5 Things That Surprised Me Owning a Plane (Cessna 182)

[@AirplaneAcademy]

Hey guys! I wanted to let you know I just launched an "Insiders" Newsletter where once a week I'm sharing an important lesson I've learned in aviation, links to my latest content so you don't miss out, and links to any other interesting or helpful content I've found. I'm also working on a HUGE project I can't announce yet but I'm going to be sharing more behind the scenes info with Insiders first - Subscribe (it's free) at: airplaneacademy.com/insiders

[@waynefelton6413]

Really enjoyed this video. I think I have around 800 hours in this a 182 and remember how great an aircraft it was. I started flying at 15 and got my private at 16. I'm 75 now but so many fond memories that come with that 182. Thanks for stirring up those adventures again for me. 😊

[@AirplaneAcademy]

Awesome - thanks for sharing that here. 182 is such a good plane!

[@scottw5315]

I'm on my 11th and soon to be 12th airplane. If you are flying on a budget like most of us, I highly recommend experimental/homebuilts. Maintenance is the biggest black hole in airplane ownership. The costs of maintaining airplanes will break many owners. Experimentals are very simple airplanes. They are easy to work on. Parts are a fraction of the price for certified aircraft parts, for the same part. The built in layers and layers of liability costs keep certified airplanes very expensive to own and maintain as well as their parts. The courts have been very good to the experimental/homebuilt community. Every airplane in that category has the placard, amateur built. This saved them from endless litigation that keeps manufacturers on the verge of bankruptcy in the certified category. Any A&P can do a conditional inspection, think annual, on a homebuilt. A certified airplane requires an IA. They are fewer in number and will require more $$$ for their work. More, the experimental fleet is brand new compared to the piston GA fleet. I don't know but I'd say the average certified piston airplane is forty years old. Most experimentals have been built in the last couple of decades. If I had to guess I'd say the average age of the experimental fleet is probably ten to fifteen years. Why does this matter? Age is a factor and obviously ten year old wiring is better than forty year old wiring. The same can be said for all systems. Finally, the performance of the homebuilt/experimentals far exceeds that of certified airplanes. The Lancair IV which has been around a few decades is a legitimate four place 300 knot airplane. Whether speed is your goal or STOL, bush flying, cloud chasing or whatever you fancy, that airplane is in the experimental/homebuilt community at a small fraction of similar airplanes in the certified category.

[@DucttapesUnicycle]

A client of mine got a real gem of a 182. We just swapped all the position and landing lights with LED. He’s one of my favorite clients. No matter how expensive a fix or a project is he takes it in stride and thanks me for the work. I go out of my way to save him some money when I can because of how great he is to work with.

[@antoniog9814]

3:14 Charlie...Charlie! A can of white spray paint is waaay cheaper than $900.

[@randyhome1544]

Or just buy a new plane.

[@ssnerd583]

THIS!!! THIS is the answer!!!@@randyhome1544

[@joelamb3581]

Gotta add the cost of sandpaper and primer too, if you really want to be fancy with it.

[@gazratjackson]

And then you get overspray on the neighbours 152 and have to pay $1500 cut and polish fee 😭

[@lawman5511]

I thought the same thing. I actually did that.

[@josepha7621]

Hands down one of the best videos I've seen on aircraft ownership. Straight to the point with helpful advice sprinkled in! Thank you for the video.

[@AirplaneAcademy]

Thank you! I appreciate that and am glad you found it helpful. Cheers

[@karrpilot7092]

When I see junk and a hangar turned into a storage shed, I know why there's a hangar shortage. There's aircraft at my home base that haven't flown in years. But yet they're in a hangar.

[@Wes-x9p]

I will never give up my hangar,

[@industrieundtechnik1761]

If you find a nice 414a I can buy let me know.

[@jumpAmonkey]

I've done the big boat; the big bus, but skipped the plane. The rule of the 3 Fs is definitely valuable advice here - - rent it!

[@countryfence8111]

Good video. I've owned planes for 30 years, and in most part I agree. My points: 5) is (obviously) location dependant...fortunately where I live, hangars are easy and cheap to get...and I think hangars are ABSOLUTELY necessary for ownership, as outdoor storage is so hard on a plane. 4) Very very true, but there are usually ways to cut down on costs. 3) Good pre-buy, not being in a hurry, and being willing to walk away from a deal can avoid this one completely. 2) Although true, these expenses are minor in the overall scheme of things, and you can calculate what these expenses will be before ownership. 1) Also true and surprising at times. Fortunately for me, my life partner LOVES to fly, my ex-wife wouldn't fly at all (and probably one of the main reasons she is my ex), so I almost always have a "flying buddy".

[@reyesben]

Always the most honest and accurate Aviation info. That’s what I love about Charlie I think that’s his name.

