Finding Your Ideal Aircraft: Focus On the Mission, Especially When it Changes

The ‘right airplane’ becomes a variable as kids grow up and our needs evolve.

Jonathan Welsh

Monday, September 12, 2022 at 06:04 PM ET

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The A36 Bonanza's six seats went from "must have" to "No, thank you." [Photo: Jonathan Welsh]

Key Takeaways:

The author and his wife redefined their aircraft ownership mission, realizing they no longer need a six-seat plane as their children have grown, and are now focusing on models better suited for two (e.g., F33A Bonanza).
This shift led them to prioritize an aircraft's core components (airframe, engine, avionics) over cosmetic condition, making them open to "shabby" but mechanically sound planes that can be cosmetically updated later.

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My wife and I recently flew to Cherry Ridge Airport (N30) in Honesdale, Pennsylvania, for lunch in my club’s Cessna 172P. The flight was less than 30 minutes each way but there was enough time to chat and reach a couple of key realizations regarding our search for the ideal airplane.

First, we decided that we could stop looking for models with six seats. We also began considering airplanes that we previously thought were too shabby to be good candidates.