Shopping for one’s first aircraft can be a daunting endeavor. The process can be lengthy, having to determine one’s priorities, learn what aircraft types are able to meet those criteria, and then narrow down the selection to the types that offer the best balance of advantages and drawbacks. In the pursuit of the perfect specimen, vast spreadsheets are often built and many daily responsibilities of adult life are often ignored.
Before one gets too far ahead of oneself, however, one must take a step back to evaluate the available options from a higher level. In my case, I had reached a point where I had become deeply entrenched in the intricacies of various types. How much heavier a metalized Cessna 120/140 wing is compared to the original fabric-covered wing, for example (around 50 to 75 pounds), and how much it might cost to replace all the fabric on a Stinson 108 (as much as $45,000 to $50,000 when it’s all said and done).
