I am one of those pilots that really can't afford to own and fly an airplane, but I make it happen. I started with owning a half interest in a 170 Cessna. I didn't even have a pilots license yet. My partner was a CFI and he taught me how to fly for getting him into the plane with nothing to do but pay for his half. I eventually bought his half and then I sold it for $6500. more than I paid for it. I put that money and about $7000. more and bought my Cessna 182. It was an airplane that was mostly all there except it had to be put together. It came with an engine with 200 SMOH, and a fresh prop. I completely rewired it one wire at a time. installed a new firewall cover, head liner, my wife and I recovered the door panels and I had a friend recover the seats, new tires, batteries, replace a couple of radios, new glass, seat tracks, overhauled all of the engine accessories, changed from a generator to an alternator, a couple of new gauges, new throttle, prop, mixture controls, and a few other things I can't remember. all in all I came out with a great aircraft for about $42,000. total. About what I could have bought a 1959 Cessna 182. However I learned a lot about my airplane, and I came out with an airplane that I have flown now for about 1300 hours trouble free. Yes, I am mechanically inclined and yes I have a Mechanic that will let me help. If I didn't I couldn't afford to fly and own a 182 all by myself. I am the airport manager at S49 so I get to keep my airplane in a hangar with out costing me anything. There are a lot of ways to make flying happen, and this is my story. Good luck to you. Bob