At which point do you say, I'd rather buy one than rent one. Is there a
certain yearly hourly limit that it's better to buy an airplane than rent one.
Have the ones out there that own one, enjoy that feeling on getting up and saying that
they're going to the airport and just fly with the freedom that comes with it, or is it
just too unpredictable to buy one because you never know when that cylinder might bust up
or you might need a new prop.
Looking for advice
thanks
Buying or renting an airplane?
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niss
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Re: Buying or renting an airplane?
Well I don't exactly have the luxury of just going to the airport and taking my plane for a spin just yet, it is a nice feeling of knowing that it is there and I am realizing my dream.
The paranoia, and worry is there but you just gotta take the good with the bad and try to stay mellow you know what I mean?
My good friend got his license when we were in Cadets through the flying schol. He has not touched an a/c since then (5 years+) because he doesn't have the shekels to rent, stay current etc.
I may not have my license yet (2 more days Inshallah!) but I know that when I have it, I don't really have to compete with anyone, or am forced to meet some insurance companies regulation for recency, etc.
Sure the freedom has its price of sleepless nights during the annual or just general high time stuff, but freedom is never free.
I have no regrets.
None.
The paranoia, and worry is there but you just gotta take the good with the bad and try to stay mellow you know what I mean?
My good friend got his license when we were in Cadets through the flying schol. He has not touched an a/c since then (5 years+) because he doesn't have the shekels to rent, stay current etc.
I may not have my license yet (2 more days Inshallah!) but I know that when I have it, I don't really have to compete with anyone, or am forced to meet some insurance companies regulation for recency, etc.
Sure the freedom has its price of sleepless nights during the annual or just general high time stuff, but freedom is never free.
I have no regrets.
None.
She’s built like a Steakhouse, but she handles like a Bistro.
Let's kick the tires, and light the fires.... SHIT! FIRE! EMERGENCY CHECKLIST!
Let's kick the tires, and light the fires.... SHIT! FIRE! EMERGENCY CHECKLIST!
Re: Buying or renting an airplane?
If you're going to fly regularly and go places and really experience being a pilot, buy. If you just want to bounce off a few circuits or take family up when they visit now and then, rent.
Typically when I finish a PPL with someone and they are not going CPL in the future, they either buy a plane, or they simply disappear having become a pilot but not caring to fork over the $ for the hourly rental rate.
Typically when I finish a PPL with someone and they are not going CPL in the future, they either buy a plane, or they simply disappear having become a pilot but not caring to fork over the $ for the hourly rental rate.
No trees were harmed in the transmission of this message. However, a rather large number of electrons were temporarily inconvenienced.
Re: Buying or renting an airplane?
If you do the numbers, about 50 hours a year is the point at which owning a plane usually becomes cheaper than renting. But of course you can always get hit with very expensive surprises.
For most private pilots it's an emotional decision rather than a financial one. Having your own plane ready to fly from the local airport whenever you like is a great feeling, no doubt about it. But just make sure you're in a position to be able to afford the expenses!
Feel free to PM me if you want more info on ownership.
For most private pilots it's an emotional decision rather than a financial one. Having your own plane ready to fly from the local airport whenever you like is a great feeling, no doubt about it. But just make sure you're in a position to be able to afford the expenses!
Feel free to PM me if you want more info on ownership.
Re: Buying or renting an airplane?
I bought, and never looked back. I justified it financially and emotionally:
Financially, I could buy a new car for $40k or buy a 3 year old car for $20k and an airplane for $20k. Also, the car depreciates and the airplane doesn't (or at least not near as much as the car). I bought a Home-built classified airplane. It's annual's were about $250.00/year, not including parts that may have been required (tires, valves, etc.) Overall, my annuals probably averaged about $400.00/year.
Be diligent if you go after the home-built or owner-maintained airplanes, they are only a good as the guy maintaining them. I had an AME look at the airplane before I bought and he did an annual when I got it home. He oversaw the annual maintenance I did on the airplane and charged me for his services, which I included in the above cost. My operating costs were 5 GPH, the odd litre of oil, NAV Canada (I'll leave this alone
) and $600/year insurance. So, operating costs were about the same as a car.
Although I don't golf, I've compare the costs of this airplane to some friends golfing expenses....Flying was cheaper.
