While browsing an aviation forum recently, I happened upon a thread in which an airline pilot was considering the purchase of a high-performance piston twin. The model he was considering was fairly maintenance intensive, with complex systems and a $300,000-$500,000 price tag. It would be his first airplane, and he was asking a general audience of pilots and aviation enthusiasts for advice about ownership in general and the specific type in particular.
This is something I see fairly regularly, albeit more commonly in reference to more basic and affordable types. A prospective buyer polls a general audience for specific advice about a major purchase, and the replies are both predictable and suspect. All too common is the warning that parts for anything other than Cessna, Piper, or Beechcraft are impossible to find. While certain aircraft (and engines) do indeed present some difficulty with regard to parts availability, the vast majority are entirely possible to own and operate without too much trouble.