[@AirplaneAcademy]

Thank you! And yep, Charlie

[@LarryB-inFL]

Personally, my number one surprise was how very much time and money got spent doing upgrades or preventative maintenance....I *thought* I was buying a "ready to go" airplane. Then, as I flew it, I found a lot of things I wanted to upgrade: A dual chamber vacuum pump, satellite weather, second/backup AI, GAMI fuel injectors, etc. Almost all came out from experiences while flying, or further thoughts about "what if". And every upgrade required a LOT of time doing research on it, shopping for it, having it installed...and the costs thereof. Then there were the "you maybe should look into" preventative maintenance items...getting an IRAN on the magnetos, just because you learn that might be wise. I also was surprised at how often I came out of an annual with a lot higher bill than expected. And to your point about parts costs, on my very first annual the A&P found a missing/broken spring on the retractable gear. It was a spring literally the size of a ball-point pen spring. It was only available from Cessna, of course, and it cost $84 (in 2024 dollars). I had MANY expensive hobbies before I started flying (eg, a large-ish sailboat), but nothing prepared me for the amount of money it took to keep an airplane up and running. So BE PREPARED for that!!!!

[@AaronSchwarz42]

Military aircraft cost $5700/hr operaring cost on the cheapest side (A10 Warthog)( no ammo included in cost ) and the F35 Lightning cost $35,000+ per hour // most turbine helicopters cost $1000-3000 per hour / its expensive to fight gravity unless your willing to go the FAR103 route, have a hanger on your personal property as a large shop building for such, as Fokker Mark VIII for example less than $9000 // ends up cost about $67/hr but can only fly the pilot because of the weight limit.

[@preste3]

I flew light aircraft for 35 years. One of the things you need to learn quick is how to 'own' a plane. What can you do to minimize cost etc., how to evaluate a potential buy, storage is big - as time stands still for the plane when hangared on a cement floor. Consider a longer highway drive to get a hangars, it's worth it. Plan long term ownership, flipping used planes for profit is a tough game. Keep good logs, don't be afraid to add detail in logs either... and make copies. No logs, no fly. Join AOPA and maybe EAA too, they both need support to support you. Spend money on 1 airframe, 2 engine, then 3 avionics. Airmanship matters. Leave the ego on the ground. Gravity doesnt care who you are. Don't push wx. Get good at x wind landings. Have fun learning.

[@thomasheepke3821]

There is also an opportunity to lease the plan, or share ownership and supplement or share the costs of ownership. And agree with the ego comment, gravity doesn't care - unless you're Tom Cruise. THen you're good!

[@curtcoltharp3719]

You are spot on with hangers. I’ve owned two planes but out of the plane biz a while. Recently, I got serious about buying another one but couldn’t find a hanger within 100 miles of DFW. I then looked into rentals and about all I could find were 172’s. I then looked into flying clubs with better cross country planes and that was depressing. As for parts, you are correct. My first plane was a 235 Cherokee and I got hosed on a new certified alternator that was just same thing as a Chrysler automobile part at 4X price. I next owned a Bellanca Super Viking and paid $5K for a nose gear part that I could have had duplicated at a local machine shop for $200. Plane parts are certified and the manufacturers mark up cost for products liability insurance and I’m sure that some gouging also involved. What amazes me is that A&P labor is cheaper than auto dealership hourly rate?

[@davidrumolo422]

Another tip…set up a separate airplane bank account. Figure out an hourly rate that covers insurance, annuals, maintenance etc. and deposit an amount for each hour you fly…as if you are renting to yourself.

[@ytorwoody]

This might be the best tip that I have ever seen. It might also get more folks out of the flying game/aircraft ownership than anything else when they discover how far they underestimated what they would spend each year.

[@ranjrog]

Great video! I couldn’t agree more and was also surprised to learn not that many people want to go flying!! Before I bought a plane, I would have loved to find a friend who already had one and just wanted someone to go along!!

[@jetmech88]

To piggyback on #3, I would also recommend that you always pull the aircraft maintenance records from the FAA before you buy. It is super common to have missing 337s or STC paperwork, and the records aren’t as complete as advertised. Without the paperwork it’s not legal and a good IA is going to find this on annual. Even pops up after it’s been signed off for decades in some instances. Records search and quality pre buy will save you a fortune.

[@thomasheepke3821]

Great video and valuable advice! I hope to own one day. Most that own a plane either don't have to worry about the costs (although they do, and doesn't mean they shouldn't - but they're not missing meals because they need to replace the propeller), and a lot do it as a kind of investment. They rent it, share ownership or rent it for their students while giving lessons as a CFI. I own a boat and I feel like many of these principles apply, and it's a good trial run for owning a plane.

