I Have had 2 planes a 1967 Cesna 150and a 1946 Navion 205 HP, Im saving for a Mooney just like yours. I really enjoyed your video thanks for you honesty and clarity , keep up the good work
My friend: Hey, you know, 75% of the earth is covered with water - you should consider buying a boat. Me: 100% of the earth is covered by air - so I am going to buy a plane.
Great video. Love the back round. Nice looking plane. You explained the cost perfect and it makes sense. I rather have a plane then a boat for sure. Thank you
Thanks for sharing. Your plane looks great and at the end of the day it is not crazy to own a Mooney compared to other hobbies. My dad spends around 8-9 thousand a yr on golf and he plays 8 months out of the year. I rather fly all over for a few thousand more 12 months out of the year. thanks for explaining the cost to own and keep up the videos.
Absolutely a thorough pre-purchase inspection! (good idea for a car but a MUST for a plane). Early '70s my father bought a 1947 PA-12 in "good" condition - ($6,000 back then.. but a top of the line Lincoln was 10K); turned out someone had not properly connected the vent tube from the battery and corrosion had eaten into part of the fuselage tubing. We spent the next few years rebuilding/restoring it. Almost 50 years later he is deceased and until recently still flying it in his 80s. Shout out to flying Octogenarians! I stumbled across this video as I'm looking to sell his airplane (needs another resto and a fellow pilot at the home field is interested in it) and finishing the lessons I started in '79 then using a Mooney, Bonanza or similar to transit from KILM/KSUT to the private field he had a share in with a hangar cost of $720/year rather than driving 2-3 Hours each way anywhere from 0-3 time/Week as I deal with the fall out of my parents falling in separate floors of the house and not being rescued for 4-5 days and then my father passing from it while my mother has been in rehab/PT for weeks. I would need a tie down local to me as well and a cheap beater car at the other end but in some ways it makes sense and my mother has no problem with that idea either.
This is super helpful for someone like myself researching. You make a good point in hobbies. Fishing is almost as expensive for me and it will go by the wayside for this. BTW, your Mooney is beautiful!
I have owned 3 Mooneys a D, C, E, and lots of time in an F. I have actually flown a wooden winged Mooney. I have also owned 2, C-172's, a 152, 3 PA-28'-160s, and an Ercoupe and a Tomahawk. I purchased the Tomahawk for $4,500 along with a friend. I got my PVT in the T-hawk. You need to know how to break down your cost-per-hour. How are you going to use your aircraft? How many times a year will you fly. Are you a fairweather flyer? Do you have an instrument rating The Pipers and Cessna were used in my flight school as trainers? The M-20C was used as our Commerical Trainer and personal aircraft. The last company-owned aircraft was a C-206 Lycoming TIO-540-AJ1A turbocharged with the G-1000 flight system. Our cost per hour to fly that aircraft was about $265 per operational hour. There a lot to consider owning and operating any aircraft. Depending on fuel cost, hangar rental, annual inspection cost, AD's, recalls, recurrent training, etc. Don't be fooled you might buy an aircraft cheap but buyer beware you get what you pay for. I have logged over 15,000 flight time and just over 1,300 check rides. CFI CFII, ME, FAA- DPE, Sport DPE ASC.
Completely agree. Ownership is expensive. You don't buy a plane for the economics. It's generally (~if you fly around 100 hrs/year) cheaper to rent than buy. Although ownership is at a premium cost, it comes with premium benefits.
Awesome video my friend. Glad to see you get such a positive response. When I uploaded my cost analysis video of about the same length, people wouldn’t stop telling me it was too long!
Enjoyed the video. This is the plane I want. Hopefully I find a great one when I get ready to purchase. Currently a part owner in a c 172 but really want the cross country speed at nearly the same fuel burn rate
Great video and very informative! Just one suggestion, stop referencing a local place that you know very well in your videos but others don’t. Most people don’t know what state you are talking about when you say Orange County. It means nothing to the casual viewer. You could be in Orange County CA, NC, FL or even NY. There are probably even more Orange Counties that I don’t know of. So, be specific in mentioning a location that includes the state so people can kind of get an idea about costs for things like hangars, etc. I’m looking forward to another video!
