I agree, you don't even have to win the lotto. If you are an A&P you can get an old beat up 152 for dirt cheap and fix it up - why didn't you just do this from the beginning? You would have saved yourself a small fortune. And you wouldn't have a XC problem. I know parts are expensive but as an A&P all your labor is free and there are multiple junk yards where you can get parts at a fraction of the price of Aircraft Spruce. JD, how did you do all your initial training?