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Rusty Pilot Deal Desk

25 members • Free

5 contributions to Rusty Pilot Deal Desk
Co Ownerships structure.
Would like get some input and thoughts around structuring partnership. Putting aircraft in LLC and owning shares of that LLC versus a co ownership agreement. Currently looking at a 2 to 4 person ownership group? Have been studying the AOPA materials as well.
0 likes • 16h
I don’t have much to add to this except to say: make sure you have a good set of bylaws written that explain roles, responsibilities and how decisions are made. As well as how expenses are collected and paid. I bought out into a 3 person airplane partnership. What helped me to do that was that there were already existing documents that described how it all worked.
Cherokee 235/Dakota?
My first love is the Cessna 182. Unfortunately a lot of pilots feel the same way and the prices are crazy. I’ve been wondering if the 235/Dakota would be a good alternative. Anyone have input on them? https://www.trade-a-plane.com/search?make=PIPER&model_group=PIPER+DAKOTA+SERIES&model=DAKOTA&listing_id=2451269&s-type=aircraft
1 like • 9d
@Josh Denny Cabin width is not something that I've ever noticed, having flown with several people. But if you're concerned with the cabin width of an Arrow, you probably will have the same concerns with the Dakota. I have personally measured (*) the cabin width of my 235 at about shoulder level and got 42". Google Gemini confirmed that result and also says that the Dakota and Arrow are also 42" wide, while saying that the Cessna 182 is 44" wide. (*) I did this because I was making a silly video to respond to a comment from a friend. Also here's a video of me showing the TAS I get at 8000.
0 likes • 8d
@Josh Denny Yeah. I mean there have to be *SOME* advantages to being a smaller guy.
Pencil Whipped
I cut a video with Open Source GA about buying airplanes. We explore the experiences of buying 50 year old objects that have limited parts.
1 like • Jan 1
I enjoyed that video. Thank you!
Retract or Fixed Gear?
I have owned two airplanes: a Piper Cherokee 140 and a Piper Cherokee 235. Both of which are fixed gear airplanes. I would like to go faster and it strikes me that one way to do that is to get landing gear out of the airflow creating drag. I spoke with a guy across the way from me at our airport, and he said, "Stay away from retracts. You can go fast with fixed gear. But then you don't have to pay the maintenance on the retracts which has been - by a large margin - the most expensive part of maintaining any of the airplanes I've owned. I just won't buy retracts any more." I wonder what other's experience is with that.
0 likes • Nov '25
I am focused entirely on EAB. I'm frustrated with insane expense increases with certified airplanes. I recently found out that there are adapters that allow for automotive spark plugs in Lycoming O-540 engines. However, I'm not allowed to use them. So I have to pay more for a single spark plug than an entire set of sparkplugs. On top of that, most of the things that I am fully capable of doing entirely on my own to the airplane require that I pay $100+/hr to an A&P to perform. That said, I also know my limits and there will be things that I continue to pay an A&P after I own an EAB. For example, I know I won't be pulling a cylinder off my engine on my own. But I'm more than happy to replace a muffler. So cost does matter to me. And the cost of retracts does matter to me. But I wanted to get an idea from people here as to how much y'all think that retracts increase cost. Here are the things I want: 1. Rotax 916 engine 2. Parachute - mostly because I've spent the last few years running through emergency procedures with my wife and this gets dramatically simpler with a parachute. 3. 150 ktas 4. Ability to carry my myself, my wife, full luggage, full fuel 5. EAB I've got two candidates that match all of those. One is a retract 2 seater. The other is a fixed gear 4 seater. I'm trying to get some wisdom from those here who've had retracts on the tradeoffs. The difference in speed between these two airplanes is about 15 knots. With the fixed gear doing about 150 and the retract 165. Is the 15 knots worth the extra expense?
Introduce yourself
Let’s hear about what you are shopping for and what your mission is?
1 like • Oct '25
Hi. I'm Mark. My mission is travel. I currently fly a Cherokee 235 and I'm looking to go faster. Probably want experimental with a parachute.
1 like • Oct '25
@Kerry Emmert I do have a YT channel same name as I have here (1dullgeek) What I'm looking for: 1. Experimental 2. Parachute 3. 160 KTAS 4. Rotax Right now leaning towards Sling TSi
1-5 of 5
Mark Horn
2
13points to level up
@mark-horn-6207
1dullgeek Commercial Instrument Previously owned: Cherokee 140 Currently own: Cherokee 235 Building: TL Sparker

Active 16h ago
Joined Oct 26, 2025