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I am a pilot and aircraft owner. Who cares what a new C-172 costs? I honestly do not know or care what a C-172 costs, but $300K doesn't seem wrong to me.

Visit http://www.trade-a-plane.com/ and see what $300K buys. It's a buyers market, which is sad for owners like myself, but potentially good for someone.

As for the medical, I suspect the 3rd class medical will be done away with. Not sure I like the idea since having someone slump over the controls is generally a bad thing. OTOH, I pass my medicals and haven't really considered the alternatives.

I'll take that job as long as they provide fuel and buy my ride. Who knows, I may even work for minimum wage.

And for $19,000, you could own a trainer. At $3000 per fuel load, I don't think it'll get much air time, but oh how heads would roll if you overflew Cuba at Mach 1.2.

> If you say flying is too expensive, consider that you can get an airworthy 2-seater for about $15,000.

I just went over to trade-a-plane.com to make sure that the market hadn't suddenly dropped out. You are completely wrong.

If you find a plane for $15,000, it probably doesn't fly. If you find one that does, it only has a few hours left until it needs an overhaul, which costs $15,000 - $30,000. On top of that, the fabric will probably need to be replaced, if you actually find a plane for that price.

Realistically, expect to spend about $45,000 for an airworthy plane. The upside is that you can use it for a couple years, and then sell it again, and get back pretty much every penny you spent. Because of the unreasonable FAA restrictions, nearly all low-cost single engine planes are 50+ years old, and it will be that same lot of planes that new pilots will train on for ever. So, even after a couple years of use, the value of the plane will probably go up.

Avgas (100LL) is just over $4.50/gal in various places in Tennessee (avoid BNA $6+/gal). Also, you don't have to buy new to get a plane. Used airworthy aircraft can be found at Trade A Plane with a current annual for under $20,000. A little 2-seat Cessna can be found for around $9000 to $12000. If 2 or more use that plane for training, then you save a *ton*.

Don't get a jet unless you (literally!) have money to burn. There's a MiG on there for $95,000, but it can burn $3000 in jet fuel in one hour. Top speed greater than Mach 2. Best climb - 46,250 ft/min.

Avgas (100LL) is just over $4.50/gal in various places in Tennessee (avoid BNA $6+/gal). Also, you don't have to buy new to get a plane. Used airworthy aircraft can be found at Trade A Plane with a current annual for under $20,000. A little 2-seat Cessna can be found for around $9000 to $12000. If 2 or more use that plane for training, then you save a *ton*.

Don't get a jet unless you (literally!) have money to burn. There's a MiG on there for $95,000, but it can burn $3000 in jet fuel in one hour. Top speed greater than Mach 2. Best climb - 46,250 ft/min.

Fuck that, buy a plane.

And don't forget the venerable Trade-A-Plane -- do they still publish a print edition?

http://www.trade-a-plane.com/
(PS. site doesn't like older browsers)

Now a P-38...

sPh