[@davidrose8612]

Excellent tips as always, Charlie. Having gone through this process relatively recently, here are a couple of added points. First, do not be surprised if airports will not allow you to add to their hangar waiting list unless you actually own an aircraft, with an N number to provide, already. For me, this meant purchasing a tight fitting cockpit cover and using ramp parking until hangar space finally opened up. Next, I think it is imperative to find an A&P and an IA that will allow you to do as much work on your airplane as possible, including annual inspections. There are many reasons to do this as soon as possible, including helping with the pre-buy inspection process. I think it is critically important to know in detail how your airplane is constructed and works, and doing your own maintenance and repairs helps immensely.

[@AirplaneAcademy]

good advice, thanks for adding here

[@JoelNJohnson]

Nice editing. I appreciated the little details

[@Tee-e4i]

Aviation needs to remain exclusive. Imagine if it were accessible to everyone-just look at the poor driving we already see on the roads, I saw a lady who learned to fly for attention and post guess what she crashed, thank god to the trees not humans. Now, picture that chaos in the skies, right above our heads while we're sleeping. The high barriers to entry have worked for ages, keeping only the sober-minded and responsible in command above us. The costs aren't just a hurdle; they're a safeguard, ensuring that only the truly capable take to the skies and keeping those who are unfit safely grounded. How many people don't service their cars for example, the day we relax things in aviation we invite trouble.

[@markculp6126]

I owned a 182K for about 30 years. I could tell you stories of maintenance, with good and bad years. But for any young persons out there that are weighing whether you should break the bond of gravity or float on the surface of the water, I can tell you, spending more money on a boat is way easier. In other words, if money is an issue, airplane is the way to go. Boat was 37 feet long, and yeah, you spend a lot more time on the boat, but strickly speaking of the number of dollars, the boat was far more expensive with slip fees being more than twice what I paid for a group hangar. You are right about the hangar. As moved around the country, the FIRST consideration was, where are the airports, and can I keep my plane there. Now retired, I don't enjoy either of these passions, but instead enjoy the freedom to not pay for something that I may or may not feel like doing. On owning though, I only rented a plane long enough to get my ticket, and then again on vacation a few times, but for me, the comfort of knowing what maintenance has been done, and having the plane available on the most coveted calendar events make owning worth it.

[@mikenj2]

I just replaced the fuel primer on my 182Q. $3000 new from Cessna. McFarlane had their own PMA part for $650 and it’s manufactured much better and that works great so far. That’s the other part of owning .. shop around for better priced parts and don’t just let your shop be parts changers. Make them diagnose problems. Also on your wing strut fairings there should be 3M tape to avoid abrasion cutting into your struts over time. It’s in the 182 service manual so ask your shop about that.

[@oystertoadfish1149]

Great video, and everything applies to boats…mooring fees, dry stack, fuel, maintenance, tow insurance, etc. Then…weather when you want to go offshore.

[@ytorwoody]

One of the intangibles that I noticed about renting is that I tend to fly less and less until I realize that I'm not flying at all. There is something about using other folks "stuff" that isn't in my genes. In my time as a pilot, I've owned two planes and been a partner in one. As a partner, I never once opened the hangar without having a little bit of a feeling that I was borrowing, so to speak. Without being a partner, I could never have even considered owning a Beech Bonanza, but the partnership made that possible. On a side note, my partner helped make the experience as good as it gets. For the full ownership airplanes, neither one had major issues that seemed to come out of nowhere. The first (a Cessna Cardinal) had a radio that I elected to change before it actually died. In three years of ownership, that was my single big expense. My current plane is a C-150M that I bought knowing that the radio and transponder were both dead. Those were solid big hits up front, but I knew going in that they would be. My first annual fit Charlie's notice about the previous owner's deficiencies, but I was aware of his low usage when I bought the airplane. Now, after a year of ownership and regular usage, I haven't had a single issue to deal with, nor any flight that had to be delayed. I also know when I pull the plane out of the hangar, it is as good as I can possibly make a fifty year old plane. Charlie's big five were spot on with my experience. In reality, renting would have been far, far less expensive over the years than was ownership. But I would also have flown so seldom that I would have only been marginally safe, if that. With all that said, I've reached or nearly reached the end of my time as a reasonably safe pilot. It's been a great sixty years, but at 81, I need to be realistic and to accept that, "I don't know what I don't know" about my current skill-set. That's why I'll soon be putting the plane on the market, and when it goes to its next home, the future owner can rest easily knowing that it's ready to go.

[@jeffhale5569]

Interesting comment about flying alone. I share the same experience, I mostly fly by myself.

[@gregfaris6959]

Congratulations! That's a beautiful airplane, and your pride and satisfaction in making it all it can be will be a great reward for you.

[@AirplaneAcademy]

Thank you!