Thanks for the information. I am thinking about a Cherokee as my first plane. I also want to train for instruments in my own as well. Still not sure if I should go the extra mile and get a robust plane that I can keep for a long time. I’m not too young.
Love Mooney's. What do think about tall guys though. I'm 6'7. I've always considered the Mooney a no go to purchase since the pilot area seemed smaller. What do you think? And that price is about the rental price of a Cessna 172 per hour it seams. But instead you get to have your own airplane in a hangar that you know how it's taken care of. So seams like money well spent.
Aerospace Education If you put the seat back you will have no problem. I have a friend of mine who has a Mooney and he is 6’6. Mooney is a great plane for long trips and short ones. Try and see you someone in your area who has a Mooney will let you feel it out.
The line I’ve heard (and unable to verify) is that “Al Mooney was 6’5” and built himself an airplane.” I’m 6’7” and that got my attention. Sitting in one tomorrow for the first time. I’m really curious.
tl;dr , budget $1500/month for the year, wet. And over that time you’ll build up a surplus hopefully, for your MOH. And / or you’ll have a couple thousand saved for maintenance intervals, paint touch ups, etc.
12/17/2020 1. At the beginning of each video, state the date. 2. Don’t modify the panel, in particular do not install glass; it is a waste of money; there is absolutely nothing wrong with old school instruments or avionics. 3. Spend your money in flying, not in modifying.
I like old school instruments too but I dunno if I can agree with a blanket statement from the counselor. Eliminating the need for a vacuum system is a pretty solid reason for a minor panel upgrade. Just sayin’ and you mileage might vary. YMMV.
Mike B they rotated the engine and removed a cylinder and inspected to camshaft. I think they rotated it so the shaft was center or something like that. When Lycoming‘s sit for a long time with no use the camshaft tents to get rust on it. Just a FYI. My plane checked out great even tho the last owner barely flew it. He always maintained it for sure
@@PilotFun101 Thanks. I like the efficiency but don't like the tight interior. Still I think Mooney's are great planes but I switched my search to a Cessna 182 mainly for the roomy interior and doors on both sides. So I'll fly a little slower while I burn a "little" more gas!!! (LOL). I enjoy your videos.
Would you recommend buying a cheap shitbox 150/152 (or alternative) for 15-20k first, getting PPL, then selling and getting your "forever" airplane, or would you go straight for the "forever" plane first? I found a really nice '67 M20C for under 50k with decent avionics, and I could almost swing that with a small 4-5 year loan, I don't have my PPL, but I do have aviation experience (Flight Engineer, over 3k hours, and working toward an A&P soon, and eventually down the CPL track in a few years). My brother is an A&P and working toward his IA.
Munky332 You will have no problem learning on a Mooney. I have buddies who had a few hrs and got into the Mooney. You will learn how to fly it with an instructor with no problem.
n40798 I hear you. Just make sure the parachute 🪂 was serviced or replaced. I believe every 15 yrs or so it has to be done and it’s 15-20k. That’s my only issue with SR. Awesome plane tho
They will depreciate, but those composite airframes are much less friendly to maintain in the long run, often life-limited. But you know what will only get more expensive? The hourly rate to work on a Cirrus. Sexy machine, no doubt. But an absolute PITA to work on. Some shops are starting to charge a premium because of all the dumba** engineering you have to deal with for even the simplest task. I suggest making friends with someone that already owns one ;)
What kit built plane would compare to your plane? What would be the difference in total costs to include purchase price if the kit plane was already constructed?
A friend of mine bought a Lancair Super ES for $190k CAN (about $142k US) a few years ago. It cruses about 160kts @ 12 gallons/hour @ 65% power. Faster if you want to burn more gas. Fixed gear, 4 seats and 1000NM range with 2 people and baggage (provided you can hold your bladder that long). I’m sure the builder put a lot more money into it than he got for it. Used homebuilts can be a really good deal if it’s been built and maintained correctly. If you decide on a homebuilt, you’ll need an expert on that exact airframe to do a careful pre-purchase. Also, make sure you can actually get insurance for it. If not, fly whatever you can afford. They’re all fun.
