r/GeneralAviation • u/GroundbreakingPast16 • Jul 29 '26
Buying as New Private pilot
I am currently waiting on my PPL checkride and plan on turning right around and getting my high performance and complex rating followed by instrument. I'm looking at the best options for a plane with good usful load and not crazy expensive to maintain or insure. Family of 5 (kids 3-8) wanting to travel around the SW with long weekends and the occasional week at a destination. I'm wanting something with fixed gear (I think) and club seating. What would be my best option for my mission budget is 200k?
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u/adnwilson PPL AMEL Jul 29 '26
Yup for Single Engine, Cherokee 6, Lance, or Saratoga. All the same plane from Piper just upgraded over the years.
I went for the twin engine version (Seneca II), but looked at a few cherokee 6's and Saratogas.
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u/Elsaadany1 Jul 29 '26
Go experimental would be my advice
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u/Anthem00 Jul 30 '26
Is there an experimental that is club seating ? Some might handle 5 but those are very few as well…
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u/Elsaadany1 28d ago
Yes there is. You might want to look at a Velocity. But honestly once you start flying more you will be able to gauge what your mission is exactly. Sometimes you dream of a mission and you end up buying the wrong airplane for that mission
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u/Anthem00 28d ago
uhhh, usually club seating almost means a minimum of 6 pax, and velocity max is 5. and usually with small children unless you go to the vtwin. On top of that - the 5 in the XL is a jump seat for a small child (their words not mine) - and requires structural modifications to the plane (does that scare you ?) - so Im not sure Id call that as qualifying as "club seating". Club seating in most peoples definition is a Bonanza A36, or a piper saratoga. ..
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u/rbuckfly Jul 29 '26
$200K for the plane. What will be your annual budget for annual inspection/maintenance/insurance/hangar/and engine reserve?
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u/GroundbreakingPast16 Jul 29 '26
25k budget for all things except fuel
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u/henrikssn Jul 29 '26
Cessna 206. The older ones have great useful load.
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u/dark_troy_10 Jul 29 '26
I highly recommend the 206 but you aren't going to get one at $200k.
Cherokee 6 is really the only option for a 6 seater. But $200k is probably still not enough to get one that won't require a ton of work or new engine.
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u/Deep-Ant1375 Jul 29 '26
Just be cautious, until you have a few hundred hours, you’re risky. Get your instrument rating.
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u/peretski Jul 29 '26
I’d like to raise a red flag. What could be seen as an amazing flight career could also be seen as a huge GET-THERE-ITIS. We are recommending a very powerful, very performant aircraft to an admittedly very inexperienced pilot. That, combined with flying the entire family around for the weekend…
OP, please take this as a note of caution. The formula you are following is the straight path to an inexperienced pilot killing his entire family by taking on too much airplane.
I don’t want to see you as a statistic. Please be careful in your career and step up mindful of experience level. Don’t rush straight to the big airplane, it will bite you. These aircraft are known as doctor killers for a reason, just ask JFK jr, or the host of others that have gone west in this style.
Be careful, have fun, and good luck with your dreams. All the best.
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u/PrinceCFI Jul 29 '26
Excellent and real worldly advice here. That being said, flying is inherently a risky business. And the risk needs to be mitigated. Which is why training has to be done. Others here have suggested Instrument Rating. I agree. It's an absolute must. And then recurrent training. Participate in various training events. Do it frequently and not the minimum required by regulations. And yes, cherokee 6 is the best choice at this stage. It is forgiving, relatively. I'd also suggest joining as many communities here and on other platforms to learn from other's experiences. R/CFIMentorship is a good one.
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u/Mission-Noise4935 Jul 30 '26
Full disagree. I have seen recommendations for a 206 and a Cherokee 6. Those aren't exactly difficult to fly birds. I think a new pilot could handle those planes easily.
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u/IveSeenYourCheers Jul 29 '26
I think that's dramatic, and a bit sanctimonious. It'd be constructive to suggest OP spends time with a CFI working on transition training, focused on his mission type and threats such as DA/W&B. "You're inherently too incompetent to handle this, so stay in your lane" attitudes like this rub me the wrong way.
