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 realized their aircraft ownership "mission" changed, as their sons are grown, eliminating the need for a 6-seat airplane and making 4 seats sufficient.
Their search priorities shifted from seeking perfect aesthetics to focusing on the core airframe, engine, and avionics, accepting that cosmetic issues like dull paint or frayed interiors can be updated later.
This new perspective allows them to consider previously overlooked aircraft, such as an F33A Bonanza needing cosmetic work, as ideal candidates.

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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.