Just bought my first plane on Thursday. Since I've received so much advice and info from this site I thought I'd share. It's a 1959 Cessna 180B on EDO 2960's. Here she is, forgot to take a picture in the sun on Thursday so this is all I've got for now.

Brand new 0-470R, Sportsman STOL leading edge, Wing-X extensions and a few other useful little add-ons. The paint is a little tired but it works. She flies very nicely.

Congratulations! Now you've joined the most prestigious club, "Airplane Owner", the club in which all the members lie constantly about how much their airplanes cost to operate, who have learned to say "she's in for some maintenance" whenever something breaks, and who speak in AMUs instead of dollars. Welcome aboard!

Cary

Congrats!!

Cary wrote:Congratulations! Now you've joined the most prestigious club, "Airplane Owner", the club in which all the members lie constantly about how much their airplanes cost to operate, who have learned to say "she's in for some maintenance" whenever something breaks, and who speak in AMUs instead of dollars. Welcome aboard!

Cary

Sounds a lot like boat ownership when you put it that way

Fraser Farmer wrote:

Cary wrote:Congratulations! Now you've joined the most prestigious club, "Airplane Owner", the club in which all the members lie constantly about how much their airplanes cost to operate, who have learned to say "she's in for some maintenance" whenever something breaks, and who speak in AMUs instead of dollars. Welcome aboard!

Cary

Sounds a lot like boat ownership when you put it that way

It is, in many ways. Not that that's bad, though. I speak as both a boat and an airplane owner. I wouldn't swap my years of owning both for all the adventures that others have written about, because they've allowed me to have my own adventures--and that's priceless.

Cary

For a first plane, you sure picked a good one. Enjoy owning and flying that wonderful machine.

Cary wrote:

Fraser Farmer wrote:

Cary wrote:Congratulations! Now you've joined the most prestigious club, "Airplane Owner", the club in which all the members lie constantly about how much their airplanes cost to operate, who have learned to say "she's in for some maintenance" whenever something breaks, and who speak in AMUs instead of dollars. Welcome aboard!

Cary

Sounds a lot like boat ownership when you put it that way

It is, in many ways. Not that that's bad, though. I speak as both a boat and an airplane owner. I wouldn't swap my years of owning both for all the adventures that others have written about, because they've allowed me to have my own adventures--and that's priceless.

Cary

Isn't that the truth, I've enjoyed my boats greatly and actually you'll never hear me complain about costs with my boats, my family and I have had great fun and adventures on the water. That's what I'm hoping this plane will be, a whole new world of adventures for us.
I should also say that I actually only bought half of this plane, so half the fixed costs.

mountainmatt wrote:For a first plane, you sure picked a good one. Enjoy owning and flying that wonderful machine.

Thanks, I will

Congratulations. Are you going to make a haul out ramp in front of your house?

175 magnum wrote:Congratulations. Are you going to make a haul out ramp in front of your house?

Hi Ken,
I'm not sure. For now it's at Pitt and the parking is very reasonable there. Because the road splits my buildings from my beach there are a few issues with putting a ramp at my place, like keeping random people off the ramp. Pitt is also halfway between my place and my partners. I've got a bit more to do for licensing and lessons and then we should go up one day.

I ferried an almost exact replica of that plane from Jackson Michigan to Homer five or six years ago, it is a real hoot to fly. You are really gonna like it. His had the long floats on it so it had a pretty small sweet spot for the step, and back pressure and you'd drag the tails of the floats. Have fun!

Awesome - let the adventures begin!!

Congrats!!

Headoutdaplane wrote:I ferried an almost exact replica of that plane from Jackson Michigan to Homer five or six years ago, it is a real hoot to fly. You are really gonna like it. His had the long floats on it so it had a pretty small sweet spot for the step, and back pressure and you'd drag the tails of the floats. Have fun!

Thanks. I know when my partner is piloting it gets up off the water pretty darn quick. I'm not there yet but I'll learn. It's a fun plane to fly.

Congrats, you got yourself one heck of a first airplane, I'd say have fun but don't think you could avoid it

Congrats FF! That is a wicked combo. Should be a beast!

Pitt is a good place. I will take you up on that offer and extend a gravel bar flight up the Fraser from my end.
Last year was a crazy year for NOT flying, I usually get 180hrs. a year and last year I only got 65 hrs. in.
This year I should be back on schedule as I have 42 hrs in so far and we are doing the Varags Island this weekend and heading to Muncho Lake Fly-in on April 1st.
I know you are crazy busy but we will make it happen.
KenW

Very happy for you.

Looks like a great plane.

And BC is a pretty incredible area to explore.

Fraser Farmer wrote:

Headoutdaplane wrote:I ferried an almost exact replica of that plane from Jackson Michigan to Homer five or six years ago, it is a real hoot to fly. You are really gonna like it. His had the long floats on it so it had a pretty small sweet spot for the step, and back pressure and you'd drag the tails of the floats. Have fun!

Thanks. I know when my partner is piloting it gets up off the water pretty darn quick. I'm not there yet but I'll learn. It's a fun plane to fly.

When I took my SES lessons 2 years ago this coming July, that was my difficulty--finding the "sweet spot". I could land just fine, and the other things like sailing, docking, etc. weren't an issue. But it took more time than I expected before I could "feel" the right pitch angle. I suppose every float plane is a bit different, but once you find it, the take off performance (at sea level) is remarkable.

I'd echo, I don't know how you cannot have fun. Getting my SES was the most fun I've ever had in an airplane. Combining my loves of flying and boating made it a marvelous time.

Cary

Beautiful airplane. Congratulations.