@@PilotFun101 ok, good to know, and thanks for replying so quickly. What’s the best way to find the mechanic? Should it be someone at my local airport (like the mechanic of my flight school/club) or should it be someone local to the airport where the plane is stored? Or something else?
@@PilotFun101 Thanks! True, haha. Ummm, overall mission: we're going to live for a half the year in an area 1,500 miles from where we are currently, with the state of things in the US, I want to make sure we can get back and forth.
Hi Dave. I use Global Aero and pay 1600 per year at 80k hull. I been with them for years. It did go up however this year 2021 from around 1400 to 1600.
A320 driver here. One of the best video analysis’s I’ve seen. I’m debating between the M20C, M20F and the M20J right now.
I Have had 2 planes a 1967 Cesna 150and a 1946 Navion 205 HP, Im saving for a Mooney just like yours. I really enjoyed your video thanks for you honesty and clarity , keep up the good work
My friend: Hey, you know, 75% of the earth is covered with water - you should consider buying a boat.
Me: 100% of the earth is covered by air - so I am going to buy a plane.
LOL.... Love it!!
Fuckin legend for saying that. Love it
Great video. Love the back round. Nice looking plane. You explained the cost perfect and it makes sense. I rather have a plane then a boat for sure. Thank you
I've always loved the style and design of these Mooneys. Really like the paint colors on this plane. Very nice.
Thank you! I do love flying my Mooney.
Thanks for sharing. Your plane looks great and at the end of the day it is not crazy to own a Mooney compared to other hobbies. My dad spends around 8-9 thousand a yr on golf and he plays 8 months out of the year. I rather fly all over for a few thousand more 12 months out of the year. thanks for explaining the cost to own and keep up the videos.
Absolutely a thorough pre-purchase inspection! (good idea for a car but a MUST for a plane). Early '70s my father bought a 1947 PA-12 in "good" condition - ($6,000 back then.. but a top of the line Lincoln was 10K); turned out someone had not properly connected the vent tube from the battery and corrosion had eaten into part of the fuselage tubing. We spent the next few years rebuilding/restoring it. Almost 50 years later he is deceased and until recently still flying it in his 80s. Shout out to flying Octogenarians!
I stumbled across this video as I'm looking to sell his airplane (needs another resto and a fellow pilot at the home field is interested in it) and finishing the lessons I started in '79 then using a Mooney, Bonanza or similar to transit from KILM/KSUT to the private field he had a share in with a hangar cost of $720/year rather than driving 2-3 Hours each way anywhere from 0-3 time/Week as I deal with the fall out of my parents falling in separate floors of the house and not being rescued for 4-5 days and then my father passing from it while my mother has been in rehab/PT for weeks. I would need a tie down local to me as well and a cheap beater car at the other end but in some ways it makes sense and my mother has no problem with that idea either.
Sorry about your father. He flew all the way to the end. Great for him. Thanks for watching
This is super helpful for someone like myself researching. You make a good point in hobbies. Fishing is almost as expensive for me and it will go by the wayside for this. BTW, your Mooney is beautiful!
I have owned 3 Mooneys a D, C, E, and lots of time in an F. I have actually flown a wooden winged Mooney. I have also owned 2, C-172's, a 152, 3 PA-28'-160s, and an Ercoupe and a Tomahawk. I purchased the Tomahawk for $4,500 along with a friend. I got my PVT in the T-hawk. You need to know how to break down your cost-per-hour. How are you going to use your aircraft? How many times a year will you fly. Are you a fairweather flyer? Do you have an instrument rating The Pipers and Cessna were used in my flight school as trainers? The M-20C was used as our Commerical Trainer and personal aircraft.
The last company-owned aircraft was a C-206 Lycoming TIO-540-AJ1A turbocharged with the G-1000 flight system. Our cost per hour to fly that aircraft was about $265 per operational hour. There a lot to consider owning and operating any aircraft. Depending on fuel cost, hangar rental, annual inspection cost, AD's, recalls, recurrent training, etc. Don't be fooled you might buy an aircraft cheap but buyer beware you get what you pay for.
