The Daunting Endeavor of Buying Your First Aircraft

Don’t venture too far into the weeds without first determining which direction you’d like to go.

Wednesday, November 23, 2022 at 09:07 AM ET

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Left hand on the throttle, right hand on the stick. Many argue this is the most natural way to fly, but whether it’s for you can only be determined by trying it out. [Courtesy: Jason McDowell]

Key Takeaways:

When shopping for a first aircraft, it's crucial to step back from detailed specifications and first evaluate fundamental preferences like seating configuration (tandem vs. side-by-side) and control type (yoke vs. stick).
The author personally evaluated tandem seating, noting benefits like centerline control feel but drawbacks in entry/exit and rear visibility, particularly from the back seat.
Through hands-on experience, including flying a rare stick-controlled, side-by-side aircraft, the author determined a clear preference for yokes over sticks, influenced by primary training and ergonomics.
This established preference for yokes inherently guided the author towards side-by-side seating, as tandem setups in light general aviation typically lack dual yokes, significantly narrowing the aircraft search.

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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).