Emotional:
I am able to leave work and the family behind, concentrate on disciplined flying, never be bothered by phones, and feel like I have taken a holiday every Sunday. You can't buy this kind of stress relief or personal satisfaction. All for 5gph (you don't think of the other costs since they've already been taken care of). I think about breakin something in the airplane more than I do in a car, but not from a financial aspect, only because I am monitoring the engine more in the airplane.
Caveat:
Be careful not to fall into the Aviation vortex, this is where real costs begin. Aerobatics (not a $20k airplane anymore), formation flying (again, not a $20k airplane anymore). But man, those Sundays become all that much more enjoyable. I got caught into the vortex & really love it
.
Financially, I could buy a new car for $40k or buy a 3 year old car for $20k and an airplane for $20k. Also, the car depreciates and the airplane doesn't (or at least not near as much as the car). I bought a Home-built classified airplane. It's annual's were about $250.00/year, not including parts that may have been required (tires, valves, etc.) Overall, my annuals probably averaged about $400.00/year.
Be diligent if you go after the home-built or owner-maintained airplanes, they are only a good as the guy maintaining them. I had an AME look at the airplane before I bought and he did an annual when I got it home. He oversaw the annual maintenance I did on the airplane and charged me for his services, which I included in the above cost. My operating costs were 5 GPH, the odd litre of oil, NAV Canada (I'll leave this alone
) and $600/year insurance. So, operating costs were about the same as a car.Although I don't golf, I've compare the costs of this airplane to some friends golfing expenses....Flying was cheaper.
Emotional:
I am able to leave work and the family behind, concentrate on disciplined flying, never be bothered by phones, and feel like I have taken a holiday every Sunday. You can't buy this kind of stress relief or personal satisfaction. All for 5gph (you don't think of the other costs since they've already been taken care of). I think about breakin something in the airplane more than I do in a car, but not from a financial aspect, only because I am monitoring the engine more in the airplane.
Caveat:
Be careful not to fall into the Aviation vortex, this is where real costs begin. Aerobatics (not a $20k airplane anymore), formation flying (again, not a $20k airplane anymore). But man, those Sundays become all that much more enjoyable. I got caught into the vortex & really love it
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FlaplessDork
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Re: Buying or renting an airplane?
Lets do some numbers on lets say a 172 at 50 hours a year if you bought a plane. Someone with more insight probably could give you better numbers than me.
Lets say $2000/year for an annual. Lets say insurance is $4000/year. $1950/year for fuel. Lets say you tied it down on the grass at $90/month. Thats $1080. That adds up to $9030/year.
$9030/50 = $180.60/hour
What if you flew 100 hours a year?
$2000/year for an annual. $4000 for insurance. $1080 for tie down. $3900 for fuel. $10,980/year. $109.80/hour
This doesn't include engine reserves, unexpected maintenance (which flying only 50 hours a year is going to happen more often), other fees you might have to pay for and assuming you'll make your money back on the airframe if you sell.
I think they say the average private pilot flies about 50 hours a year so if the going rate to rent is $120/hour it might make more sense to rent. If you want an airplane at your disposal at any time you wish and go where you wish, or going to fly often enough it makes sense to buy.
There are good fractional ownership programs out there that give you more flexibility with costs and aircraft availability.
It all depends on what you want to do, what airplane you go for, and how much insurance you get. Im just more familiar with what it costs to run a 172.
Lets say $2000/year for an annual. Lets say insurance is $4000/year. $1950/year for fuel. Lets say you tied it down on the grass at $90/month. Thats $1080. That adds up to $9030/year.
$9030/50 = $180.60/hour
What if you flew 100 hours a year?
$2000/year for an annual. $4000 for insurance. $1080 for tie down. $3900 for fuel. $10,980/year. $109.80/hour
This doesn't include engine reserves, unexpected maintenance (which flying only 50 hours a year is going to happen more often), other fees you might have to pay for and assuming you'll make your money back on the airframe if you sell.
I think they say the average private pilot flies about 50 hours a year so if the going rate to rent is $120/hour it might make more sense to rent. If you want an airplane at your disposal at any time you wish and go where you wish, or going to fly often enough it makes sense to buy.
There are good fractional ownership programs out there that give you more flexibility with costs and aircraft availability.
It all depends on what you want to do, what airplane you go for, and how much insurance you get. Im just more familiar with what it costs to run a 172.
Re: Buying or renting an airplane?