[@TylerR909]

re: parts. Whatever it would cost on a car, at a Zero for a boat, and add another Zero for an airplane. A $10 part on a car is $100 on a boat and $1000 on an airplane. i.e. some random fairing.

[@brianb-p6586]

Yeah... if only it were actually possible to buy a set of body mouldings for any car for $10, or even $100.

[@AaronSchwarz42]

Light bulb that is $5 home depot or amazon, if its for "photography" its $50 and if its 100CRI color corrected bin matched architectural print verification professional art studio grade then its $500 //

[@jamieknight326]

Thanks for making this video. It’s really interesting. I’ll probably never own a plane… but I can dream and this helps make the dream more realistic :)

[@dennisheiman2656]

Thank you for sharing this video

[@jazzyj6122]

Very good info. I just bought a 172 and your insight is very accurate! Keep up the good work!

[@AirplaneAcademy]

Congrats on your purchase! That's awesome.

[@mafp22w]

RE: Expenses. If you are going to own a plane, make sure you can afford to pay at least 100 hours worth of fuel. As long as you own an airplane, you might as well fly it over 100 hours a year. It really isn’t that hard. Two weekend trips a month to destinations 3 hours away gets you 72 hours a year. Think of all the places you can go within 3 hours.

[@mikeslaven6874]

Very informative video for aircraft owners and potential owners. Get a pre purchase inspection/annual from an independent shop ie not the owners regular shop. This should include an avionics health check too. An Annual is NOT a 12 month warranty on the aircraft. Start and keep a good relationship with a maintenance shop familiar with your type/make of aircraft. Get familiar with time limits on components, these include calendar events like 91.411 and 413, prop and engine overhauls as well. Happy flying :)

[@robd38]

Hi, Great Video, I bought my plane finished my training/ Licensing and flew for 5 years. The first thing I did was join AOPA and COPA, they have valuable resources. Defining my mission statement was first and most important. The plane I bought in 2008 was a Beechcraft Skipper, i changed out the radios to a new Flip flop single unit saved 20 pounds, then I had installed an LED landing light, what a fun time that part of my life was.

[@thomasheepke3821]

What happened? Did you have kids and it's priority decreased?

[@robd38]

@@thomasheepke3821 no I flew all the places I wanted to visit, then i was done, the hangar started giving me problems.

[@thomasheepke3821]

Also, it costs a bunch to get to the point of being able to fly a single engine plane.... and to keep current. Most that haven't explored probably don't know the cost, the amount of stuff you need to learn and demonstrate, as well as the ongoing costs that come with just keeping your license current. But to me, so worth it.

[@digitalpilotnm]

Charlie, I appreciate your content. You are a true Ambassador for GA!!! I totally agree that a Pre-Buy is important, see Feb 2024 Cessna Owner Mag, good article ;). Having a good relationship with your A&P / IA is critical. Also as an owner don't be afraid to get your hands dirty, turn a wrench (with the help of you A&P), you will learn more about YOUR A/C and its systems. Getting involved in owner assisted maintenance will get you more "in tune" with your plane. Result, Better ADM, Safer Pilot, better ability to diagnose issues and communicate with your A&P... Yes, you do inherit the previous owners "issues". I'm doing that right now on a C172 I just purchased. Lots of little things need to be brought up to my standards. In the end I'll have a safe, more reliable plane and more confidence in its performance... Keep up the good work.... PS I'm the kid in the picture in the magazine article :)

[@AirplaneAcademy]

Thanks! Good advice thanks for adding

[@kennenandersen]

I was an A&P for 17 years, 5 of those with my IA. The dissonance and unreality of it all drove me to switch careers to Alcoholic. Much better RTO.

[@DavidMiller-rw2gj]

Great video, and great advice. There may be some differences if someone is buying a new aircraft rather than a used aircraft.

[@brax2364]

Anyone who owns an airplane knows the cheap part of aircraft ownership is the purchase part. After that for a single it’s like peeling off fifty dollar bills and casting them repeatedly into the wind. Still a whole lot better than renting someone’s POS airplane with tattered seats, stuff that doesn’t work, and peeling paint. By the way, it took me 5 years to find a hanger. I’m still on the list at a couple airports that are much closer to me than the hanger I finally got. Manager at both said the wait lists are > 10 years. One more thing. It’s so much better to have the key in your pocket rather than having to schedule time with the FBO. And, having the key to YOUR airplane means you have much more flexibility making that decision to delay the return back home due to marginal weather. Just make sure you brief any passengers you may have that you are not a scheduled airline and they may need to arrange alternate transportation back home if they need to be somewhere important. I have arranged for short-term tie down, rented a car, drove 350 miles back home and drove back a week later to pick up the plane when the WX was better. Good news is me and my passengers are alive to talk about it as inconvenient as it was. That’s flying.

