WyoDave
Well Known Member
Please indulge me. I?m a low time pilot, about 90 hrs. While I?ve wanted to be a pilot since a child, I could never justify the cost/benefit ratio for my family Then, at the age of 46, I learned about RVs and I decided I couldn?t justify putting off getting my PPL any longer (midlife crisis?, whatever). I was at a point where finances and career schedule allowed it. I commuted 110 miles one way to Driggs, ID for most of my PPL (That?s another story and part of the cost of living in a sparsely populated area of Wyoming, my choice). Now I?ve got my PPL, but the 172 I trained in (or any other rental) is no longer available locally. I need to buy a plane!
Fun, easy, and ?economical? to fly are important parts of my mission. Flying with my 16 yr old son while he is still at home is a MUST in the mission. He is currently 6?-1?/210#, increasing daily. So I don?t think the 4 would work for me at this time. An 8 would be great, but we couldn?t build one before he moves on. And my current price range for a flying plane is $40k to $65K. Also, along with all that, I want something that will help me learn to be a better pilot. Longer cross country (WY to TX) would be an eventual but currently lower priority in the mission. In a few yrs I think building will fit into the journey. But not right now.
A 6 seems to fit the mission. But, at this stage of my flying experience, I wonder if I would be biting off more than I could chew? I?ve seen Citabrias mentioned a lot on this site. After readiing about them they seem like they might fit most of the mission and be a good learning step. I don?t currently have TD training and there is no training available locally. But I?ll find a way to get that done.
So, to sum it all up, I guess what I?m asking: is a Citabria a better first step, build/buy an RV later? Or should I jump right into an RV6?
Fun, easy, and ?economical? to fly are important parts of my mission. Flying with my 16 yr old son while he is still at home is a MUST in the mission. He is currently 6?-1?/210#, increasing daily. So I don?t think the 4 would work for me at this time. An 8 would be great, but we couldn?t build one before he moves on. And my current price range for a flying plane is $40k to $65K. Also, along with all that, I want something that will help me learn to be a better pilot. Longer cross country (WY to TX) would be an eventual but currently lower priority in the mission. In a few yrs I think building will fit into the journey. But not right now.
A 6 seems to fit the mission. But, at this stage of my flying experience, I wonder if I would be biting off more than I could chew? I?ve seen Citabrias mentioned a lot on this site. After readiing about them they seem like they might fit most of the mission and be a good learning step. I don?t currently have TD training and there is no training available locally. But I?ll find a way to get that done.
So, to sum it all up, I guess what I?m asking: is a Citabria a better first step, build/buy an RV later? Or should I jump right into an RV6?