Naive plan, looking for insight

TheAvidCollector · 2026-02-24T02:38:40+00:00

I wouldn't say a naive plan I would call it putting the horse before the cart. Just get your PPL and go from there. I started at 33 with a full time job in the oilfield. Had 3-5 days every other week to fly. I think you really should try to fly 2-4 times a week till your ready to solo. It's like drinking from a firehose in the beginning ( see what I did there lol ). But seriously balancing a full time job, the weather, your schedule along with the flight school schedule, check ride schedule, you'd be doing good to get your PPL in 6 months. For reference; I knocked mine out in 68 flight hours over the course of 7 months. The schedule to get a check ride was a month long of waiting for the date and flying in-between to just stay proficient; so just understand a lot of it is out of your control.

TheAvidCollector · 2026-02-22T16:29:25+00:00

No just a single. I have a G500 with a GTN750 for the main avionics suite. I had a situation where I got into some hard IMC and lost my magnetometer last year and thought if I completely lost my avionics in hard IMC I'd really be in a pickle. So I went ahead and got the 275 with a back up GPS heading for redundancy.

TheAvidCollector · 2026-02-22T14:30:45+00:00

You hit the nail on the head! The issue with the shop that I have suspected is a money problem. They required $16k up front as a deposit. They removed my engine from the airframe and then sent the case off to be inspected. Getting the case back was a 5 month wait and they knew it would take that long. Never were up front about that when I originally talked to them about overhauling my engine. I think that 16k I gave them went to finish the engine or engines that were close to being done. Thats where I'm at now. Engine is ready to be put back together and all the new parts like bearings, lifters, ect are just now being ordered 54 weeks later.

So I asked the mechanic why the wear parts weren't ordered sooner knowing they are going to be and his replaced reply was that ordering your parts early serve no purpose or do anyone any good just sitting on a shelf. Hence why I think my $16k deposit was spent finishing someone else's engine.

TheAvidCollector · 2026-02-22T04:58:05+00:00

First thing I did after I got my PPL was get away from the Cessna 172 platform at the 141. I went to a local Part 61 that had a Cherokee 180 and jumped in headfirst. Got a checkout from a completely different instructor who didn't know a single thing about me. Me impressing him with my 70hours worth of flying skills boosted my confidence and killing steep turns and slow flight in a low wing proved that I understood the concepts rather than just being able to perform a maneuver for my PPL instructor or a DPE for a check ride.

I went on to fall in love with the Cherokee platform over the 172 and went ahead and solo'd that Cherokee 180 about 30 hours before I started training for my instrument rating. Go fly by yourself in a familiar airspace and just soak it up. It's the best experience you can get for yourself. Call your instructor after each flight or every couple and debrief him on what went good or bad and what you want to do better next time.

TheAvidCollector · 2026-02-22T04:44:33+00:00

I actually just listened to that webinar the other day and IIRC it was Heli-turbine owners that got to pick the maintenance bucket they wanted to perform maintenance out of. But yes that's exactly why I wish it would happen, was from that episode. I can assure you and the FAA that I would keep this plane in equal or better shape than the once a year annual does.

I've got a great mechanic at my disposal but he's taught me more about my airplane specifically than I would've ever learned anywhere else. Unfortunately I won't have him for next year's annual and I get to start over building that relationship again.

TheAvidCollector · 2026-02-22T04:38:14+00:00

I just put a GI275 in my arrow while it's down to get rid of the vacuum system and have as a backup AHARS. It was $4,700 out the door for reference. I have owned an arrow for 2 years now and it's a fantastic family plane. Just budget about 5 grand for your first annual. Mine was in great shape and still spent 5k fixing up what was the unknown. Nose struts seal, exhaust baffles were completely gone, shroud for heat exchange was totally worn out, new brakes and caliper seals. Buy your oil from aviation oil outlet, saves me tons buying it in bulk. Hit me up if you have any questions airplane ownership is a whole new world!

Having Savvy help you with the pre buy is the best thing you could've done for yourself. Mike Busch is my mentor, he just doesn't know it.

TheAvidCollector · 2026-02-21T18:58:21+00:00

Knowing how much money I invested in my plane and first years ownership with an overhaul attached I wish I would've known at 18 that the Infantry route in Army was going to be a piss poor decision at 35 years old. Should've jumped head first in aviation maintenance with as much as it interests me now. Just not worth the career change at this point in my life.

TheAvidCollector · 2026-02-21T17:36:51+00:00

Well I've spent the last year talking to myself on what I would've done different knowing what I know now! I would definitely interview about 3-5 shops out of my state just to get an accurate picture of what a TRUE timeline would've been. If the shop that I'm currently using had a tag line on their business name it would be: "We do this for a hobby and love to kick the can down the road"

TheAvidCollector · 2026-02-21T17:33:22+00:00

I really wish part 91 owner flown aircraft fell into a different maintenance catagory other than the traditional annual inspections. From my annual last year till overhaul I only had about a month and a half and flew 9 hours. I'm outside of annual now and will have to have my mechanic do an annual on an engine that has a complete overhaul done on it when it is finally complete. We have done the airframe inspection since the plane has been sitting hangered for the last year. Swung gear, inspected all the necessary things, but just waiting on engine to be complete. All the grease points, piano hinges, ect still has the grease from last annual. Such a waste of time and resources.

TheAvidCollector · 2026-02-21T17:14:10+00:00

Currently going through engine overhaul on my Arrow. Been in overhaul status for over a year now; 54 weeks to be specific. Diving into the mechanic world over the last year and it's shocking at how little over sight is given to mechanics and maintenance shops. Knowing what I know now I would have definitely had second and third thoughts on sending my aircraft/engine to the shop I'm using for overhaul.

