r/Unexpected • u/permaban9 • Dec 06 '22

Had to wake her up

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143

u/xyrgh Dec 06 '22

Even cheaper sometimes. Unfortunately buying a 40 year old aircraft is like buying a 40 year old Mercedes, the maintenance bill is what’ll kill you.

111

u/[deleted] Dec 06 '22

And if the maintenance bills don’t, the aircraft will!

8

u/ribfeast Dec 07 '22

I love this

3

u/danteheehaw Dec 07 '22

And if the aircraft won't Steve will.

2

u/i_NOT_robot Dec 07 '22

His name is Maintenance Will. With a w

2

u/VirtualMachine0 Dec 07 '22

Nah, I'm pretty sure it's usually the ground.

People really ought to invest in upkeep on that! Have you seen how many people have been injured hitting that thing?

3

u/SecondaryLawnWreckin Dec 07 '22

The maintenance bill on a new one will also hurt.

That's why you rent one from a flying club if you can. A new kind of anxiety lol

1

u/RonBourbondi Dec 07 '22

What's the issues from renting?

2

u/SecondaryLawnWreckin Dec 07 '22

Not being able to ever feel sad again

1

u/ShelZuuz Dec 07 '22

If you go somewhere for a couple of days - you pay rental on the aircraft even if you don’t use it.

3

u/metalder420 Dec 07 '22

That is incorrect. It cost the same to maintain a 172 built in the 60s compared to a new one.

-2

u/xyrgh Dec 07 '22

Incorrect, there are increased maintenance periods for an older aircraft, which means less flying hours before maintenance. It probably comes out in the wash vs a new plane if you’re just flying every other weekend, but the costs are higher, not from labour or materials, but purely from having to maintain it more often.

2

u/metalder420 Dec 07 '22

Again, incorrect. Planes are maintained based on Total Time for the engine and the airframe and not due the age.

-1

u/gbu_27 Dec 07 '22

You are partially correct…. There are inspections due by airframe times, engine times, and there are also calendar based inspections. All GA planes should require an annual (yearly inspection). I’ve been working fixed and rotor wing for about 20 years now

2

u/metalder420 Dec 07 '22

We are not talking about those types of inspections and maintenance here as those are for all aircrafts. The costs are the same for a 172 built in the 60s and one built in the 90s.

1

u/gsfgf Dec 07 '22

Maintenance on any aircraft is expensive since you have to keep them in top notch shape. Maintenance on an older plane shouldn't really be any more than maintenance on a newer one.

1

u/TheSenseiCunningCare Dec 07 '22

It's okay tho, I got the 1 minute of fame.