The New Owner

The folks at your flying club mean well, but sometimes their advice isn’t on the mark.

Visual and mechanical tests mix with heavy dollops of nerves and self-doubt.

Jason McDowell says it’s worth your while to dig into the history of your aircraft, or one you’re eyeing up.

Jason Williamson says flying clubs can give you a pretty good taste of airplane ownership before you dive completely in.

An unexpected favor for a friend turns into a fun day inspecting a Cessna 170B for Jason McDowell.

Jason McDowell gives some sage advice about narrowing down the choices and managing the allure of rare types when you’re trying to pick out your airplane.

Years ago, when I moved from Michigan to Wisconsin, I left behind the greatest flying club I’ve ever known. It had the most extensive fleet of any in the region. Seven airplanes were available, ranging from Cessna 152s to 182s and topped off with a Beechcraft Debonair, a less-expensive version of the legendary Beechcraft Bonanza. […]

Jason McDowell outlines the arduous process he went through to find the aircraft that was just right for him.

At some point, a pilot shopping for an airplane will inevitably arrive at a certain fork in the road on their journey to ownership: the decision of whether to go with tricycle gear or a taildragger. For some, it’s a decision they skip right over without a second thought. A pilot with his or her […]

Back in the early ‘90s, Honda ran an ad for its redesigned Prelude. It showed a bright red model against a city skyline with the caption “You’ll never have your pizza delivered again.” The implication was that with a fun enough vehicle, we will look for any excuse to get out and enjoy it. As […]