The questions people actually ask
Written by a working pilot, for the person who has just started wondering whether any of this is possible.
Am I ready to own an airplane?
Should I buy an airplane?
Do I need a pilot certificate to buy an airplane?
Can I buy an airplane without a pilot license?
Aircraft insurance, and what the underwriter is really asking
Will they insure me for the airplane I want to buy?
First-time buyer questions, answered straight
What do I need to know before buying my first airplane?
Working with a broker, and how to tell a good one
Do I need an aircraft broker?
Sales and use tax on an aircraft purchase
Do I have to pay sales tax when I buy an airplane?
What does an airplane actually cost?
How much does it cost to buy and own an airplane?
Airworthiness directives, and the ones that change what an airplane is worth
What is an AD and can it bankrupt me?
Buying an airplane with a partner
Is an airplane partnership a good idea?
Does a leaseback actually pay?
Should I put my airplane on leaseback with a flight school?
The annual inspection, and why the number varies so much
How much does an annual inspection cost?
Trading up: what actually changes
Should I move up to a bigger, faster airplane?
What is my airplane actually worth?
How do I value my airplane?
Hangar or tie-down: what the difference actually costs
Do I need a hangar for my airplane?
Fuel, oil and the reserves nobody funds
What are the real hourly costs of flying my own airplane?
Engine overhaul: what it costs and what the options mean
How much does an aircraft engine overhaul cost?
Avionics upgrades: what is worth doing
Should I upgrade the panel in my airplane?
Selling your airplane
How do I sell my airplane?
Flying clubs: the middle ground most people skip
Is a flying club cheaper than owning?
Certificates and ratings, explained without the jargon
What licence do I need to fly my own airplane?
What flight training actually costs
How much does it cost to get a pilot licence?
Medical certificates and BasicMed, in plain terms
Do I need a medical certificate to fly my own airplane?
Choosing a flight school, and the questions that reveal one
How do I pick a good flight school?
The instrument rating, and why owners get the most from it
Is the instrument rating worth it?
High-performance and complex endorsements
What is a high-performance or complex endorsement?
The tailwheel endorsement
How hard is it to learn to fly a taildragger?
The multi-engine rating
Should I get a multi-engine rating and buy a twin?
Moving to turbine
What is involved in stepping up to a turboprop?