5 Things That Surprised Me Owning a Plane (Cessna 182)

I bought a Cessna 182 a few years ago and there were some things that immediately stuck out to me once I owned. I wanted to share them in this video so that hopefully others could have a realistic view of what airplane ownership would be like!

[DucttapesUnicycle]

A client of mine got a real gem of a 182. We just swapped all the position and landing lights with LED. He’s one of my favorite clients. No matter how expensive a fix or a project is he takes it in stride and thanks me for the work. I go out of my way to save him some money when I can because of how great he is to work with.

[antoniog]

3:14 Charlie...Charlie! A can of white spray paint is waaay cheaper than $900.

[waynefelton]

Really enjoyed this video. I think I have around 800 hours in this a 182 and remember how great an aircraft it was. I started flying at 15 and got my private at 16. I'm 75 now but so many fond memories that come with that 182. Thanks for stirring up those adventures again for me. 😊

[scottw]

I'm on my 11th and soon to be 12th airplane. If you are flying on a budget like most of us, I highly recommend experimental/homebuilts. Maintenance is the biggest black hole in airplane ownership. The costs of maintaining airplanes will break many owners. Experimentals are very simple airplanes. They are easy to work on. Parts are a fraction of the price for certified aircraft parts, for the same part. The built in layers and layers of liability costs keep certified airplanes very expensive to own and maintain as well as their parts. The courts have been very good to the experimental/homebuilt community. Every airplane in that category has the placard, amateur built. This saved them from endless litigation that keeps manufacturers on the verge of bankruptcy in the certified category. Any A&P can do a conditional inspection, think annual, on a homebuilt. A certified airplane requires an IA. They are fewer in number and will require more $$$ for their work. More, the experimental fleet is brand new compared to the piston GA fleet. I don't know but I'd say the average certified piston airplane is forty years old. Most experimentals have been built in the last couple of decades. If I had to guess I'd say the average age of the experimental fleet is probably ten to fifteen years. Why does this matter? Age is a factor and obviously ten year old wiring is better than forty year old wiring. The same can be said for all systems. Finally, the performance of the homebuilt/experimentals far exceeds that of certified airplanes. The Lancair IV which has been around a few decades is a legitimate four place 300 knot airplane. Whether speed is your goal or STOL, bush flying, cloud chasing or whatever you fancy, that airplane is in the experimental/homebuilt community at a small fraction of similar airplanes in the certified category.

[josepha]

Hands down one of the best videos I've seen on aircraft ownership. Straight to the point with helpful advice sprinkled in! Thank you for the video.

[karrpilot]

When I see junk and a hangar turned into a storage shed, I know why there's a hangar shortage.

There's aircraft at my home base that haven't flown in years. But yet they're in a hangar.

[countryfence]

Good video. I've owned planes for 30 years, and in most part I agree. My points: 5) is (obviously) location dependant...fortunately where I live, hangars are easy and cheap to get...and I think hangars are ABSOLUTELY necessary for ownership, as outdoor storage is so hard on a plane. 4) Very very true, but there are usually ways to cut down on costs. 3) Good pre-buy, not being in a hurry, and being willing to walk away from a deal can avoid this one completely. 2) Although true, these expenses are minor in the overall scheme of things, and you can calculate what these expenses will be before ownership. 1) Also true and surprising at times. Fortunately for me, my life partner LOVES to fly, my ex-wife wouldn't fly at all (and probably one of the main reasons she is my ex), so I almost always have a "flying buddy".

[reyesben]

Always the most honest and accurate Aviation info. That’s what I love about Charlie I think that’s his name.

[LarryB-inFL]

Personally, my number one surprise was how very much time and money got spent doing upgrades or preventative maintenance....I *thought* I was buying a "ready to go" airplane. Then, as I flew it, I found a lot of things I wanted to upgrade: A dual chamber vacuum pump, satellite weather, second/backup AI, GAMI fuel injectors, etc. Almost all came out from experiences while flying, or further thoughts about "what if". And every upgrade required a LOT of time doing research on it, shopping for it, having it installed...and the costs thereof. Then there were the "you maybe should look into" preventative maintenance items...getting an IRAN on the magnetos, just because you learn that might be wise.
I also was surprised at how often I came out of an annual with a lot higher bill than expected. And to your point about parts costs, on my very first annual the A&P found a missing/broken spring on the retractable gear. It was a spring literally the size of a ball-point pen spring. It was only available from Cessna, of course, and it cost $84 (in 2024 dollars).
I had MANY expensive hobbies before I started flying (eg, a large-ish sailboat), but nothing prepared me for the amount of money it took to keep an airplane up and running. So BE PREPARED for that!!!!

