Purchasing

Odyssey Aviation Publications Thirty-some-odd years ago when I started flying, general aviation had barely reached the age of DME, and RNAV was just beginning to allow some of us to fly straight lines between points. Today, DME is still useful in many applications; but for the most part the avionics we considered mainstream through the […]

Odyssey Aviation Publications There are three issues that confound many potential aircraft purchasers as they are searching for the right aircraft: airframe time, avionics equipment, and engine time. Each can have its own lasting effect on the aircraft that is purchased, leaving the new owner with the potential for higher maintenance bills as well as […]

Odyssey Aviation Publications The student pilot was learning to fly in a Piper Cherokee when he saw his first Cessna 310. He decided on the spot that he was going to own one. During a subsequent discussion with friends he was told that if he planned on being a commercial pilot he should skip the […]

“Cheap” and “aircraft ownership” are mutually exclusive terms, it seems. If you own an airplane, you’re resigned to the fact that the privilege will cost you a handsome sum, perhaps much of your disposable income. Yet if flying isn’t the center point of your life but you still want to own an airplane, there are […]

Seats seven, and bring all the luggage you want in the big compartment on top. There’s even a baggage loading and unloading arm for the lazy among you. Fuel burn? Block to block fuel burn is about the same as an A36 … an amazing MPG for such a big, multi-engine aircraft. If you can […]

PERFORMANCE Takeoff distance, ground roll: 0 ft Takeoff distance over 50-ft obstacle: 0 ft Maximum demonstrated crosswind component: 15 kt Rate of climb (typical ascent profile at 130,000 ft): 132,000 fpm Orbit Altitude: 185 to 643 kilometers (115 to 400 statute miles) Orbit Velocity: 27,875 kph (17,321 mph) Lift-to-drag (glide) ratio — Hypersonic: 1.05 Subsonic: […]

AVweb Special Projects Editor Dave Higdon adopted a Comanche 180 a few years ago. He approached the purchase with all the warmth of a bill collector. Efficiency … payload … performance … bang-for-the-buck. Now he’s fallen in love. If you’re not going to see A Christmas Carol this season, read Dave’s story instead and enjoy […]

The Malibu Mirage has the rare distinction of being in a class by itself. No other plane currently in production can claim to be a six-place cabin-class pressurized piston single. In spite of a complicated history, the aircraft ultimately lives up to its reputation as a full-capability IFR platform providing comfort and reliability in the […]

Given our aging general aviation fleet —average age now over 30 years — there are bound to be some problems regarding thecondition of an airplane at the time of sale. That’s because some owners are notwilling to put the necessary money into the proper maintenance of the aircraft, whileothers don’t fly enough to ensure that […]

There are many waysto do a prepurchase inspection on used aircraft, and whether the method you choose isright for you depends on the outcome. There are those who say that nothing short of afull-blown annual inspection is the way to go, while others do little more than a cursoryexam. Cursory exam or full-blown annual? Which […]