Questions from a pilot wannabe

[Radopilot]

Hi all,
Im wondering, and this is for all of the members that own an aircraft, what is the current price for a c172? Im only 13, but i definatly know that I have a future in private aviation. Also, what is the least expensive aircraft on the market today, excluding ultralights and gliders? I have too many dreams about my aviation future, and this question has been nagging for too long.

John

[Airshow_lover]

Well I did a google search on "cessna" to see the "new" prices.

For a Skyhawk sp:
 
Standard Avionics (Bendix/King):
 
KX 155A Nav/Com without Glide Slope - KI 208 VOR/LOC Indicator - KMA 28 Audio Panel/
Marker Beacon - KT 76C Mode C Transponder - Avionics Cooling Fan      

Standard Equipment Skyhawk 172S: $180,000

NAV I Avionics (Bendix/King) - Standard Avionics Plus:

KLN 94 Color Moving Map GPS-IFR - KX 155A Nav/Com with Glide Slope - KI 209A
VOR/LOC/GS Indicator with GPS Interface - MD 41- 231 GPS-NAV Selector/ Annunciator

NAV I Equipped Skyhawk 172S: $190,725  

NAV II Avionics (Bendix/King) - NAV I Avionics Plus:

KAP 140 Two-axis Autopilot with Altitude Preselect

NAV II Equipped Skyhawk 172S: $204,400

Add optional KR 87 ADF (Nav I or Nav II): $6,275  

Add optional KMD 550 Color Multifunction Display (NAV II only): $7,475

Add optional B/K KT 73 Mode S XPDR

[Airshow_lover]

Here is the Cessna 172 skyhawk (not skyhawk sp
 
Standard Avionics (Bendix/King):

KX 155A Nav/Com without Glide Slope - KI 208 VOR/LOC Indicator - KMA 28 Audio Panel/Marker Beacon - KT 76C Mode C Transponder - Avionics Cooling Fan
 
Standard Equipment Skyhawk 172R: $172,500  

NAV I Avionics (Bendix/King) - Standard Avionics Plus:

KLN 94 Color Moving Map GPS-IFR - KX 155A Nav/Com with Glide Slope - KI 209A
VOR/LOC/GS Indicator with GPS Interface - MD 41- 231 GPS-NAV Selector/ Annunciator

NAV I Equipped Aircraft: $183,225  

NAV II Avionics (Bendix/King) - NAV I Avionics Plus:

KAP 140 Two-axis Autopilot with Altitude Preselect

NAV II Equipped Skyhawk 172R: $196,900  

Add optional KR 87 ADF (Nav I or Nav II): $6,275  

Add optional KMD 550 Color Multifunction Display (NAV II only): $7,475  

Add optional B/K KT 73 Mode S XPDR

[Airshow_lover]

http://se.cessna.com/


sorry I would have done that alli none post but....It was easier this way.

[RitterKreuz]

radopilot

my advice to you would be to check into the used aircraft department. Generally speaking you can find a good Cessna from the late 70's as long as it has updated avionics and a fairly low time engine (less than 800 to 1000 hours total time) you dont have to shell out $180K for a birdy of your own. You might fetch a used 172 for anywhere between $40,000 and $90,000. as with anything pricing all depends on condition and options.

another bit of advice would be not to limit your aircraft ownership search to the cessna line. Look into a used piper cherokee or grumman cheetah or something similar. you might even consider a low and slow cessna 150 (some can be had for less than a new car) Unless you have a money tree or two in your back yard that you keep watered and well fertilized a NEW airplane will have you tied up for over 100 grand.

most companies will finance your plane for upwards of 20 years so monthly payments wont be too much of an issue. Among the largest of expenses is fuel, maintenance and insurance - especially if you are low on flight time!

If your family has the money it would definately be a good idea to buy an airplane for you to build time in or take lessons in (assuming this is a potential career path). just research it and dont buy anything without a pre-buy inspection from a good mechanic. it is always better to own than to rent. (as long as you put a lot of use into it) and after a year or two of time building you could sell it and pretty much get your money back. Airplanes hold their value relatively well... especially piston singles since they are low maintenance and sip fuel.

[ozzy72]

If you want to do things on the cheap with a new kite the best bet is to go for a homebuild.....
Of course I'm taking homebuilding to an extreme

[Tom.]

If you get some private aviation mag in the back there is a section of used aeroplanes/helicopters have a looksee in there and that should help

[beaky]

Don't forget that what makes it hardest for most owners is not so much the purchase price of the plane (you could find an old C152 or Ercoupe for less than $15K, for example)- it's everything else:
Insurance, maintenance (that bargain buy will almost certainly need legally-required service within a few hundred hours), hangar or tiedown rental, fuel, etc., etc.
But if you can cover the regular expenses, a production airplane is a wonderful investment... they tend to appreciate.
A partnership can be a good way to go, but it's still expensive in most cases.
Homebuilts run the gamut, cost-wise: a good option, but you'll be building it for some time. You can buy one already-built, though.
 It all boils down to how much use you expect to get out of it. If you'll be flying only 50-100 hours a year, you're better off renting or joining a club.
I got my PPSEL 10 years ago and still rent... might've been able to own a plane if I'd been smarter with my money in my youth, but then again, I'd still be saddled with large payments on something I'd get to use every other weekend if I was really lucky. Just not woth it for me right now, although someday I'll probably own a homebuilt.
There are some owners here at SimV- MarcoAviator is a partner in a Cherokee, and Flying Trucker owns a C172... they could tell you a lot more about all this.

Whatever you decide, start saving (and building good credit!) ASAP... you're gonna need it.

[Brett_Henderson]

I've crunched these number over and over.. trying to come up with an affordable way to own my own plane..and it always comes up, "rent you fool".

Owning an airplane for your own, personal use is a flat out luxury. If you EVEN START wondering if you can afford it.. you cannot.

If you buy a used 172 in the $60,000 range, you can go ahead and budget yourself $500/month just to look at it and say, "it's mine". That number is based on: payments and/or interest not being earned by that $60,000; hangar; insurance.

If you buy a NEW 172.. of course your repairs/inspections will be a lot less expensive (for a year or two).. but you're looking at nearly $200,000

[TacitBlue]

I don't have any specific examples, but a lot of the new "Light Sport Aircraft" (LSA) go for less than $100,000. I've seen some as low as $50,000. You can fly them on a sport pilot certificate or anything higher, such as private pilot, ATP or whatever.

Also, heres a good site to go to and wish you had money: www.controller.com.  ;)

[Boss_BlueAngels]

Sadly, the plane I want is in the $200,000-300,000 range.  Ah well... I'll get that Extra 300L someday I suppose.  lol