Maybe RV-9A??
 

I have been a private pilot for 22 years and owned my own plane now for 10 years. I now do all my own maintenance and annuals on my '66 Mooney M20F with AI sign off. I really do all the work and I'm no stranger DIY and mechanical repairs.

I'm getting burned out on flying altogether and I think I'm going to sell my Mooney next year. It's just so old and been through so much. I get tired of old if you know what I mean. Also a Mooney is a pain to work on. I don't think I'm 100% ready to quit flying though.

I don't actually use my plane for any practical purpose what so ever. Just for my own enjoyment. My wife hates to fly in it and because I won't guarantee her airline reliability, we don't travel in it. So I just buzz around and enjoy the view these days.

I think an RV-9A might be more suited to me these days because it would be newer and hopefully easier to annual. The annuals are grinding on me as I do all the work. My question is, can I afford an RV-9?

I think I can get $60-$65 for my Mooney. Is there any world where you can get and RV-9 for that? I might be willing to spend a little more, but at some point, screw it. Flying has already robbed me of enough wealth. I just need basic VFR at this point. I gave up instrument flying years ago. Staying current was killing my love for flying too.

quick one, forget the -9 idea and get a -3

It would fit both your profile and your wallet.

That's what I would recommend as well. If your wife is hating it anyway, might as well fly alone! (Or change wives, but that would probably cost a lot more than changing airplanes...)

I know a guy who sold his old Mooney and bought a 9. I asked him which one overall did he prefer. he said the overall experience with the 9 is better but he has fond memories of the Mooney.

Would a -12 fit your mission.

It maybe hard to find a -9A for that price, but when you do it will be basic VFR and probably seem gauges. Looks like the type of flying you're doing wouldn't require anything but the basics anyway.

I went through a buying decision last year. I was looking at Mooneys, Bonanzas and RVs. I decided on a RV-9A for my mission and couldn't be happier. I have hundreds of hours in Mooneys and Beech products and they are great airplanes, but the RV-6/7/9 are great for what I needed.

One thing to consider is that you'll be able to afford more in the RV than in the Mooney. Hull coverage on a Mooney is more than 2 times that of a RV-9A because of its gear history. I was quoted $2000/year for Mooney, $800 for RV and $1200 for older Bonanza...all with similar hull coverage. With the monthly insurance savings you could get a very nice RV-9A.

This...RV-12 has great visibility if you like flying around looking at stuff, and other than the carb float issues the 912 is a great engine.

The 12 is just a great airplane, no way around it. I have a buddy that just bought a nice one for 55k.

Maybe, but they don't seem to be any cheaper.

And that's another question for you all. Insurance. When I asked my current insurance agent he told me that my insurance would go up with a Vans until I got 100 hours in type. For years I paid $1100, but this year it went up to $1400 for no reason. I guess everybody's went up. He seemed to think a Vans would cost me a lot, but I wonder if there is a Vans insurance specialist to talk to.

Yes, basic VFR is fine. Steam gauges are fine.