[@JamesJoseph-u1y]

You are a wise pilot. Good for you. Spoken with 38 years of flying in my log book.

[@sparkie951]

1.) Hangar Space is a big issue. I have a C24R Sierra and was luckily to get a Shade Port. When I started 2 years ago, I was number 89, 3 months ago I was at number 88. 2.) They are Money Hungry... 3.) A Prebuy is a Must... As a result, even after an annual just done I asked for a Pitot Static Check as a part of the Prebuy and to have it certified for the 2 year transponder check... Failed Miserably. The line to the Pitot (all the way down the wing was in shambles, More Leaks than it was a line. 4.)LOL.. my plane now has been down for Avionics Upgrade and pushed into annual now for 7 months! (Getting the Flying DT's) 5.) Peace and Quite... Well the Peach anyway... I love to get out just by myself and just enjoy the plane and forget the world for a while!

[@rogeraylstock3641]

Thanks for the tips. One thing I did to help prevent the ups and downs is charge myself a flat monthly rate that covers expected annual, insurance, oil changes, etc. and that money goes into a escrow (savings) account. That way, when say insurance is due, I already have it sitting in my escrow account. I wish I could include T-Hangar fees but I'm tied down on the ramp :-( No hangars available in south central Texas.

[@PhilbyFavourites]

So basically this is the same as buying/operating a boat! Parking/storage costs Maintenance costs Fuel cost (2 miles per gallon) Time spent looking after it But those sunset days are worth it 🤓👍🏻🤓

[@justicegusting2476]

I liked this video because: A…I enjoyed the content B…You seem like a nice guy, and C…You married well above your station. Well done, sir.

[@Coops777]

Awesome video Charlie. I love your 182. Very nice. Very helpful points made.

[@AirplaneAcademy]

Thank you! I feel very fortunate to have it. Great airplane.

[@ericsd55]

Took me 3 years and 4 airports to get to my forever hangar, which is ironically temporary. Never overlook a 3rd party prebuy! Always join the forum for you airplane, tons of others there ready to help because they have already been there done that. Always have a pile of cash sitting around just for the airplane. 20% of the value of the airplane is a good start! Sauce: I’ve owned 7 airplanes. Great video again!

[@chiefbobdavis99]

Flew in a P3 in the Navy. I miss flying. I was really tight with the pilots and they would call me over, from AIMD, to fly every hop. I would go flying 2-3 times a week. Sometimes a few hours, sometimes 15-20 hours up. That was 35 years ago…

[@AirplaneAcademy]

Thank you for your service!!

[@erictaylor5462]

5:00 There is a tipping point depending on how much you fly where renting becomes more expensive than owning. You need to look into what that tipping point is, and if you are flyting less than that, just continue to rent. If you're flying more than that, then you buy. It really is that simple. The huge advantage to renting is, you don't need to worry about all of the side costs or making arrangements to have things like AD's addressed. The FBO should be taking care of that. And considering that they can get into some huge trouble falsifying those records... Of course that doesn't mean they don't do it. The owner of the ironically named "Shady Grove" sat between Vacaville and Fairfield was doing that for years. I used to ride my bike out there there and watch the glider operations hoping to bum a ride. Sadly by the early 80's people no longer took random kids in their airplanes like my dad had done in the 50's. I actually saw the owner of Shady Grove die. He was giving his father-in-law and his young step son a ride when he stalled, spun, and crashed inti Cement Hill. This is a large hill that dominates Solano County and formed one of the sides to Vaca Valley where Shady Grove airport sat. The airport shut down not long after that. Now I think there are just houses out there.

[@joevieke]

First! Love your videos. Hopefully I'll be able to buy my own plane in the next couple years. I would love to see a video on why you chose the 182, or more specifically, why a certified vs experimental.

[@AirplaneAcademy]

Thanks! I've got one coming out on the 182 soon. I did this one a while back too: kzbin.info/www/bejne/g5bHfoSapapoh9E

[@alanaldpal950]

I suspect your 182 has appreciated quite a bit if you bought it in 2016, which may ease the “pain” of some of your expenses

[@AnsonChappell]

But only if you sell…

[@hotrodray6802]

Have you noticed yet that EVERYTHING else has gone up too?... Except your wages ?

[@thomasheepke3821]

Unfortunately that doesn't help with cashflow while you're the owner. Just like if your house appreciates but you need a new furnace, roof and windows.

[@venutoa]

I bought plane 3.5 years ago. after 3 annuals and many repairs/upgrades....most done myself with IA oversight. Best direction is to buy experimental!!!! Certified is dangerous because of FAA. and the limitation they put on certified. I will never do it again. not to mention price. here is example. I replaced a oil line. I could buy a newer engineered oil line that is rated to 6,000 psi. however because FAA regulates certified...i had to use old tech and lines that are only rated to 3,000psi. do you your life and your pocket a favor and buy experimental. 1 example of hundreds.

