A couple of decades ago, I was at a friend’s barbecue when I met another guest who was a private pilot and former aircraft owner. At the time I was seriously considering training for a pilot certificate, which I mentioned with the hope of receiving advice, insight, or perhaps a bit of both.
The man, whose name I no longer recall, said flying is a wonderful experience, but I would be utterly shocked by the cost of owning an airplane. His advice: I should brace myself and be ready to pay up. I was somewhat suspicious of his guidance after further discussion revealed he had sold his Cessna 172 years earlier and bought a large sailboat—the classic money pit.