I have logged over 15,000 flight time and just over 1,300 check rides. CFI CFII, ME, FAA- DPE, Sport DPE ASC.
@Sammy Maybe at first....then he started buying Mooneys lol
Thanks for sharing your experience! I am thinking about buying in 3-5 years, any thoughts on buying with one or two others to share costs?
@Sammy How to become a millionaire in aviation? Start with two.
Completely agree. Ownership is expensive. You don't buy a plane for the economics. It's generally (~if you fly around 100 hrs/year) cheaper to rent than buy. Although ownership is at a premium cost, it comes with premium benefits.
Awesome video my friend. Glad to see you get such a positive response. When I uploaded my cost analysis video of about the same length, people wouldn’t stop telling me it was too long!
S4 Aviator Thank You for watching! I’m happy to have a positive audience 👍.
Mooney, my favorite plane to fly :)
Enjoy your video bro , thanks for sharing.... God bless you , and family..
starts at 4:36
Great Video. Adding the Mooney to my wishlist. If a seller has an issue when suggesting a pre-buy, get out of there!
Thanks 🙏
I like your attitude. I worked hard to do my hobby! I also like how you do your expense breakdown. Thanks
Thank you!
Great video, great information. Thank you for sharing your costs, and breaking it down in a way that makes sense.
She’s a beautiful plane!
Thank you!
Enjoyed the video. This is the plane I want. Hopefully I find a great one when I get ready to purchase. Currently a part owner in a c 172 but really want the cross country speed at nearly the same fuel burn rate
Thank you and I agree with you. That one of the many things I love about the Mooney
Great video and very informative!
Just one suggestion, stop referencing a local place that you know very well in your videos but others don’t. Most people don’t know what state you are talking about when you say Orange County. It means nothing to the casual viewer.
You could be in Orange County CA, NC, FL or even NY. There are probably even more Orange Counties that I don’t know of.
So, be specific in mentioning a location that includes the state so people can kind of get an idea about costs for things like hangars, etc.
I’m looking forward to another video!
By far the best and most informative breakdown of owning a Mooney. Very well spoken.
Capt America Thank you.
I'm currently considering buying this airplane's brother, N6888N. Good info right here.
scarybaldguy Thank you
Thanks for sharing. It does make sense to buy a plane over a boat. LOL Great brake down of your cost. keep the vidoes coming
Thanks for sharing.
Thank you for your thoroughness. Nice video!
That is such a nice aircraft it should be in a hanger. Good choice.
Thank you!
Yes - Moyer is excellent. A bit more expensive but super thorough and highly detailed in everything they do. They are awesome.
Terry D. Agreed. I don’t mind spending a little more for how they do business. Especially a plane.
Great info. In the process of buying my first. Looking at the E and C model.
Aircraft ownership is an awesome privilege. Great film bud!
All American Aviation Thank you 👍
Fantastic aircraft!
Many thanks!
nice work pilot fun 101 nice video chris lee i love your mooney m20c ranger a+ keep up the good work a+
Thanks 👍
Great job!!
Great review. Thanks for sharing your experience.
Thanks for watching!
Thanks for the information. I am thinking about a Cherokee as my first plane. I also want to train for instruments in my own as well. Still not sure if I should go the extra mile and get a robust plane that I can keep for a long time. I’m not too young.
Its whatever works best for you. Always keep that in mind when buying a airplane.
Go for it! I just became current again at 75 after a forty year hiatus and am currently looking for a nice Cessna 182.
Nice video. A good explanation.
My father flew for the Civil Air Patrol. Never had his own plane but he said he didn’t need one. He flew theirs all time.
Love Mooney's. What do think about tall guys though. I'm 6'7. I've always considered the Mooney a no go to purchase since the pilot area seemed smaller. What do you think? And that price is about the rental price of a Cessna 172 per hour it seams. But instead you get to have your own airplane in a hangar that you know how it's taken care of. So seams like money well spent.