[@jamesrea8454]

As a home builder I agree. Just fabricated and installed a faring around the bottom of the windscreen for a few bucks. Certified would have been thousands. By the way my landing light came from Tractor Supply and is mounted in a modified 4 inch PVC plumbing fitting. Works fine.

[@kevindennis9227]

Another issue with the hangars, at least in my area, is that you need a plane when your name comes up on the waitlist. My local airport is archaic. If you do not have a plane ready to go the day they say they have one and you are next in the list, they will give it to the next person and you get bumped to the bottom of the list even if you have been on the list for several years. So it’s a catch. You gotta have a plane to get the hangar. So don’t necessarily wait for the hangar. Might need to ramp park it. The city has been promising for years to build more hangars for lease but have made no effort to build any despite the approval and budget for them. Instead, they are leasing the land for customer hangars.

[@larrybell5144]

Always good and practical advice!

[@44hawk28]

After this entire video, what you actually said was. I purchased for fairing covers for almost $1,000 because they didn't match the paint. When instead of that all I had to do was take them off and get some Krylon paint, which would have worked perfectly, for about 12 and a half dollars, painted them and put them back on the aircraft. You could also have gone to Michael's craft store, picked up the materials for making a probably about eight bulbs molds, add molded your own fiberglass fairings. You could have even reinforced them with wire mesh, and have spent less probably by half then what you did. Then to top it off, you could have manufactured your own and sold them to people. Because it's not a critical mechanism of the aircraft all it does is reduce parasitic drag.

[@jackiesabreliner6221]

Always get a pre purchase inspection. A knowledged A&P experienced on the aircraft will review log books and inspect the aircraft. It will reveal compliance with all AD's, and Service bulletins, current maintenance (airframe and engine), crash damage and repairs. I wouldn't buy an aircraft without one.

[@edwells3818]

Hi Charlie, not a pilot, however I enjoy watching any videos concerning flight. I couldn't help but notice a flight you show in this video as I recognized a particular large tree on your left as you landed over the water. . .Cedar Mills I believe? I had an opportunity many years ago to land there with my boss for lunch at the Marina, lol Are you from this area (Texomaland)?

[@AirplaneAcademy]

Good catch, yep that's Cedar Mills! I'm in the Dallas area but I grew up going to Cedar Mills a ton so it's fun to still fly in there every now and then. Love the approach and Pelican's Landing.

[@ericf1202]

Absolutely love your realistic and practical content. And, you are excellent at delivering it. Nice work! And, thank you!

[@AirplaneAcademy]

Thank you! I appreciate that and glad you found it helpful.

[@4-7th_CAV]

I would add to the items mentioned in the video, that if a pilot truly knows what their TOTAL operating costs are, they can (with a determined amount of discipline) take the calculated hourly DRY expenses of flying and physically put that amount of money into a savings account that is STRICTLY dedicated for operating expenses. That would be akin to paying for an hourly rental, except you make those payments to yourself. It isn't easy to do that, but it can be done.

[@Spyke-lz2hl]

Cool that you included a pic of the fam! I don’t think I’ve seen that before, or heard you mention your family, other than your nephews maybe?

[@N34RT]

The C182 “Skylane” is such a good, capable, reliable, sturdy, simple airplane! What descriptor did I miss?

[@henrycarlson7514]

so Wise , Thank You . So many good ideas that apply Every where

[@lawman5511]

And….make sure there is a maintenance facility that’s accessible and competent. I live near Tucson, AZ. Metropolitan area of 1.1 million. There’s ONE FBO that does GA maintenance. You’re right about flying alone. 90% of my flying was solo. Most people just aren’t interested. That surprised me. You start talking flying with a non pilot and you can see them tune out. I sold my 182 in 2022. The logistics of the whole thing was just exhausting.

[@4-7th_CAV]

To all of those commenters that are RIPPIN' on this guy for buying new fairings instead of painting them... GET OVER IT! First of all, I think his intent was to show that something that may seemingly be thought of as inexpensive can turn out to be hundreds-of-times more costly than what is expected - that is the name of the game with anything related to aviation. Secondly, and maybe more importantly, , it is his airplane and he can do whatever and however he want to improve it!

[@Four_Words_And_Much_More]

I love your common sense. It is very uncommon. TY

[@dianemenke3185]

Hangar space is a huge benefit and we have a shortage here in the metro Philadelphia area. I would be interested in building higher end "executive" type hangars for GA aircraft. So far though I have not had luck with the airfields at all. They do not seem to want to serve GA pilots, even though someone with a $500K - $1M plane will pay A LOT for a great hangar space. If anyone is in my general area and wants to discuss please reach out.