Contemplated this very question on and off for about the past year. In the end the decision really is a mix of financial and emotional. I/we (3 partners total) decided to buy and just closed the deal a few weeks ago. Here is why:
Did the math about 100 times and it is cheaper to rent if you fly less than an average of 40-50 hours per year. The way we justified buying is by the fact that each of us was going to spend $xx renting for 40-50 hours each next year. That money will be gone - so we could spend it in either rental fees or fixed/ongoing costs on our own airplane. Worked the numbers so many times my brain hurt (acquisition cost, insurance, hanger, fuel, oil, estimated annual, engine/prop reserve etc.) and bottom line we can fly for about the same total hourly cost as renting. Fly more than 40 or so hours and the total hourly costs go down but this is unlikely because as has been said many times before, the average PPL flies less than that. This includes everything except the initial investment which we assigned a flat value to. Likely, or hopefully we will get back what we paid for the airplane when we sell.
That's the math part. Now the emotional. It feels pretty darn good pointing at MY airplane. Having the flexibility to take it when I want, where I want and for how long (weekend etc) has tremendous value. Ever try and rent a club plane for a weekend? Spur of the moment trip? You can do it but not easily. I belong to a very good and active flying club and while getting an airplane to rent for a few hours/day is usually not an issue there were times when it was downright impossible. Nobody's fault but sometimes it is hard to predict weeks or sometimes months in advance what our schedules would be and trying to fit that around the other students/renters can be challenging. Have a few bad weather days and everything falls off the rails. Additionally, the club planes, while very well maintained are still club/training planes. Enough said here.
So, we get a really decent airplane - (we bought up) that we have full time access to and our yearly expenses are about the same (initial investment aside). Of course we have issues of scheduling like any fractional ownership however with only three of us (and we are all friends) we think we can work it out without too much compromise. Time will tell.
Feel free to PM me if you want and I will share all the real numbers with you. The exercise is the same but the outcome is different based on which airplane you are considering.
Hope this helps.
Did the math about 100 times and it is cheaper to rent if you fly less than an average of 40-50 hours per year. The way we justified buying is by the fact that each of us was going to spend $xx renting for 40-50 hours each next year. That money will be gone - so we could spend it in either rental fees or fixed/ongoing costs on our own airplane. Worked the numbers so many times my brain hurt (acquisition cost, insurance, hanger, fuel, oil, estimated annual, engine/prop reserve etc.) and bottom line we can fly for about the same total hourly cost as renting. Fly more than 40 or so hours and the total hourly costs go down but this is unlikely because as has been said many times before, the average PPL flies less than that. This includes everything except the initial investment which we assigned a flat value to. Likely, or hopefully we will get back what we paid for the airplane when we sell.
That's the math part. Now the emotional. It feels pretty darn good pointing at MY airplane. Having the flexibility to take it when I want, where I want and for how long (weekend etc) has tremendous value. Ever try and rent a club plane for a weekend? Spur of the moment trip? You can do it but not easily. I belong to a very good and active flying club and while getting an airplane to rent for a few hours/day is usually not an issue there were times when it was downright impossible. Nobody's fault but sometimes it is hard to predict weeks or sometimes months in advance what our schedules would be and trying to fit that around the other students/renters can be challenging. Have a few bad weather days and everything falls off the rails. Additionally, the club planes, while very well maintained are still club/training planes. Enough said here.
So, we get a really decent airplane - (we bought up) that we have full time access to and our yearly expenses are about the same (initial investment aside). Of course we have issues of scheduling like any fractional ownership however with only three of us (and we are all friends) we think we can work it out without too much compromise. Time will tell.
Feel free to PM me if you want and I will share all the real numbers with you. The exercise is the same but the outcome is different based on which airplane you are considering.
Hope this helps.
Flight takes MORE than Airspeed and Money ...
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mattedfred
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Re: Buying or renting an airplane?
if it floats, flies or ****** it's cheaper to rent 
Re: Buying or renting an airplane?
My insurance is $250/year. My son's plane cost $175/year for me to insure. Of course that is just public liabilty and no hull insurance on either.
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niss
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Re: Buying or renting an airplane?
Partnerships are a great way to break into it, but compatibility is everything!
She’s built like a Steakhouse, but she handles like a Bistro.
Let's kick the tires, and light the fires.... SHIT! FIRE! EMERGENCY CHECKLIST!
Let's kick the tires, and light the fires.... SHIT! FIRE! EMERGENCY CHECKLIST!
Re: Buying or renting an airplane?
If you can do what you want to do with a rental, a rental will (nearly) always be cheaper than solo ownership. Full stop.
1) Decide what you want to do with your license.
2) Decide if those things can be done with a rental.
