Value for money

FASTFRED

FASTFRED

Orbiting Earth
Just finished reading an article in the new Plane and Pilot magazine on 15 new 4 place planes
After reading costs, specs, payload, speed, etc I realize what a bargain our planes are and how undervalued they are for what we get. Also I believe if we (members) plan on keeping long term that no matter how much $$ you put into them that it’s well worth the money. Most of our fleet has high useful load, as much or more room, 2 doors and in some models large useful baggage doors, great handling and inexpensive to run and maintain.

I have only ever owned one new plane and only because at the time the company paid all expenses 100% including monthly payment. I just put vg’s, JPI 830, new Knots 2U doors seals all around and it is going in for 2 new G-5’s in 2 weeks and the small amount of money to make the plane nice for me is a easy spend considering what I get for the money.

I flew to breakfast run couple weeks ago and a Cirrus 20 took off 2 minutes in front of me from same airport distance was 289km+/- and he landed 21 minutes ahead of me. Me with a $70k plane, him with used $200k plane!
So , just some insight from a member
Fast Fred
 
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People say if you invest in your plane you’ll never get it out. However, it is my belief that something’s can’t be measured. On my first and I mean first flight with ADB-S I saw and avoided a plane at my altitude coming in from my right side. Did the ADS-B just pay for itself ? How about when flying home from Utah when I could see on nexrad that the line of clouds in front of me stretched from north, Canada to South, Texas border. I could see there were no builders just fluffiness that extended to high for me to out climb and to low in the mountains for me to go under. I activated the autopilot and flew through it (with a pop up clearance) without a delay. Was the autopilot worth it ? When my new baggage fuel tank failed to flow properly, was the fuel computer that showed me how much usable fuel I had left a smart investment ? When a headache began was the ox system worth it ? Have the friends I’ve made through BAC in part due to forum questions on upgrading worth it ? There are somethings that are clearly good investments. Others will show their value over time. Others can’t be measured in dollars. If you plane becomes safer for you and your family, why not ?
 
Exactly my point, just not as eloquent as you, Bob !
Some things you just can’t put a price on
Just enjoy knowing you like what you’ve done
Also, pay cash so your wife doesn’t find out !!!!!
 
I noticed you put vg’s on your plane-can you comment about their effect? I’m thinking of adding them to my 19A. Thanks, Keith


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VG's are probably the easiest, cheapest way to improve the safety of your plane. Much lower stall speeds and better control authority. With full flaps my stall speed is less than 40 knts. That's a 30% reduction in speed and corresponding reduction in crash forces. And even more important, your rudder is effective at speeds as low as 20 knots.
 
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