Aerospace Education If you put the seat back you will have no problem. I have a friend of mine who has a Mooney and he is 6’6. Mooney is a great plane for long trips and short ones. Try and see you someone in your area who has a Mooney will let you feel it out.
The line I’ve heard (and unable to verify) is that “Al Mooney was 6’5” and built himself an airplane.” I’m 6’7” and that got my attention. Sitting in one tomorrow for the first time. I’m really curious.
@@scottmitchell3761 let me know how that goes. Really interested!
tl;dr , budget $1500/month for the year, wet. And over that time you’ll build up a surplus hopefully, for your MOH.
And / or you’ll have a couple thousand saved for maintenance intervals, paint touch ups, etc.
I'm currently looking at a 1968 Ranger. Thanks for the video great breakdown
The Nomad Nurse You can email me if you have any questions along the way.
@@PilotFun101 Appreciate that! I will probably have some in the near future! Really enjoy your vids
@@CrosbyTheNomadNurse Thanks!
I'd like a home built,,, a mustang ll! That's my dream plane.
You need to buy a portable FM microphone for your video camera. The mic will improve your videos. Thanks
Thanks for the advice. I will look into it.
Great info.
12/17/2020
1. At the beginning of each video, state the date.
2. Don’t modify the panel, in particular do not install glass; it is a waste of money; there is absolutely nothing wrong with old school instruments or avionics.
3. Spend your money in flying, not in modifying.
I love the old school and the new school. Crazy how things changed over the years in general aviation
@@PilotFun101 As for the utter waste of panel-mounted GPS, go to www.delapuentelaw.com, and tell me what you say.
I like old school instruments too but I dunno if I can agree with a blanket statement from the counselor. Eliminating the need for a vacuum system is a pretty solid reason for a minor panel upgrade. Just sayin’ and you mileage might vary. YMMV.
Great video! Do your costs include the monthly loan payments? I don’t remember that being mentioned.
Thank you. No it does not. You would just have to add your loan payment.
How did you get camshaft inspected? I understand a camera cannot see the cam in a Lycoming. Was the engine disassembled? Thx.
Mike B they rotated the engine and removed a cylinder and inspected to camshaft. I think they rotated it so the shaft was center or something like that. When Lycoming‘s sit for a long time with no use the camshaft tents to get rust on it. Just a FYI. My plane checked out great even tho the last owner barely flew it. He always maintained it for sure
@@PilotFun101 Thanks. I like the efficiency but don't like the tight interior. Still I think Mooney's are great planes but I switched my search to a Cessna 182 mainly for the roomy interior and doors on both sides. So I'll fly a little slower while I burn a "little" more gas!!! (LOL). I enjoy your videos.
Mike B all planes are great in my book. 👍
Would you recommend buying a cheap shitbox 150/152 (or alternative) for 15-20k first, getting PPL, then selling and getting your "forever" airplane, or would you go straight for the "forever" plane first? I found a really nice '67 M20C for under 50k with decent avionics, and I could almost swing that with a small 4-5 year loan, I don't have my PPL, but I do have aviation experience (Flight Engineer, over 3k hours, and working toward an A&P soon, and eventually down the CPL track in a few years). My brother is an A&P and working toward his IA.
Munky332 You will have no problem learning on a Mooney. I have buddies who had a few hrs and got into the Mooney. You will learn how to fly it with an instructor with no problem.
There is no such thing as your “forever airplane”. Don’t shoot the messenger, just sayin’. Lol.
Do you happen to fly the Hudson corridor ? i believe you made a re. to orange county,great video i am not a pilot but enjoy aviation
hector rosado Yes. If you look at my videos you will see a couple of trips to the Hudson River Corridor. Thanks for watching!