3) If yes, rent.
4) If no, decide if you can afford to buy the machine needed to do it.
5) If you can't afford it, re-assess #1
6) Repeat as needed.
1) Decide what you want to do with your license.
2) Decide if those things can be done with a rental.
3) If yes, rent.
4) If no, decide if you can afford to buy the machine needed to do it.
5) If you can't afford it, re-assess #1
6) Repeat as needed.
Re: Buying or renting an airplane?
There are variables to aircraft costs,your mileage may vary.
Myself 1700 tt,185 time is 750 in type wheels,632 on type floats,commercial,group3 ifr.Cessna 185 value $100,000 wheels,$130,000 floats.
Full coverage insurance cost on wheels /year $2180 - floats $4000/year.
On wheels with fuel included the break even is about 50 hours a year,on floats the break even is about 60 hours a year.
I've owned this aircraft for 26 years & there have been high spots & low spots to ownership - most of the lows are the result of picking the wrong people to do my maintenance - high spots such as this summer when the wife & I flew to PEI for my 30 reunion of graduation from High school in the 185 & had a blast doing it;the second time we have made this trip - the first time for our honeymoon in 1998.
Daryl
Myself 1700 tt,185 time is 750 in type wheels,632 on type floats,commercial,group3 ifr.Cessna 185 value $100,000 wheels,$130,000 floats.
Full coverage insurance cost on wheels /year $2180 - floats $4000/year.
On wheels with fuel included the break even is about 50 hours a year,on floats the break even is about 60 hours a year.
I've owned this aircraft for 26 years & there have been high spots & low spots to ownership - most of the lows are the result of picking the wrong people to do my maintenance - high spots such as this summer when the wife & I flew to PEI for my 30 reunion of graduation from High school in the 185 & had a blast doing it;the second time we have made this trip - the first time for our honeymoon in 1998.
Daryl
Re: Buying or renting an airplane?
Once you have your first plane paid for it is like money in the bank. You are always trading up or down after that. Do not buy a plane without getting an AME to do a pre-purchase and be prepared to pay at least a grand. It seems like a lot of money but if you get a lemon you could shell out 15 to 20 grand very easy.
I don't know of many people who bother with hull insurance but it is a good idea if you are low time. IMHO used Mooney's are a bargain right now. If you want a fixed gear single stay away from 150's and 172's. It is not because they are bad planes, they are excellent planes but the demand from schools drives the price up.
Piper Colts and Tripacers are good if you have a hanger as well as T crates. The Luscombe is another bargain too. I saw a Cessna 120 for sale for $12500 a few months ago and I could see nothing wrong with it.
I don't know of many people who bother with hull insurance but it is a good idea if you are low time. IMHO used Mooney's are a bargain right now. If you want a fixed gear single stay away from 150's and 172's. It is not because they are bad planes, they are excellent planes but the demand from schools drives the price up.
Piper Colts and Tripacers are good if you have a hanger as well as T crates. The Luscombe is another bargain too. I saw a Cessna 120 for sale for $12500 a few months ago and I could see nothing wrong with it.
Re: Buying or renting an airplane?
That's exactly what we figured but good to have validation.AEROBAT wrote:Once you have your first plane paid for it is like money in the bank.
Yup. Paid $960 plus tax so this is right on the mark.AEROBAT wrote:Do not buy a plane without getting an AME to do a pre-purchase and be prepared to pay at least a grand.
Flight takes MORE than Airspeed and Money ...
Re: Buying or renting an airplane?
Hi PAJ,
Like WOW, it is the first time anyone on this forum agreed with me
I better buy a lottery ticket tomorrow!
Like WOW, it is the first time anyone on this forum agreed with me
I better buy a lottery ticket tomorrow!Re: Buying or renting an airplane?
AEROBAT
I'm in for half then if you win. Looking to trade up.
I'm in for half then if you win. Looking to trade up.
Flight takes MORE than Airspeed and Money ...
Re: Buying or renting an airplane?
Canada is a big place and only the larger towns have aircraft for rent. Most of us don't have the rental option available. I agree though that renting is usually cheaper.
Flying with Rick video at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g6my0FM9 ... re=related
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kiloindiapapa
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Re: Buying or renting an airplane?
Cessna 150 that I own. Annual is $450 a year and insurance is $500/ year. Fuel maybe $30 an hour. There are no planes to rent where I live so I bought one. Ive have rented while out of town sometimes.
