Frankly, it's sad to read a pilot writing something like that. Let me suggest an three hour option that will allow you to arrive in style and relaxed...


Figure your making at least a buck and a quarter from Delta. Don't know if they are paying you for mileage, but 26 hours of windshield time between Delta trips must just suck for you and your family.

Speaking of family, trips to the beach are "currency." Besides, you need the tax write off.

Mine's an A36 now, but the F33 or 33-35 is a better machine unless you need the extra capability. I had a 33-35 with a fresh IO-550 by D'Shannon and all the go fast goodies that I sold when Delta hired me ... wish very badly I still had it. Best flying airplane ever built IMHO (and that includes the 757, heresey I know)


Plan B if you have no kids. Go for the parallel valve Lycoming powered M20C through J models. They're all good and very reliable. M20J - "205" or late as you can afford "201" since quality improved as time went on.

The six cylinder Mooney's never made much sense to me. At that point they perform much like a Bonanza, but just aren't nearly as comfortable and you're giving up 757 control coordination.

The tupperware airplanes are, again, a bit slower and thirstier than the Bonanzas. Some say they are comfortable, but the build quality of the early ones annoy me and the newer ones are very expensive. Most morons run the IO-500's hot on the ramp while playing with the avionics reducing the life of everything under the cowling. Cirrus needs an APU install for their customer base.

Bar, just wondering, what are the acquisition costs and overall care and feeding for the aforementioned aircraft? Seems like it's got to the point where most airline pilots can't afford a plane for themselves, am I wrong? How does one make that work?

I looked at it... notta chance on an FO's salary! I've gone the route where I trade being a CFI for use of my rich friend's plane. :) Much more cost effective.

If I did that I would go bankrupt. I've ran the numbers a dozen times because I would LOVE to have a nice ride that was a business expense. It's by far the most expensive way to travel for a small business owner and almost never makes financial sense.

That and flying 800 miles over the rockies in the winter in a Bonanza just doesn't seem like a good idea to me most days.

Dave ? knock, knock, knock.....Dave? knock, knock,knock......Iceman's not here, man.....

It helps if you can write it off as a business expense, but once you start writing off airplane stuff the IRS will audit you every year almost guaranteed. Even if the write off is legit, it's still the most expensive way to travel and with av-gas the price it is makes no financial sense no matter how you spin it.

Airline pilots could afford a Cessna 150......if you get an early model. :D

Maybe you should be hanging out with taller people in a more stable industry.

It really depends. Acquisition costs are typically less than some of the fancy new SUV's and BMW's many folks wives are driving. My F33 needed two wings, an engine inspection, new prop and a flap when I bought it as a "total loss" and started fixing it. The A36's costs are split three ways between business partners. Every airplane I've owned and sold has thus far turned a profit (although this A36 may not be so kind).

If you have a small business that requires travel, it's a no brainer, especially with the utilization Delta expects from us ... If you have to work during your off time, it might as well be fun and quick.

Staying with the BMW metaphor, how much routine, easy stuff, are you willing to do yourself? Would you fix a VANOS oil leak, or take it to a dealer? An uninformed consumer can get a $7,000 annual with less actual preventative work done than a smart guy armed with a Phillips head screwdriver and a couple of evenings can get done for $1,000. We just did an annual on a friend's cub for about $200 & a four pack of 90 minute IPA.

I like having partners to defray the fixed costs of ownership (hangar / annual / latest and greatest avionics (ie toys)) These things need to run more than most do. More it operates, the more reliable and the longer it lasts.

On the cheap, something like a Piper Pacer would be a great bet. I've owned one and it was so inexpensive that I barely ever recall spending more than cash in my pocket to keep it going. Something like this will probably be my next acquisition; something cheap enough to go out with the kiddos and play with.


We've got a good number of Delta pilots who have aircraft at Peachtree City, GA. There's got to be half of an RV-6 or something to get into down there. If you found a deal like that your operational costs would run between $40 and $100 an hour. Hangar, Insurance, Annual would be $200 to $300 a month, possibly less. In any event, cheaper than a Ski Boat (figure what a boat costs you by hour...) I think my Pacer (if I can find one) has a home at a friend's fly in community with a quality mo-gas tank. If so, that thing will be nearly free to keep and operate.

Good stuff bar, thanks. I assume a float plane would be the worst of both worlds...

That is just not true ... do you know of a single example? I don't.

It has been my observation that audits are triggered by a lot of income with very little tax paid, or paperwork discrepancies.