I would love to own an SR20 in about 20 years when they will be cheap
n40798 I hear you. Just make sure the parachute 🪂 was serviced or replaced. I believe every 15 yrs or so it has to be done and it’s 15-20k. That’s my only issue with SR. Awesome plane tho
They will depreciate, but those composite airframes are much less friendly to maintain in the long run, often life-limited. But you know what will only get more expensive? The hourly rate to work on a Cirrus. Sexy machine, no doubt. But an absolute PITA to work on. Some shops are starting to charge a premium because of all the dumba** engineering you have to deal with for even the simplest task. I suggest making friends with someone that already owns one ;)
64wing True story
FYI, Parachute every 10
Im looking at the exact same plane how much did you pay for it?
What kit built plane would compare to your plane? What would be the difference in total costs to include purchase price if the kit plane was already constructed?
Not 100% sure but I would think a VANS RV-10.
A friend of mine bought a Lancair Super ES for $190k CAN (about $142k US) a few years ago. It cruses about 160kts @ 12 gallons/hour @ 65% power. Faster if you want to burn more gas. Fixed gear, 4 seats and 1000NM range with 2 people and baggage (provided you can hold your bladder that long). I’m sure the builder put a lot more money into it than he got for it. Used homebuilts can be a really good deal if it’s been built and maintained correctly. If you decide on a homebuilt, you’ll need an expert on that exact airframe to do a careful pre-purchase. Also, make sure you can actually get insurance for it. If not, fly whatever you can afford. They’re all fun.
How much did you pay for the plane? Did I miss that part?
54k with everything and the remote transponder.
How did you find a pre-buy mechanic?
Look for a airplane mechanic. Anyone can do a pre buy inspection. Just don’t hire someone who is friends with the selling. Conflict of interest.
@@PilotFun101 ok, good to know, and thanks for replying so quickly. What’s the best way to find the mechanic? Should it be someone at my local airport (like the mechanic of my flight school/club) or should it be someone local to the airport where the plane is stored? Or something else?
@@JB_Hobbies no problem. I would hire someone who is not non to the selling. So other then that you can have any mechanic to do a pre buy.
@@PilotFun101 thank you!
Orange County ny?
Yes
If you were planning a trip that is 1,500mi, what plane would you buy?
All depends what your overall mission is. But me on the other hand would be a Mooney. 😀
@@PilotFun101 Thanks! True, haha. Ummm, overall mission: we're going to live for a half the year in an area 1,500 miles from where we are currently, with the state of things in the US, I want to make sure we can get back and forth.
@@ADAMREES-GRITGYM Mooney or Comanche would be perfect. Mooney’s are very fuel efficient and fast. Comanche’s are a little bigger but burn more fuel.
@@PilotFun101 Awesome. Thank you for the help!! Curious, would you say these are omfortable for two people over 6'? She's 6' and I'm 6'4".
@@PilotFun101 will look into them first thing tmr
In 1970 thy wear asking 15000 new
Who's your insurance? Avemco quoted me 3,000 for 62K hull or around 5% of hull value/year.
Hi Dave. I use Global Aero and pay 1600 per year at 80k hull. I been with them for years. It did go up however this year 2021 from around 1400 to 1600.
Are you a CFI that could teach for PPL? If so let me know.
Erick Suarez No sir I’m not. Sorry
Are you located in Poconos?
No. Orange County Airport KMGJ. Not too far from Poconos.
@@PilotFun101 Ok. I’m looking to start training soon. Where did you train?
@@manbx2075 nice. I got trained by a 3rd party instructor years ago. His name is Scott.
Orange County Newburgh?
Andrew Tooindranauth Orange County Airport is in Montgomery. Not to far from Newburgh.
PilotFun101 Nice! I’m right at Stewart, I’d like to come down and see your Mooney if you still have it! USAF, PPL 😄
Andrew Tooindranauth of course. If I ever get it back. Lol. It’s still at Moyer. They had to stop working on it.
PilotFun101 oh man 😰😰 we’ll let me know 😬
It's a shame they want so much for the hangar.
Your right. But Orange County is pretty cheap compared to others. and you get a lot for the money.
How come no one talks about if your a tall man? I can’t fit in a C150!
mooneys cost alot of money to own.
peter panda Not in its class of airplane. Hangars add up to the cost fast
As compared to WHAT Peter panda???