A week ago I became a new co-owner

[bdl]

I thought I had posted this last week, but it appears it never got to
the Usenet at large so here's try #2. After all the praise Jack
Allison's been getting on his new bird, I've become a little jealous.
(And what a nice bird it is Jack)

I've become a new co-owner in a 4-way in an existing partnership of a
1986 Piper Archer II. Newish paint and interior, IFR stack, dual
vacuum, autopilot, electric trim, etc. Its a dream to fly compared to
the rental fleet I've been flying.

Only two drawbacks that I can see, and so far they haven't been a
problem. 1.) the airport is 30 minutes from my house, but its only 5
minutes further than where I was renting from so it's not that bad. 2)
with 4 partner's scheduling may be an issue. 2 of the partners fly
little based on their previous years activities, so hopefully it won't
be an issue.

So it looks like I've finally "crossed" over to the "O" side of
AOPA.....

Brian

[Ben Smith]

> So it looks like I've finally "crossed" over to the "O" side of
> AOPA.....

And the 'o' side of rec.aviation. Welcome! :)

--
Ben
C-172 - N13258 @ 87Y

[bdl]

I should have added a hearty thanks to everyone on this group. My
education on owning, although really just beginning, was enhanced by
'lurking' on this group for the past 3 years. I've learned a lot.

And I know I have a lot to still learn....

I just hope it doesn't cost me an arm and a leg in the process.

Brian

[Jim Burns]

Hey congrats Brian!!
Let us know where we can see some pics of that Archer!
Jim

[Frank Ch. Eigler]

"bdl" > writes:

> [...]
> And I know I have a lot to still learn....
> I just hope it doesn't cost me an arm and a leg in the process.

Oh, it will, but that's why people generally have two of each.

- FChE

[[email protected]]

On 7-Apr-2005, "bdl" > wrote:

> Only two drawbacks that I can see, and so far they haven't been a
> problem. 1.) the airport is 30 minutes from my house, but its only 5
> minutes further than where I was renting from so it's not that bad. 2)
> with 4 partner's scheduling may be an issue. 2 of the partners fly
> little based on their previous years activities, so hopefully it won't
> be an issue.


Congratulations, Brian.

Regarding scheduling, I think you will find that even with 4 co-owners it
will work much better than renting from FBOs. However, it is important to
develop a scheduling system that meets everybody's needs (at least as
closely as possible. I recommend one of two possible approaches.

The best (in my opinion) is to maintain an on-line schedule on which any of
the partners can reserve the airplane. Such tools are available from a
number of vendors, but if you have a website available to host the schedule,
and you or one of your partners are adept at such things, you should be able
to "roll your own" fairly easily.

A second approach is to assign the airplane to a "primary user" week-by-week
on a rotating basis. Most find that defining the "week" as
Thursday-Wednesday works best for personal (as opposed to business) use.
The deal is that the primary user for the week can use the plane any time
without consulting with the other owners. Any of the other owners can use
the plane that week by first clearing the schedule with that week's primary
user. Of course, owners can swap weeks or make other deals to meet their
scheduling needs.

--
-Elliott Drucker

[Victor J. Osborne, Jr.]

Just talked to a guy today in a 4 way. He said scheduling isn't a problem
until one partner starts to take advantage of the usually available plane
and does not communicate his need for the plane on someone else's time. One
just takes it w/o asking. "It hasn't been a problem before!"

They just reminded him of the arrangement (usually very flexible) and that
was it. Good partners make a good partnership.

Guess that's why my wife & I get along so well.

--

Thx, {|;-)

Victor J. (Jim) Osborne, Jr.

VOsborne2 at charter dot net
> wrote in message
news:iTi5e.5261$B12.4929@trnddc09...
>

> A second approach is to assign the airplane to a "primary user"
> week-by-week
> on a rotating basis. Most find that defining the "week" as
> Thursday-Wednesday works best for personal (as opposed to business) use.
> The deal is that the primary user for the week can use the plane any time
> without consulting with the other owners. Any of the other owners can use
> the plane that week by first clearing the schedule with that week's
> primary
> user. Of course, owners can swap weeks or make other deals to meet their
> scheduling needs.
>
> --
> -Elliott Drucker

[bdl]

Thanks for the suggestion Elliot. The second method is what we have
employed, although we have an online calendar (using a Yahoo Group)
that allows someone to document their plans as well.

So far its worked, but I haven't gotten "my" week yet, either. Renting
at the FBO was getting more difficult (one of the reasons I bit the
bullet). Seems like there were more and more people getting their
initial flight training. Combine that with the airport where I was
renting likely to close sometime in the near future (with price
increases likely no matter where the FBO went) and it all seemed to
make sense to buy in at this time.

