In the eyes of prospective airplane owners, the departure of winter can be a dangerous and exciting time. Here in the northern states, the warm weather summons existing owners out of their hangars and into the sky, local fly-ins start to resume, and the drone of Continentals and Lycomings wafts through newly-opened windows, tantalizing owners-to-be. Having spent months scouring the classified sites while cooped up inside, these prospective owners take note and become increasingly antsy as their savings begin to burn a hole in their pocket.
As long and as frustrating as the hunt for the perfect airplane can be, it’s important to remain disciplined. On the one hand, it would be a mistake to remain a perpetual shopper, endlessly waiting for the perfect airplane to appear at the perfect price. But on the other hand, one must exercise patience to ensure their first airplane purchase is smart.