As for owning vs renting. Never ran the numbers.....never will and dont really care. Im a pilot, I love flying so I bought a plane. Im also a waterskier and fisherman and I love being at the lake with the family, so I bought a boat. Cost pretty much the same as the plane and could have been more if I wanted. I used it maybe 5 times last summer. That means I only used it 5 times in a whole year. Does this mean I should rent? Which is cheaper, to rent a boat or buy it........who cares. If my whole life was consumed with saving an extra buck or two here and there why bother doing anything that cost money. I dont have alot of money so I dont have a fancy vehicle or a brand new house. Instead we chose to be able to have a few toys and the money to use them when we want.
As for owning vs renting. Never ran the numbers.....never will and dont really care. Im a pilot, I love flying so I bought a plane. Im also a waterskier and fisherman and I love being at the lake with the family, so I bought a boat. Cost pretty much the same as the plane and could have been more if I wanted. I used it maybe 5 times last summer. That means I only used it 5 times in a whole year. Does this mean I should rent? Which is cheaper, to rent a boat or buy it........who cares. If my whole life was consumed with saving an extra buck or two here and there why bother doing anything that cost money. I dont have alot of money so I dont have a fancy vehicle or a brand new house. Instead we chose to be able to have a few toys and the money to use them when we want.
If a pilot walked into a forest and had to make a decision, and no one from AVCANADA was there. Would the pilot still be wrong?
Re: Buying or renting an airplane?
I really believe that if you are going to fly recreationally, you have to buy or find someone to share expenses with (ie. use their plane and pay them for expenses).
If you rent from a private company you will have to fly 30 or 60 days or face a check out. The check out is not a big deal, until you have done it 3 or 4 times over a year because you did not fly every thirty days.
If you rent get ready to always fly under time pressure to get the plane back for the next guy. Also get ready for the daily minimum if you want to take if for a day.
I learned to fly in toronto. Renting nearly terminated my desire to keep flying. A couple of my pals bought a plane and are going gangbusters. I did not have the cash to buy in but have hooked up with another friend and share expenses with him when I use his plane. No check outs every other month, no daily minimums, one good friendship.
There are lots of aircraft out there whose engines are rusting away because they are not being flown every week, find someone who owns one and make a deal that will benefit you both and maybe start a new friendship.
P.S. - I am not anti check out - in fact I think annual check outs are probably prudent.
If you rent from a private company you will have to fly 30 or 60 days or face a check out. The check out is not a big deal, until you have done it 3 or 4 times over a year because you did not fly every thirty days.
If you rent get ready to always fly under time pressure to get the plane back for the next guy. Also get ready for the daily minimum if you want to take if for a day.
I learned to fly in toronto. Renting nearly terminated my desire to keep flying. A couple of my pals bought a plane and are going gangbusters. I did not have the cash to buy in but have hooked up with another friend and share expenses with him when I use his plane. No check outs every other month, no daily minimums, one good friendship.
There are lots of aircraft out there whose engines are rusting away because they are not being flown every week, find someone who owns one and make a deal that will benefit you both and maybe start a new friendship.
P.S. - I am not anti check out - in fact I think annual check outs are probably prudent.
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kiloindiapapa
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Re: Buying or renting an airplane?
You said it Raff. Really great point about having to continually do the checkout. Again to right about the partnership, way too many planes just sitting around and many good opportunities to get into an agreement with someone.
If a pilot walked into a forest and had to make a decision, and no one from AVCANADA was there. Would the pilot still be wrong?
Re: Buying or renting an airplane?
A decent four seater; insured for hull, liability; add parking fees; annual inspection; will run up to ten large a year without even turning the mags on.
If you put in 100 hours a year you can justify it, but those hours will be at a rate of about forty bucks per hour in fuel. So, another four grand.
This is based on single ownership. If you can make it happen, then life is good. I myself am a club member now, but am looking into ownership again.
Money is just some numbers on paper that can't hurt you - Do what makes you happy, life is too short to do otherwise.
If you put in 100 hours a year you can justify it, but those hours will be at a rate of about forty bucks per hour in fuel. So, another four grand.
This is based on single ownership. If you can make it happen, then life is good. I myself am a club member now, but am looking into ownership again.
Money is just some numbers on paper that can't hurt you - Do what makes you happy, life is too short to do otherwise.
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kiloindiapapa
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- Joined: Wed Sep 09, 2009 2:42 pm
Re: Buying or renting an airplane?