I also want to take longer cross-countries, without having to worry
about turning around right away because the plane is "due back". Or
paying the 3hr minimum.

Brian

[Jack Allison]

Brian - A belated congratulations on becoming an owner. Let us know
when you can post some pictures. I have about 25 hours in an Archer II
as that's what I started my instrument work in.

Sorry about the jealousy factor...I um...just happened to get very
lucky. :-)


--
Jack Allison
PP-ASEL-IA Student
Student Arrow Owner, N2104T

"When once you have tasted flight, you will forever walk the Earth
with your eyes turned skyward, for there you have been, and there
you will always long to return"
- Leonardo Da Vinci

(Remove the obvious from address to reply via e-mail)

[Paul kgyy]

If you're not already, consider a membership in the Cherokee Pilots
Assn. Their chat group is one of the most active I know of, with lots
of useful maintenance and flying info.

[bdl]

Yeah, I'm not expecting too many problems. Otherwise I wouldn't have
agreed to sign on. We all have done a few "social" gatherings already.
Discussing our uses of the plane, styles of flying, dinner, drinks,
etc. So I'm not too worried about it. Even if I fly less than I did
while renting, I'll consider it education enough on the aspects of
"owning". Until you actually have to deal with some of those issues
you just never think about them.

Brian

[bdl]

I was just going to send them to Jay, for posting to the Rogue's
Gallery. Am I a Rogue now? :-)

I still need to take a few better pics. The pictures I took before
were crappy quality. Still have to work on my airplane photo skills.

Love that Davinci quote by the way, for some reason my wife never
understands it though.... She's not afflicted with the same sickness.

Brian

[bdl]

Great suggestion. I had thought about it while I was considering
purchasing a warrior. I'll need to revisit that again.

Brian

[Jack Allison]

bdl wrote:
> I was just going to send them to Jay, for posting to the Rogue's
> Gallery. Am I a Rogue now? :-)
Actually, there is such a category as "Rental Rogue" and I *was* a
member. So you're an "Owner Rogue" now...once a Rogue, always a
Rogue...but...you have definitely moved up a notch.

>
> I still need to take a few better pics. The pictures I took before
> were crappy quality. Still have to work on my airplane photo skills.
Now that you have a plane, you'll have plenty of opportunity to hone
those skills.

>
> Love that Davinci quote by the way, for some reason my wife never
> understands it though.... She's not afflicted with the same sickness.
Hmmm, I don't get it. :-) Doesn't everyone stop what they're doing and
look up whenever they hear an airplane overhead? Been doing it since I
was a kid living on Air Force bases.

--
Jack Allison
PP-ASEL-IA Student
Student Arrow Owner, N2104T

"When once you have tasted flight, you will forever walk the Earth
with your eyes turned skyward, for there you have been, and there
you will always long to return"
- Leonardo Da Vinci

(Remove the obvious from address to reply via e-mail)

[Montblack]

("Jack Allison" wrote)
> Hmmm, I don't get it. :-) Doesn't everyone stop what they're doing and
> look up whenever they hear an airplane overhead? Been doing it since I
> was a kid living on Air Force bases.


Some of us didn't get to live on Air Force bases as little kids. When we
looked up, we saw clouds and had to *imagine* they were airplanes - oddly
enough, many of those cloud formations looked like ocean liners too. Yup, a
sky full of airplanes, ocean liners ....and rabbits. <g>


Montblack

[Jay Honeck]

Hey Brian,

Congratulations on the new bird! An Archer is a great plane.

Go ahead and email some pix to me at when you
get a minute, along with a short bio (How long you've been on the
groups; how long you've been flying; Been to OSH?; etc.), and I'll get
pix of your steed posted in the Rogue's Gallery for the rest of us to
appreciate!

(Although the site is down for maintenance at the moment. No worries,
though -- Jav Henderson, who kindly provides us with server space,
tells me that we'll be back up and running again shortly...)

And you can certainly send pix of favorite planes you've rented in the
past, too. We're not snooty here at the Gallery, doncha know.... ;-)
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

[Jack Allison]

CPA is a great group. Several folks were most helpful in our Arrow
search. Well worth the price of admission.


--
Jack Allison
PP-ASEL-IA Student
Student Arrow Owner, N2104T

"When once you have tasted flight, you will forever walk the Earth
with your eyes turned skyward, for there you have been, and there
you will always long to return"
- Leonardo Da Vinci

(Remove the obvious from address to reply via e-mail)