On Sun, 11 May 2008 17:48:57 GMT, "Vaughn Simon"
wrote in
:


"Kirk Ellis" wrote in message
.. .

Rentals will be the future of this pilot's life until I take the last
flight out.

Or partnerships, or clubs or...

But yes, renting is easier and cheaper for most of us "great unwashed".


Shared ownership, be it a partnership or Las Vegas/Delaware
corporation, is the most advantageous means of aircraft ownership,
unless there is some reason one needs exclusive access to the aircraft
and flies enough hours to justify exclusivity. For the average pilot
who flies 100 to 200 hours a year (~2 to 4 hours a week), sharing the
fixed costs of ownership among 3 to 5 co-owners reduces costs
dramatically, and doesn't really impact aircraft availability
significantly. Finding compatible pilots is the key to success in
this situation, so an urban location will provide a larger pool of
candidates and increase the probability of finding compatible
comrades. Personally, I find myself and two additional "partners" to
be ideal; your fixed costs (hangar, insurance, engine rebuild,
inspections, maintenance, upgrades, personal property tax, ...), which
comprise the greatest portion of the cost of aircraft operation, are
slashed to 1/3rd, and you've got flying buddies to share aviation with
in the bargain.