[@boogerwood]

Hangar shortage is getting worse as airports are kicking out GA for jet hangars. Also, regarding the price of ANY repair is like home remodeling: take the quote and add at LEAST 50%.

[@mArt2011funflydesign]

I’m in the UK and ended up buying a Polytunnel and the local airfield allowed me to rent a site on the far side of their plot. Interesting that over the years we became quite a community of plastic polytunnels. Totally agree with your comments on expenses, I solely owned my aircraft(s) with the freedoms this allows but many times wished I had a co-owner to share my tribulations and concerns with.

[@carlosasher-leon4879]

Charlie, paint was invented... Easy to make those good flaring match your paint...lol

[@757MrMark]

You might look at equity partnership. Love the "P" I'm in with 6 others. (3 don't fly much). All the expenses shared. Could I do a plane by myself? Yeah. But I have plenty of open time to use the plane and so do the other partners. Never a schedule conflict.

[@blaster-zy7xx]

How do you decide what upgrades and repairs should be done and when? I assume you all put money in a fund based on aircraft hours?

[@757MrMark]

@@blaster-zy7xx We have by-laws: President, Mx officer, Treasurer. Annual meeting to discuss status and upgrades. (coming up, our 430W showing pixel lines so maybe going with the IFD 440). 4 votes for a quourm. If a member wants to sell his share, it requires unanimous vote to approve the person wanting in. Annual or unscheduled mx issues come up, split seven ways. Monthly dues $154. Covers hgr rent, electricity, insurance, Jepessen chart updates, Schedule Master, oil changes, Quick Books, Bank fees.

[@carlosgarcialalicata]

Insane! If I would have a friend with a plane I would message her/him every morning "Hey, are you flying today? fancy a good-coffee-maker copilot?"

[@lalehbryanskrenes5692]

Thank you so much! Another great, honest video!

[@AirplaneAcademy]

Thank you!

[@wholeNwon]

I had a friend who loved to sail. He was very wealthy so I asked him whether he owned a yacht. He looked at me as though I were intellectually deficient (he might have been right) and said, "Why in the world would I ever want to own a depreciating asset?" He chartered crewed yachts all over the world and only had to decide destinations and menus. He chartered planes as well for the same reason.

[@jaimeastin]

When I was 1920 somewhere around there I was wanting to buy a sports car. And I always thought I was going to have a family, so how about this car with four seats when I really wanted to see her. And after that point I realized something which is still in my life now..... I don't have any kids and it's usually just one other person. Same with my truck right now, it's a double cab with an extended bed which is more useful for me. What about my airplane as much as I think I'll take people around, it's really just going to be me and someone else.

[@OnceShy_TwiceBitten]

Owning is ALWAYS more expensive than renting. In every single case. Period. Of the same type of airplane of course. The first thing is, if you don' have an extra 100k a year at a minimum of disposable income, (meaning, you live a life on 100k, but now have a job making 250k?) maybe then you can own one. In reality anyway. There is no one making under 50k who OWNS a plane other than some light sport, old barely held together cub or something like that, even then... partnered ownership isn't the same either, in no way. The price of a 1960s object with an engine from the same time is way out of control as well.

[@jeffevans1406]

Love the quality of your videos! One thing I would add to your list is to accept the expenses. This is NOT a cheap hobby, and owning your airplane will be expensive. If the A&P recommends something needs to be fixed/replaced, you just need to do it. It is too dangerous to try to own an airplane, yet try to be cheap about it. My A&P has told me horror stories about how people will nickel and dime airplane maintenance, only to end up totaling the plane or even dying because they didn't want to spend the money that would have prevented the accident.

[@AirplaneAcademy]

Thank you! And agreed.

[@caltagerone77]

if you love flying, I think the best thing is to get a commercial license and fly someone else's aircraft and get pay for it. I don't have an appetite for the airlines as I just retire from a long career in the Navy, but as much as I love flying it is very expensive to rent or own. And if you don't fly often your proficiency might suffer putting you and others in danger. Just my opinion.

[@oscar_charlie]

I don't think lack of hangar space is a showstopper. A tiedown with a good set of covers is a good compromise.

[@smacfe]

Great video. Owning a plane costs money. It really annoys me when people talk about how they need to "get their hands dirty" and do some of the maintenance themselves to save money. That is applicable to only about 10% of owners and primarily the old retired owners with nothing but spare time and old stories. To own a plane, most people work hard at some kind of job, or even as likely, they own a plane as a tool for their occupation. The spare time I can allocate to an airplane outside of flying consists of recurring training, putting in gas and writing checks.

