GogglesPisano

I would think you could have more fun with a comparably-priced boat if you live near a large body of water.

I honestly have no idea which is more expensive in the long run, but I do know that ocean-access slips are ungodly expensive.

iaflyer

I owned an older 310 for a few years. Nice to own a plane but it gets expensive quickly. Here are three things I'd do before I bought another plane:

1) be in a partner ship with 3-5 people. Helps spread out the fixed costs, helps a lot
2) have a mechanic as part of the partnership or closely connected (ie, friend or some financial arrangement to trade flight time for mechanic work. Lets little things get fixed speedily and without a high cost
3) live on an airpark or live very close to the airplane. Every 10 minutes away is just that much further you drive. Further away means less chance of "hey, lets jump in the the plane and go flying".

Forgotmywallet

At least with a Navajo you could tell people you’re spending a ton of money on your Ho. 🤣 It still doesn’t make the pain of an $11000 Annual go away but it’s fun to say....

I’d also add to the discussion: partner with a guy that owns a hangar - as in sold his plane looking for another.

Smokey23

If Mike Busch is worried about where the new crop of A&Ps will come from, then I'm worried about where the new crop of A&Ps will come from!

The Looming Mechanic Shortage

Forgotmywallet

Local community college maintenance program is in the same situation. Used to have a waiting list now enrollment at 20%.

CX500T

They really need a "private" equivalent for A&P..

A&P is kind of like a Comm Pilot, you can do this for money, but not everything.
IA is top of the heap, so ATP..

But there is no PP-ASEL equivalent where you can work on say, planes under 12,500 pounds not in commercial service. I don't need 2 years of school to change and time a Mag on a Twin Bonanza.

goinaround

I built and own/fly an experimental RV-7. No way I’d own anything other than experimental. But I know how to wrench and enjoy doing so.....

OP might be interested in checking out the RV-10.

hindsight2020

I'm not interested in building, but I hear ya brother, setting my sights to RV land myself. This certified stuff has absolutely sucked the enjoyment out of the hobby for me in the last decade or so. I don't mind spending the money, but the frustration and constant "Dr. No" responses to anything and everything for money spent? Yeah that has finally worn thin on me. So I'm joining the side that's getting the significantly better regulatory and cost deal in the long run.

I was hoping back in 2012-2013 the part 23 re-write would galvanize real regulatory relief, but it fizzled into a complete ineffectual nothingburger. I suspect the same will occur with MOSAIC in another decade's time. Thing's toast. To quote OKC's Sweet Brown: "Ain't nobody got time fo dat." Justice delayed is justice denied. Time to go Exp-AB while the sun is still shining on my medical ability to fly. A plug for BasicMed as well, about the only positive thing to come out of so-called regulatory relief in damn near 25 years afaic. Cheers!

p3flteng

until you scree up Finding the degree At where the impulse coupling is firing, or maybe that starter ring gear doesn’t have the degrees etched....what do u do then? Well, it’s also not so much about the risk your willing to assume with performing your own maintenance With out a license, it’s the risk that is transferred to the next owner and the one after that. Be very , and I mean very careful when you start doing that.
A and P prices will fluctuate with the market, like our costs, when there is the inevitable pilot shortage...

Tandem46

Agree 1000 times! Nothing can offer more bang for the buck. Been flying my RV-7 for 16yrs. Aerobatics, formation, 700nm leg ccx’s, aircraft camping, OSH, S&F, etc, etc. +6/-3 G. Mine tops out at 183KIAS, cruises at 170KIAS, or pull power back, go lean side of peak and get 150KIAS on 6.0gph. Some days I want a bush plane, but it’s just so darn hard to beat an RV. As Vans says, Total Performance. It’s not necessarily the best at any one thing, but it does a lot of things very well.