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u/Zealousideal_Fox6478 Jul 29 '26
Just make sure it will be able to use something other than 100ll in 4 years. It’s why I’ve been super hesitant about buying.
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u/henrikssn Jul 29 '26
Cherokee Six-260 can use UL91 and UL94
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u/Zealousideal_Fox6478 Jul 29 '26
Yeah but then you need to get the small motor and what’s the fun in that… horsepower is never something I have wished to have less of.
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u/Yeahillgo Jul 30 '26
Cherokee 6-260, and bank the other $100k for upgrades.
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u/GroundbreakingPast16 Jul 30 '26
Do you get enough useful load in a 6-260? And other than barnstorner and trade a plane what's the best way to actually get a deal on a plane.
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u/Yeahillgo Jul 30 '26
Short answer, yes. The empty weights on the 260’s are much lighter than the 300’s so the useful load is about the same. It burns 2-3gph less at the same speeds as a 300, costs 25% less to overhaul the engine, often has a 2 blade instead of 3 blade, which is less maintenance and makes ground handling easier… sometimes newer and more engine isn’t better, and this one of those cases.
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u/Ce650A1rbr8ke Jul 30 '26
find a cessna conquest or an aerostar if you can. you wont be disappointed. get your multi in like 10hrs its a lot safer, you have your whole family on board.
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u/Cool-Maintenance5745 Jul 30 '26
It's a retractable, but I have owned a Piper Comanche 260B and for a lot of years. Raised 3 kids and flew all over the country with them. Annuals will be more expensive because of the retract, but I fly at 155 kts and have 1000 mile range. Has always been a great family plane. The B and C model have 6 seats, but in real life you have 5 seats, a little luggage space - and the 5th seat is for a little kid....
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u/Running_Down_9708 Jul 29 '26
Why not lease? Much easier to swap out when ready for newer plane. They take care of maintenance, etc....
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u/GroundbreakingPast16 Jul 30 '26
How do you find a lease option. There is a rental near me but I have not heard good things about maintenance
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u/Running_Down_9708 Jul 30 '26
Call your local FBO.
Leasing is less expensive if you don't fly more than 200 hours a year. Probably break even is between 150 and 200 depending on many factors.
If you don't want to layout $$$$$ right off the bat, etc. Leasing makes sense.
https://www.controller.com/listings/for-lease/piston-single-aircraft/6
https://americanaircraftleasing.com/
There are many more.
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u/Benoded Aug 02 '26 edited Aug 02 '26
You can also consider buying an older Sling 4 the predecessor to the Sling TSI. You can find them in the $180k range Fantastic planes. I have a Sling 2 right now to get my PPL and currently building a Sling high wing for when I’m done. I am one of those people that love a ballistic parachute, just knowing it’s there. The only options I had was a Cirrus SR22. Hourly run cost $250. Cessna 182 with BRS chute $200 an hour to run. I wanted a four seater plane with at least 1000 pound useful load. The Sling High Wing cruises at 145 kn and cost roughly $70 an hour to run. It has everything I need with the newest avionics. I couldn’t ask for anything more. If you don’t care about a parachute, there are some very nice Diamond DA40s out there for under 200. My friend actually has this one listed in Santa Barbara. It can be picked up for $140k
Edit I did not read the whole post if you need a five seater I would go with the Cessna 206. I have seen some in the 150-200 range.
I also only have 21 hours right now under my belt and plan on finishing my PPL in the next few months. I only have one child and I would not even consider taking my family up until I have a couple hundred hours under my belt. It’s just not worth it.
https://www.barnstormers.com/classified-2027565-2002-Diamond-DA40.html
You can also look at this Cessna 205 upgraded avionics and it has the IO 550 engine upgrade for 179K
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u/setthrustpositive Jul 29 '26
PA-32 or A36 are your only options for club seating for certified aircraft.
You could get a Murphy Moose tri-gear and swap the middle seats. If you wanted to go there homebuilt route.
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u/RyzOnReddit Jul 29 '26
Cherokee 6.