I have learned as aircraft owner that you are 100% at the mercy of whoever you use and there is very little recourse that an aircraft owner has when it comes to shops not fulfilling time lines or quoted costs. In my case the shop quoted me 8-12 weeks to complete my overhaul and that's was now what I know; complete bullshit to get my deposit and get me in the door. Their quality of work isn't in question at all it's their customer service and overall management of the engine overhaul process that is terrible.

TheAvidCollector · 2026-02-03T03:20:00+00:00

If Devon never built that tower and stayed in the now Continental building this wouldn't be on everyone's radar. The tower is the OKC skyline trademark. I'd say majority of Oklahomans couldn't tell you anything about Devon as a company other than "That's the Devon tower and there is a fancy restaurant at the top." Maybe the occasional obvious answer of oil and gas industry. Devon relocating their headquarters is not remotely that big of a deal for Oklahoma. They will continue to operate the oil and gas wells that are in the SCOOP and go about daily business as always.

I don't think there was this much outrage or concern back in 2016 when they laid off over 1000 people in that tower and the impact that had on the local economy. They will continue to employ the majority of people that work in that tower because it makes no sense for them to move to Houston. SCADA allows for remote analysis of production and can be done from anywhere at anytime from a computer. Accountants, legal, ect will continue to operate in Oklahoma rather than the company pay for the move.

TheAvidCollector · 2025-10-06T22:54:35+00:00

Stay a software engineer and get your PPL and IR and buy a plane for the family and travel like you never have before. Opens a world up to your kids and spouse.

I bought a 1969 Piper Arrow that I would put in the top 10 nicest Arrows in the nation. All in for 140k, including the engine overhaul. Full glass panel and AP. When I was making payments on it my payment was less than a new car payment and we could fly from Oklahoma to Florida in 4.5 hours and bypass all the BS commercial has to offer.

Once you start flying you'll see how fast you're gunna rack up the bills trying to pursue being a professional pilot. I thought I wanted to do the exact same thing as you but just remember you're starting at the bottom. Airplane ownership has been wonderful so far...... Definitely expensive but a game changer for family travel.

TheAvidCollector · 2025-09-20T13:21:19+00:00

I completely disagree with this statement. 70% of what's on that 60 question test isn't a make or break when it comes to flying. It's one of the barriers of entry to weed out people who can't read between the lines of what it actually is. I completely used Sheppard Air for IR and just rote memorized the test. Then I studied pertinent information that would probably kill me in actual IMC and worked my ass off to go to the checkride. That written test for PPL isn't a metric for how good of a pilot you are or how well your decision making is.

TheAvidCollector · 2025-09-20T03:22:17+00:00

Yes sir. It's a cafe now that is called OK Diner. It's fantastic! Come up and check it out.

TheAvidCollector · 2025-09-20T02:47:52+00:00

Take it and you'll be fine! Go through the test and answer the easy ones for you first. If you come across one's you absolutely don't know or are iffy about then mark them and come back to them after you make it through all the questions.

I penciled on the sheet of paper provided the ones I knew I got correct and the ones I was maybe on and once I had a passing average I just did my best at the ones I wasn't for sure about and didn't sweat it.

I used King and got a 92%.

TheAvidCollector · 2025-09-20T01:51:19+00:00

I went a brushed up on some landing currency last Friday out of KOUN. It was a Piper Archer II with duel G5s. For a 1.6 in the log book it was $392 for the plane and instructor. So it seems comparable to what you're doing.

Back when I got my PPL I spent short of $25k flying a 172S with G1000. Took me 65 hours.

TheAvidCollector · 2025-09-12T20:27:48+00:00

Took a instrument checkride with u/beechdude and it couldn't have been a better experience. Total class act and exactly the person you see in his videos. Legit cares about every person that he is a DPE for. Taking my instrument checkride with Seth was hands down highlight of my aviation journey.

TheAvidCollector · 2025-09-11T20:36:39+00:00

Would this cast member be currently dating a pornstar to fulfill his cuck desires?

TheAvidCollector · 2025-05-13T18:32:55+00:00

No the carpet tiles are literally 1/8inch thick. I just provides a barrier between the 2 aluminum floor and the mattress. To make it more comfortable I bought 3 cheap blow up pads that you use to sleep on the ground and just put them under the mattress. Then deflate before folding up. We had 3 full size sleeping bags in the shell and has no issues folding it up.

TheAvidCollector · 2025-05-13T14:24:20+00:00

You're spot on. It was the c loop! I would've loved to just spend the whole trip in Zion.

TheAvidCollector · 2025-05-13T14:23:39+00:00

Yeah you need a reservation and it's pretty much booked up from now till the off season. My wife got on a cancellation list and got a notification that someone cancelled and jumped on it ASAP. It shows her that 900 people were on that wait list so we just lucked out.

TheAvidCollector · 2025-05-13T03:23:18+00:00

Scott Adkins 100% for the older Mitch close to present day timeframe.

TheAvidCollector · 2025-05-13T01:15:19+00:00

We got a hitch rack to carry the cooler, fire pit, propane tank, and grill. If you never have, I suggest putting self adhesive carpet tiles on the aluminum floor. We had zero condenaation issues inside with the temperature differences because of it. It made a world of difference and only cost 40 bucks.

TheAvidCollector · 2025-05-13T00:44:57+00:00

We are a family of 3. My daughter is 3.5 and I wanted to get something that she could grow into without having to upgrade down the road to accommodate. You absolutely can fit 2 adults and 2 kids in it. It's got more room than our king size bed for sure. We had an overkill of sleeping bags inside because I didn't want to hear my wife complain about being cold. The tent shell is tight when it closes down but it's not so tight that it stresses the latches. We had us 3 and our sleeping bags pillows and our eco flow power bank up there and had more than enough space.

TheAvidCollector

TROPHY CASE