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Window Shopping Can Be Antidote for Annual Inspection Blues

What can feel like infidelity is a good way to pass the time while your aircraft is in the shop.

A Piper PA-31 twin is a step up power, comfort and complexity.
Gemini Sparkle

Key Takeaways:

  • The author, while very satisfied with their current airplane "Annie," admits to a long-standing habit of browsing the used aircraft market ("airplane shopping").
  • They frequently experience "wanderlust," being tempted by diverse aircraft ranging from powerful pressurized twins and amphibious floatplanes to modern designs like the Diamond DA50 RG.
  • Ultimately, practical considerations such as required pilot ratings, operational challenges, and physical constraints like hangar door width (the Diamond's wingspan was too large) solidify their commitment to "Annie."
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As I wait for the call to retrieve my airplane from its first annual inspection under my ownership, I have confirmed that absence indeed makes the heart grow fonder. It can also make the eyes wander, especially when temptations abound.

Because I spend a lot of time perusing the used market on Aircraft For Sale I have a strong sense of the interesting makes and models looking for new homes. From nearly new four-seat family aircraft to rare antiques and warbirds, the general aviation inventory truly has something for everyone in terms of size, performance, utility, and style.

Jonathan Welsh

Jonathan Welsh is Lead Editor of Aviation Consumer and a private pilot who worked as a reporter, editor and columnist with the Wall Street Journal for 21 years, mostly covering the auto industry. His passion for aviation began in childhood with balsa-wood gliders his aunt would buy for him at the corner store. Follow Jonathan on Twitter @JonathanWelsh4

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