[@flyer617]

None of the airports within an hour drive would even take new requests to be on the hangar waiting lists. Expenses, yikes. I just had the baro button fail on my Aspen EFD 1000. $4000 and a month to get it fixed at Aspen!! A button!

[@hilgeinak]

Enforce the FAA rules of "hangars are for aircraft," not boats, not vintage cars, or contractor equipment. My experience found contractors renting a large hangar. They place 1 aircraft in the hangar, and then operate their contractor business out of the hangar. They fill it with backhoes, dump trucks, front end loaders, and misc heavy equipment.

[@johnwhitehead5457]

You got a break on those fairings. I'd a expected $1,000 each, but Rustoleum makes spray paint in little cans and I think white might be a color available.

[@johnsteichen5239]

Five solutions to the high cost of aircraft ownership 1. Buy a house on an airpark. Not as expensive as you might think 2. Build your own aircraft. 3. Do your own maintenance on the plane you built 4. Take on a partner 5. Sell your airplane for more than you paid for it 6. Don’t do a lease back. Generally a bad idea 7. Buy an experimental aircraft so you can learn to do your own maintenance

[@DanFrederiksen]

Get a brisk LSA instead. It can literally be 5x cheaper. And you can share ownership with a couple others. Hangar, insurance. People don't fly much so it can be like having it all to yourself and compared to a Cessna alone, it's like there is no financial burden. GA is in a tragic state. Greed, stagnation, indifference. Don't enable them.

[@brianb5594]

Great realistic info!

[@jimleeyoung7113]

Hmm, really. $900. Clearly matching fairings are critical to your flying.

[@fierceflyer5]

Hangers are hard to find because(at least by me) our airports are catering to jet owners only and pushing out all single engine planes.

[@oscar_charlie]

Hangers are a dime a dozen at Goodwill. Hangars are a lot more diffucult to find, especially at affordable prices.

[@kylemccartney1831]

One of my professors has a C140 with a fuse box out of an old cadillac, yet since the 140 is certified he has to pay like $400 for the fuse box instead of the $50.

[@GGCGAGSG]

The questions that occurred to me were……Why didn’t the fairings match? I noticed that a few did and a few didn’t. Were they replaced? Why? Just curious 🤔

[@brianb-p6586]

This doesn't change the validity of the points illustrated by the fairings, but... could you have just painted those yellowed fairings to match the painted aluminum? Moulded polymers (plastics) normally fade and yellow much faster than paint, so this is a common issue on recreational vehicles; the fix is to just remove, paint, and replace the yellowed parts. There are paints specifically for use of these materials, and the white of the aircraft would be easy to approximately match.

[@brettmarquez562]

I stopped what I was doing while this video was playing, to make some guacamole 🥑. Liven the dream. 😄

[@tonylam9548]

How about building your own hangar at the airport or if you have land big enough to fly from. It is not rocket science. You can even use old shipping containers to start it.

[@jamesdouglas3703]

Thanks for the great info!

[@Wes-x9p]

When I decide to buy an airplane, first thing I did was meant a hangar, then went looking for an airplane. If someone has to tell you these things about buying an airplane, you have no business flying a plane.

[@yanwo2359]

As the former owner of a 1968 182Q, I agree with your points. Now, years after I lost my license and sold "Jane," the expenses are long forgotten, but the joy of the many flights remains. Wish I were still doing it!

[@WilliamMartinez-o8u]

Well two choises ......buy a new one $700k and you need a hanger...or buy a used one, keep it out side, give regular maintenance, keep paint nice and clean !! depending on your $ ...it can be expensive !

[@BluBlade-k7b]

I had to buy a landing light , the mechanic was nice , he had a used one he would sell to me for 40 dollars , I went to the NAPA store and got the exact same thing for 10 dollars . Some of the biggest thieves are in aviation . I changed myself .

[@airmecher]

Yes, it works. But what it doesn't have is PMA approval or an 8130. That renders your plane unairworthy. If caught on a ramp check the FAA can pull your airworthiness certificate. But hey, you might get away with it.

[@thatlutherfan]

easy for me when im old enough, the closest airport is only like a mile or 2 away. its just a small airport.

[@pilotusa]

The C182 is the best airplne for usefulness and economy if you like to go on trips.

[@garywilliam375]

I know what you mean about the continued expenses when your plane is down for weeks and you can’t fly but still have to pay the bills. 😮✈️🤯

[@ADAMREES-GRITGYM]

Thanks. Appreciate it

[@luxaly9510]

mhm it would be cool to see the cost of renting compared to the cost of owning :D so id expect for rare flyers owning might be more expensive but when u fly often renting gets more expensive ...

[@greasemonkeygarage1901]

Great videos ❤

[@iancormie9916]

Is there some reason why those parts could not have been painted to match the rest of the plane.