Ten Large a year????? where is everyone getting there insurance and getting annuals done (someone said $2000 per annual) I olny pay $500 for insurance for my 1972 150 (its for sale) and $1200 for full coverage on my 172. Annuals are around $450 a year.
Kilo-Kilo, you mentioned "a decent four seater". What is everyones idea of a decent four seater?....a 182, a Cirrus?, a bonanza?
I think alot of the problem with people wanting to buy is that the thought is that they need something that has over 200hp, 4-6 seats and curises 240kts. It became apparent to me when I bought the 150 4 years ago that, that little plane is about all I will ever be able to afford to own. And it was and still is awesome. Now I got the 172 and I cant be happier. But even if I stay with the 150 I would be happy.....happy just to be up in the air.
Sure I would love a 182, I would love a 180 on floats. A bonanza, cirrus ect, very sweet. Id even love a 180hp 172. But man the maintenance, insurance (floats, or because of the Retractable gear) and fuel would kill me. So I got what I can afford and love it. It does not matter what you have, as long as you are out there flying.
Kilo-Kilo, you mentioned "a decent four seater". What is everyones idea of a decent four seater?....a 182, a Cirrus?, a bonanza?
I think alot of the problem with people wanting to buy is that the thought is that they need something that has over 200hp, 4-6 seats and curises 240kts. It became apparent to me when I bought the 150 4 years ago that, that little plane is about all I will ever be able to afford to own. And it was and still is awesome. Now I got the 172 and I cant be happier. But even if I stay with the 150 I would be happy.....happy just to be up in the air.
Sure I would love a 182, I would love a 180 on floats. A bonanza, cirrus ect, very sweet. Id even love a 180hp 172. But man the maintenance, insurance (floats, or because of the Retractable gear) and fuel would kill me. So I got what I can afford and love it. It does not matter what you have, as long as you are out there flying.
If a pilot walked into a forest and had to make a decision, and no one from AVCANADA was there. Would the pilot still be wrong?
Re: Buying or renting an airplane?
I'm sorry,
The plane was IFR certified....that made the costs higher.
You right-me wrong.
The plane was IFR certified....that made the costs higher.
You right-me wrong.
Re: Buying or renting an airplane?
Hello Canada,
I've been renting all my flying life and like many I've dreamt of owning a plane of my own. Even had ambitions of building one for a long time, not for the cost savings but for the fun of doing it. Maybe some day I still will, but for now renting is all I can afford.
Still, I'm loving this thread because it gives me hope maybe one of these days I too will own even a small slice of aviation in the form of a 152 or something like. KIP, I like your attitude re $$.
The downside of renting has gotten very old for me - hurrying back for the next guy, driving to the airport only to be told the plane is snagged or "not back yet", finding the plane in a nasty condition, only being able to book it for 2 hour blocks, to name a few things.
Lately I've been very fortunate. I've been renting C-ISLA from Sea Land Air at ZBB and it's virtually my own aircraft, I can literally decide on the spur of the moment to go flying and 9 times out of 10 it's available. Nice plane too - ~100 TTAF & engine, glass cockpit, Mogas and under 4gph if I don't mind slow. It's been great and at $100/hr it's a very fair price for a renter. I guess it's not making the club enough dough, though, because it's been for sale for a while. When it goes, I'll be forced to go to another club/school unless a miracle happens.
Cheers,
living vicariously through your adventures
I've been renting all my flying life and like many I've dreamt of owning a plane of my own. Even had ambitions of building one for a long time, not for the cost savings but for the fun of doing it. Maybe some day I still will, but for now renting is all I can afford.
Still, I'm loving this thread because it gives me hope maybe one of these days I too will own even a small slice of aviation in the form of a 152 or something like. KIP, I like your attitude re $$.
The downside of renting has gotten very old for me - hurrying back for the next guy, driving to the airport only to be told the plane is snagged or "not back yet", finding the plane in a nasty condition, only being able to book it for 2 hour blocks, to name a few things.
Lately I've been very fortunate. I've been renting C-ISLA from Sea Land Air at ZBB and it's virtually my own aircraft, I can literally decide on the spur of the moment to go flying and 9 times out of 10 it's available. Nice plane too - ~100 TTAF & engine, glass cockpit, Mogas and under 4gph if I don't mind slow. It's been great and at $100/hr it's a very fair price for a renter. I guess it's not making the club enough dough, though, because it's been for sale for a while. When it goes, I'll be forced to go to another club/school unless a miracle happens.
Cheers,
living vicariously through your adventures
