Need help deciding on a first plane
 

As the title states, I'm looking to buy my very first airplane, and I'm turning to you all for advice.

A little background: I'm a 25 year old, recently married, private pilot. I have had my PPL certificate for approximately 4 years and I only have 70 hours or so, which means that I fly a whole lot less than I'd like to. I am obsessed with Van's planes, but have come to the realization that it makes more sense for me to buy now and build later. This is due to the fact that I am a frequent business traveller, and need/want to spend time with my wife when I'm home on the weekends. I fly my father-in-law's Diamond DA-40 about once a month, but I'm not yet on the insurance (again, less than 100 hours in my logbook,) and I can't take the plane out by myself.

Having said all of that, I'm looking to buy my first plane. I am turning to you guys to give some advice on what planes you have owned/frequently flown in the past, and what you liked/disliked about those planes.

I am looking to spend $25,000 or less. I do not currently have a tailwheel endorsement, but it is something I would like to get, and taildraggers are certainly not out of the question. I have access to a hangar and I would be flying off of a 3000 ft. grass strip. I would like a plane that has a low fuel burn, but is enough of an airplane to do mild cross countries in (around the state of FL and maybe up into the other SE states.) Basically, an airplane that I could build hours in and my wife and I could use for fun little trips.

A guy can only browse barnstormers.com for so long before his head begins to spin. Thanks in advance for your help!

One suggestion - look at cost of ownership, mainly parts and labor for maintenance, not just purchase price.

If you do this, I think you'll find there are really only a handful of aircraft that fall under your price cap AND can be reasonably maintained. That price range would cover a nice Cessna 150/152, or an older, sparsely equipped (say pre-1969) Cessna 172 or Piper Cherokee, maybe a Grumman Traveler/Cheetah of the same vintage.

All of those planes are solid, predictable ships that meet the requirements in your last paragraph.

I've flown C-150s/152s and owned a '75 Skyhawk for a while. In summary: Safe, sturdy, low fuel burn, predictable handling, good short-field characteristics, good resale, good parts availability, poor visibility in the pattern, slow, not aerobatic, pedestrian looks, high-cost parts (true for all certified ships).

I HIGHLY recommend the used aircraft guide that Aviation Consumer puts out. It is a very good guide to the available models (drastic changes over the years in some cases), and also has a section for each model with a lot of "real-world" experiences from owners.

As much as I hate to say it, chances of finding a nice RV for that price range, already flying, is going to be somewhat slim. Not that you won't be able to, but it will probably take a while. I'm sure most would agree that an RV-9/9a would be best suited for a low time pilot, but you would probably have to build and even then it's going to be double what your price is.

Here's what I would consider:

1. Cessna 150: yeah, I know...I have hundreds of hours in them too, but they are cheap!
2. Grumman AA-1A: two seats, but low fuel burns and a little quicker
3. old Cessna 172: if you look I'm sure you can find one.

If you really want a homebuilt:

1. Zenith Zodiacs
2. Rans S-6's
3. VariEze/Long EZ

I'm sure more will reply, but I wanted to ask as well...for someone in your situation, you could always try to buy into a partnership...that may help things! :)

Best of luck to you regardless!! :D

Best airplane is the one owned by somebody else... :) So, why not spend just a fraction of that money and build up those 30 hours or so... then get your paws on that DA-40... it'll be cheaper in the long run if you let the old man worry about maintenance and other fixed costs ;)

If you're going certified, and looking for the most "fun" for your dollar, while having a plane that can do weekend cross-countries (or more, if you are hard-core), the AA1's are hard to beat - if you can find a nice one. Parts are starting to get a little hard to come by, but as long as you memorize Fletchair's phone number (they own most of the available spares), you can fly something that will prepare you well for the step up to RV's.

Show of hands please...how many of us moved from Yankees to RV's? uh-huh....quite a few!

Paul

Best bang for the buck would be a Piper Tri Pacer or better yet a Pacer. Get the Pacer and get a tailwheel endorsement and after flying it for a year or two you will have no problem moving up to an RV. Don

Get a ragwing!
 

I'd second the Pacer or Tri-Pacer, but the first place I'd steer you would be to a Citabria, probably a 7ECA. Just a step up from an Aeronca Champ, which would also be a great choice but a little bit more spartan.

George

I came in via the Pacer. That is a fine airplane and fine preparation for the RV.

Ditto
 

Ditto on the Tri-Pacer. I am on my 2nd "Short Wing" Piper. You may want to check out the Short Wing Piper Club Website for more info. The planes are great for the money you spend. Hope this helps. http://www.shortwing.org/TestSite/index.php

try a 150, piper "traumahawk" (tomahawk) or beech skipper... piper 140's can be had right on the "cusp" of 25k... Grumman Yankee's are around there too...
I'm in the same boat, married, 27, house etc... except i only have 22 hours! and no stepfather with a plane either!
I'm leaning twards the Yankee, or Skipper...