[jumpAmonkey]

I've done the big boat; the big bus, but skipped the plane. The rule of the 3 Fs is definitely valuable advice here - - rent it!

[ranjrog]

Great video! I couldn’t agree more and was also surprised to learn not that many people want to go flying!! Before I bought a plane, I would have loved to find a friend who already had one and just wanted someone to go along!!

[preste]

I flew light aircraft for 35 years. One of the things you need to learn quick is how to 'own' a plane. What can you do to minimize cost etc., how to evaluate a potential buy, storage is big - as time stands still for the plane when hangared on a cement floor. Consider a longer highway drive to get a hangars, it's worth it. Plan long term ownership, flipping used planes for profit is a tough game. Keep good logs, don't be afraid to add detail in logs either... and make copies. No logs, no fly. Join AOPA and maybe EAA too, they both need support to support you. Spend money on 1 airframe, 2 engine, then 3 avionics. Airmanship matters. Leave the ego on the ground. Gravity doesnt care who you are. Don't push wx. Get good at x wind landings. Have fun learning.

[Tee-ei]

Aviation needs to remain exclusive. Imagine if it were accessible to everyone—just look at the poor driving we already see on the roads, I saw a lady who learned to fly for attention and post guess what she crashed, thank god to the trees not humans. Now, picture that chaos in the skies, right above our heads while we're sleeping. The high barriers to entry have worked for ages, keeping only the sober-minded and responsible in command above us. The costs aren't just a hurdle; they're a safeguard, ensuring that only the truly capable take to the skies and keeping those who are unfit safely grounded. How many people don't service their cars for example, the day we relax things in aviation we invite trouble.

[davidrose]

Excellent tips as always, Charlie. Having gone through this process relatively recently, here are a couple of added points. First, do not be surprised if airports will not allow you to add to their hangar waiting list unless you actually own an aircraft, with an N number to provide, already. For me, this meant purchasing a tight fitting cockpit cover and using ramp parking until hangar space finally opened up. Next, I think it is imperative to find an A&P and an IA that will allow you to do as much work on your airplane as possible, including annual inspections. There are many reasons to do this as soon as possible, including helping with the pre-buy inspection process. I think it is critically important to know in detail how your airplane is constructed and works, and doing your own maintenance and repairs helps immensely.

[davidrumolo]

Another tip…set up a separate airplane bank account. Figure out an hourly rate that covers insurance, annuals, maintenance etc. and deposit an amount for each hour you fly…as if you are renting to yourself.

[JoelNJohnson]

Nice editing. I appreciated the little details

[mikenj]

I just replaced the fuel primer on my 182Q. $3000 new from Cessna. McFarlane had their own PMA part for $650 and it’s manufactured much better and that works great so far. That’s the other part of owning .. shop around for better priced parts and don’t just let your shop be parts changers. Make them diagnose problems.

Also on your wing strut fairings there should be 3M tape to avoid abrasion cutting into your struts over time. It’s in the 182 service manual so ask your shop about that.

[curtcoltharp]

You are spot on with hangers. I’ve owned two planes but out of the plane biz a while. Recently, I got serious about buying another one but couldn’t find a hanger within 100 miles of DFW. I then looked into rentals and about all I could find were 172’s. I then looked into flying clubs with better cross country planes and that was depressing. As for parts, you are correct. My first plane was a 235 Cherokee and I got hosed on a new certified alternator that was just same thing as a Chrysler automobile part at 4X price. I next owned a Bellanca Super Viking and paid $5K for a nose gear part that I could have had duplicated at a local machine shop for $200. Plane parts are certified and the manufacturers mark up cost for products liability insurance and I’m sure that some gouging also involved. What amazes me is that A&P labor is cheaper than auto dealership hourly rate?

[TylerR]

re: parts. Whatever it would cost on a car, at a Zero for a boat, and add another Zero for an airplane. A $10 part on a car is $100 on a boat and $1000 on an airplane. i.e. some random fairing.

[jetmech]

To piggyback on #3, I would also recommend that you always pull the aircraft maintenance records from the FAA before you buy. It is super common to have missing 337s or STC paperwork, and the records aren’t as complete as advertised. Without the paperwork it’s not legal and a good IA is going to find this on annual. Even pops up after it’s been signed off for decades in some instances. Records search and quality pre buy will save you a fortune.