Hi everyone- I am in my 30s and flying has been a lifelong dream that for a couple reasons I have never gotten around to, or been able to, pursue. I am very close to finally moving forward but I have a lot of questions and I would really appreciate it if someone (or more than one someone) was willing to chat with me for 30-45 minutes to work through some stuff and set reasonable expectations and address some concerns.
If anyone is willing, I can send a Discord/Zoom/Whatsapp invitation.
Things I’m most concerned with right now are costs (and I’d like to talk a little about my income and lifestyle to get a frame of reference) and safety/WAF (wife acceptance factor). WAF is a huge issue for me at home right now and it’s also driving a lot of the interest in the Cirrus.
I would be happy to get some input here on the forum, but I think the thing would be most helpful for me is talking it out with someone, if someone was willing.
Hi Hoya (Is HoyaSaxa your actual name? COPA is pretty strict about having your real name, but I’m assuming you’re a guest)
I’m certain you’ll get a number of people would be willing to chat with you (perhaps not for 45 minutes ) but I think you’ll be best served by giving some more details about your current life situation and desired missions and goals of how you see yourself flying or using a potential airplane purchase as well as your current flying experience if any.
Do you have any flying experience or have you gone up and done an into flight?
Are you looking to fly for anything other than personal travel and perhaps some business?
WAF = Take her on Vacation to Maui and go flying with Laurence at Maui Flight Academy with you as the pilot and Laurence in the right seat as CFII from Maui > Molokai Cliffs > Lanai Four Seasons for lunch > Maui = SOLD
Where are you located? Best to speak with pilots with experience in you area!
Best of luck in your journey and if you’re interested in talking with someone on the West Coast feel free to IM me and we can chat (probably not for 45 minutes unless it’s an extremely interesting conversation LOL)
Hi Ryan, happy to chat with copa members, if you’d like the perspective of someone who just went through a similar process and is still a student. I started lessons in December and bought a used g6 sr22 with a friend a couple months ago. My wife proclaimed, “fine, but I’ll never fly with you and our kids will never fly with you” when I started, but I’m happy to say both are changing. It’s a process, and I’m certain the parachute helps. So does my low pressure, baby steps approach.
Looks like you haven’t joined copa yet, but once you do I’m certain you’ll get a ton of value from the collective wisdom, and the huge and active other forums for members only are the top of the funnel to that. It will also give you access to my profile/phone number to text me to coordinate a time. If you change your mind, I think copa offers a money back guarantee.
If you decide to join, shoot me a message or text. Hope to meet you soon,
Jeff
Joining COPA allows you to access 20 plus years of forum threads on your topic. Using the search tool, you will find pros and cons of:
“Fast” courses versus slow courses for your private,
Why you should go ahead and complete your instrument rating (e.g., safety and insurance),
The ins and outs of insurance including smooth liability coverage and the correlation between time, hull value, ratings and rates,
The total cost of ownership (including multiple spreadsheets),
How to structure your purchase (LLC or private owner) and tax implications for accelerated depreciation,
What to look for in buying a new Cirrus including your mission, initial logbook evaluation (CAPS life remaining, prior use and hours, prior damage, engine condition and age, avionics, MCU condition, A/C turbo or non-turbo) and the primacy of caveat emptor in making a selection
Who to buy through, the importance of a pre-buy, and getting help with the pre-buy if its your first airplane,
Aircraft finance
The challenges of finding a hangar
Risk, weather and traveling at distance with a private license.
I was up a bit late last night on the west coast and am overwhelmed by all of the replies this morning. Thank you, all. I will reach out individually to a couple of the folks who offered to talk. I really appreciate it.
Add me to the list where the wife said she would never fly. Now it is her favorite thing! Of course everyone is different but it seems to be a common thread.
If the WAF is a go/no go on your ultimate decision then you can do what we did and rent/lease for a couple of years before taking the ownership plunge. Just make sure you are renting good equipment for obvious safety reasons and to keep the wife engaged.
I have 315 hours and have co-owned a G6 since Nov '20 and sadly still at this phase in our one-sided negotiation. But I got the plane… and willing to play the long game.
Take your wife on vacation via commercial air. Doesn’t matter which airline you choose but after the bag drag, the TSA shakedown, crowded terminals, lack of food, poor service, angry employees, a cancellation or two and she will become your best PIC ( Partner in Command).
Even with a few hundred hours flying is still safer than driving.
The oft-used comparison is that the drive to the airport is the most dangerous part of the trip. While that’s true for an airline trip, it’s most definitely not true when GA is part of the equation.
You forgot farting passengers. I once got on a flight where the guy next to me was farting so bad that a lady on the other side of him had to get up and go and stand at the back of the aisle for the majority of the flight.
Jeff,
I scrolled through the forum after joining COPA. Your situation caught my eye. I’m on a fast track for my PPL. My son is getting his commercial and I got the fever, and I have been all in. I have some pilot friends that have suggested I get a SR22. (I’m training in a piper cherokee). I am going through the buying process now. I have some guys with 30 years experience, I trust for info and even will consult and walk me through… I am looking on all the different forums; controller, trade a plane, aerista…Do you have thoughts since you have gone through the process ? I’m in West Texas.
Thanks,
Curry
I’m currently in your exact situation (late 30’s), new to aviation, young kids, wife who HATES the idea due to safety and cost. Joining copa and talking through it has helped.
Welcome! I’m newer to Cirrus, having joined a partnership of 2 in an SR22 last year. I’m mostly a tailwheel guy (my other ride) and am happy to chat about the differences and different approaches to training. Regardless you’ve reached out to a wonderful community.
I doesn’t appear that you have joined COPA as a member (unless the system hasn’t updated yet). There is basically zilch on the Guest forum. To have your posts noticed and to avail yourself of the 1,000,000+ posts on the Member side, join!
Hey Gordon,
Thanks for reaching out. I did join as a guest. I got confirmation of the membership and the post being accepted earlier today.
…Do you mean I need to join as “paying” member ?
Thanks for reaching out to me.
Curry
Yes. Obtaining a log-in as a non-paying guest just gives you access to the Guest forum, which is pretty much worthless. When you join COPA as a member you get full access to all forums, and your posts there will be very actively followed-up. (Most members generally ignore the Guest forum.) I guarantee it will be the best $99 you can spend in aviation.
) but I think you’ll be best served by giving some more details about your current life situation and desired missions and goals of how you see yourself flying or using a potential airplane purchase as well as your current flying experience if any.
