have to share the space with an Airstream travel trailer and it is a couple of hours from my home in Prescott Arizona,so I don't get to spend as much time with the airplane as I would like. Also I inherited some money that year and have been spending more on the airplane than I normally would have.

For the over fifteen years, I've made weekly news entries except when we have been traveling, about my experiences with 146. Each Monday I'll try to continue to update the "News" part of this web page to inform those interested about my experiences.

For comments, suggestions, or questions please e-mail me at ken@cessna150.net.