Friend looking to buy

Taha

Taha

Well-Known Member
A close friend and coworker of mine (also a pilot) is looking to buy an airplane. Actually his parents are the ones with the money to buy, but he will fly it. He hasn't flown much in the last few years, I would be his CFI to get him current again and help with the buying process. I was looking for advice since I've never owned an airplane before, and really don't have much time in the type of airplane they are looking for. The basic mission would be between Asheville, Atlanta, and Hilton Head. They are dead set on six seats, though I'm not sure why, and also a retrac. The main airplanes that come to mind are a 210, Lance, or Bonanza. The budget at this point seems to be $80,000, which the Lance seems to be the front runner, but that still seems like a stretch. Any advice, input?
 
Avoid the T tail or turbo lance.

Don't want a turbo if you are instructing in it - that sounds like the case, judging by your post anyway.

Advise that MX costs will be substantial for any aircraft and that it wont be like buying a car. The 80k is the entry cost. Mx is a lot more.
 
Taha said:
Any advice, input?
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PM sent.

Basically, I think you need to talk to an aircraft broker in depth to find the right fit.

There is no way to tell what they need, even knowing the details you listed.

Why are they dead set on a 6 seat retract? How much people/cargo are they carrying? Will it be year-round under IFR, or on nice, easy, VFR summer days? How much experience does their pilot have? How many trips/year are they talking about flying it? How did they determine $80k was their price range? What is their budget for fuel/insurance/maintenance?

Most first time aircraft owners don't know what they don't know. I work with one client who, when he first contacted us, thought he needed a $50k 172. When he found out the capabilities (or lack thereof) of a 172, the tax benefits of using an aircraft for business, and the terms used in aircraft financing, he ultimately ended up with a 2006 Turbo 182.

Another client initially said he wanted a $25k 152 to cruise around with on the weekends. He ended up getting a $75k 172RG.

With both of these guys, I honestly think they got the right aircraft for their budget/mission. Their initial thoughts were totally off base.

Not saying that's necessarily the leap your clients might want to take, but it goes to show just how uninformed the majority of people are until they've been around aviation for a long time.
 
The actual buyers have the attitude at the moment that 80k is going to get them something like a brand new luxury car. Honestly I think a 172 would work. It's early in the process.
 
For 80k you're not going to be able to find a good condition Lance / A36, however, you will be able to find an older 210, but they're not a six seat aircraft.
I would look at a Cherokee 6. It will do everything the other aircraft will do, just at a slower speed.
 
Erik1010 said:
For 80k you're not going to be able to find a good condition Lance / A36, however, you will be able to find an older 210, but they're not a six seat aircraft.
I would look at a Cherokee 6. It will do everything the other aircraft will do, just at a slower speed.
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You might be able to find a really early 36, but its not going to be a good looking airplane for sure. Same with a Lance, early model, not a looker, but it might be possible on an 80K budget. Probably have to just be happy with whatever panel is in it too.
 
Just remember, you get what you pay for. There is no need to cut corners to make a good deal that will turn around and bite you in a year or two.

That is just my .2.
 
I pretty much agree with what everybody has said. It will be a few months before I think they really get serious. They just sold a house that was already paid for for over 2 million. I have no idea how much more money they have. This guys dad is much like mine, scared when he flies on any airplane, I doubt he would ever fly on any piston single, which is why I don't understand the six seat thing. I think they might change their tune when they see an old 70 or 80s model airplane and up the budget, or say forget it altogether.
 
I wish they would get a multi. On a selfish level it would benefit me because nobody will really look at me with only 25 hours of ME but just shy of 1200 total. My friend, however, has 400 something multi but 600 total... Well, maybe it wouldn't help because I'm not an MEI. They really don't need a multi though from what I gather.
 
Taha said:
I wish they would get a multi. On a selfish level it would benefit me because nobody will really look at me with only 25 hours of ME but just shy of 1200 total. My friend, however, has 400 something multi but 600 total... Well, maybe it wouldn't help because I'm not an MEI. They really don't need a multi though from what I gather.
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Honestly I would never buy a multi, unless I need more room and go faster but in that case I would still rather buy a PC12...

My Boss owns two twin engine, an Aero Commander (the overhaul of the geared engines costs a fortune) and the Seneca II, he would not even fly around the pattern in a single engine, but he had so many problems with this planes, he really uses the planes to carry 4 peoples max, for me it`s just a waste of money....we did a trip in the Seneca last summer, well it ended up to be about 1.5 hours less then I use to take with the Archer, I was flying on the same route with similar weather conditions, the trip ended up being 3 times more expensive, we could have carried the same stuff in the Archer....and slept by the Beach instead of Best Western by the Interstate.
 
Yeah but theres no way you can compare a PC-12 with a used 6 seat multi. The price difference alone is way to drastic for most entry level aircraft buyers.
 
So many concerns about recip singles are being expressed here as if they'll kill anyone who flies in one. It's all about managing risk: Make sure that your airplane receives all the care it needs from people you trust, establish and adhere to personal weather minimums, run the IM SAFE exercise each time you go, use checklists and keep current. Learn about military and/or airline CRM and integrate these practices into your single-pilot flying. At the other end of the spectrum is "kick the tires & light the fires." Twins are more expensive to buy, fly, maintain and insure, and more difficult for a pilot to learn and fly with proficiency, therefore they inflict lots more pain on non-professional pilots in many more ways.

And when they get to their short list of aircraft types, pull NTSB accident reports on them and learn what brought them down.

Finally, since he's a low-time pilot, he should read Sullenberger's book. Methinks all pilots should.
 
Italianaviator said:
Yeah but theres no way you can compare a PC-12 with a used 6 seat multi. The price difference alone is way to drastic for most entry level aircraft buyers.
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I agree, but there are many options out there with one engine and six seats, for me if it has to be a twin than I will probably need something a lot bigger then just a plane with 6 seats, most planes that fit that category are still cheaper then a PC12, but if money is not a problem.....
 
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