Fixed Wing Add on / plane purchase
 

I am currently an AH-64D/E Instructor Pilot. Before that I was a mechanic on them. I am active duty Army Warrant Officer. My civilian ratings are Commercial Instrument Rotary Wing, CFI CFII, Airframe and Powerplant Licence. All my experience is on turbine helicopters the Apache to be specific. I want to get into fixed wing flying as a hobby so I can share flying with my family. I have about 1600 flight hours in rotary wing. My budget to buy a plane to learn to fly in is about $40k and about $350 a month all in. Does anyone have a suggestion on what I should look at buying. How much insurance would be etc.. I'm embarrassed I don't know a lot about fixed wing but am about to pursue my PPL.

Bear in mind that the purchase price is only a slice of the picture when it comes to owning an aircraft. If you're a student pilot learning in that aircraft, your insurance will be considerably higher, and most any instructor is going to want coverage for him or her, too (added expenses).

Make sure you get a thorough pre-buy inspection. That first annual tends to be expensive (don't let a seller con you into taking the aircraft with a fresh annual from his favorite shade-tree IA). Look into hangar availability; it's often a lot harder to come by than you think. Remember that operating expenses include maintenance, which should be at least your cost of fuel + insurance per hour, set aside and waiting. Be wary of overhauls, especially top overhauls, and recently changed cylinders.

A good starting point for your first fixed wing will be something like a Cessna 172 or a Piper Cherokee.

You indicated that you're a former military mechanic. Did you get your FAA certification? If so, you can legally work on your own aircraft, but if not, then you'll be limited to preventative maintenance outlined in 14 CFR 43 Appendix A. Bear in mind that if you don't have experience maintaining a light airplane, the mechanic certificate is a license to learn, so don't be afraid to counsel with others and bring others in to assist and help you learn.

172. Just don't try to hover it and you'll be G2G. Also, you won't be a "student pilot" when adding your f/w. Just go right to the commercial. Do the training, get a solo endorsement, and get 50 PIC/solo.

I agree, that going for the commercial add-on is a no brainer! Problem is, you need a complex (retractable gear) to get the commercial add-on and that adds a lot of cost to buying your personal airplane. A Cessna 172 with a 180 hp engine would be my first choice because I live in the Rockies and appreciate the horse power. I used to own a C-172 with the 150 hp and its not enough! 160 hp ....maybe. Plus I like the high wing for sightseeing.

Having an A&P is great but you still need to get an IA to sign off the annual inspections. If your goals are to fly for pleasure, the PPL privileges is adequate. You can always add on other ratings down the road!

He can take the CPL practical in the 172 and demonstrate "complex proficiency" in an RG. It's just like doing the ME CPL first.

What about 10 hours complex dual in an airplane? Are you saying retract helicopter counts?

http://releaf.co/wp-content/uploads/...impson-doh.jpg


Can I blame it on being Monday?

"Can I blame it on being Monday?[/QUOTE]

Nah, it's good thinking! If it were me I would fly my personal airplane until I had the commercial add-on hours then instead of ten hours dual in a complex single engine I would go for 10 hours dual in a light twin ie: Seminole, Seneca. Get the Commercial Multi Instrument add-on then do the check ride in my personal plane for the commercial single engine add-on because I already demonstrated complex in the multi. But that's probably too much info for what this guy wants to do!


For insurance quotes there are a few companies out there.
https://www.avemco.com/

Remember, "if you want to turn a large fortune into a small fortune invest in aviation." I'm now in a club but we are loosing a lot of members due to costs and lack of interest.

Not worried about commercial ratings for FW
 

Thanks for the feedback. Still not getting any idea on insurance for a pilot with over 1000 hours in a 172. I was looking at a 150 since they seem to be mid $20k and cheap to operate. Aside from purchase price is a 172 significantly more expensive to operate. The Annual inspection isn't a big deal I have plenty of friends that are IA for their own planes. They all fly money's but those seem to be out of my budget right now.

I thought you wanted something for the Family? A Cessna 150 burns about 5 to 6 gallons an hour. Believe it or not, the Cessna 172 is about the same cost to insure, maintain, buy parts, etc. as a C150. It burns around 7 to 8 gallons an hour with a 150 hp engine and you can get one with a fairly good instrument panel. I would avoid the 6 cylinder Continental engine, seems to not cool evenly and has a lower TBO. The 4 cylinder Lycoming is virtually bullet proof and has a high TBO. Insurance depends on what you want and how high the deductible just like a car they have hull damage, medical and liability. It's been 15 years ago since I owned my C172 and it cost me about $1500 a year. You need to call Avemco for a quote since prices have changed! Ask them for a quote on a 1976 C172 M model for a private pilot.

POH
http://www.blueridgesportflight.com/C172MPOH.pdf