I just wanted to indroduce myself after lurking constantly in the last two days. Hey! And I'm interested in maybe possibly buying something.
I'm around 41hrs (and 12 months) into lessons. I like to brag about having a cylinder split on me pouring smoke and oil everywhere the first time I solo'd. I'm still waiting for the FAA to mail me the "automatic pass" license for going through that
.
I'm a busy guy, so having fun, not racing to the check ride, is my main goal. I have come to the realization that I am not flying as much as I could simply because on most afternoons it can take me 45 minutes or more to get to where the club (and instructor) is (BFI). While there is an airport just 10 minutes the other way (PAE). Of course the clubs at PAE aren't all that receptive to a student taking their stuff out without one of their instructors. But they cost a decent amount more than BFI anyway.
So I think I want a 150 to park at PAE, and when it's time for more dual, I can pop into BFI. My instructor is completely cool with this idea. The majority of my flying will be alone, and I like the simplicity and cost of ownership aspect. I don't care about hauling my friends around or getting anywhere fast. I can rent from the club if I need that. I may not fly enough to statistically break the rent/own barrier, but my time is worth money to me, as is knowing exactly who flew it last (me). And I would own it for a while, not trade up in a year or two. Again, I like flying, not getting there....but a nice restaurant at the end is great too!
I have zero idea what to even look for in a 150 before I spend money for an inspection. There is one in the state I like, and I know someone who is a friend of the seller. But the seller doesn't know when the prop was last overhauled, or what cylinders are on it. And he's only owned it about a year, but spent money refurb'ing the interior just a few months ago. He says he has all the papers, including the papers from a wing replacement after a snow-bank incident in 1983, Alaska. It looks nice, but looks are a distant, almost non existant, requirement compared to decent electronics and structurally/mechanically sound. I am hesitant to blindly start paying for inspections on everything I see.
What I am also concerned about is the "polite" factor of talking about someone's airplane for sale in a public forum. I'm not sure if buying remote is the thing for me either. I figure the investment here, and I've ordered "the book", is a good start though. So I'm all ears and have no shame, and am looking for a buying buddy. I'm not in a hurry to buy, I'm the kind of person that researches something to DEATH before dropping my money.
So while I'm foraging through the posts, feel free to point me to specific ones you feel I may find valuable. Thanks!
