Thanks to Sara Arnold, the IAC (International Aerobatic Club) and the EAA for inviting me to give a webinar. I had a lot of information I wanted to share.
Todays market is a great time to buy an aircraft. Prices are on the rise and good aircraft seem to be selling very quickly.
If you would like to hear the webinar for the first time (or an additional time), go to this link – https://www.eaa.org/videos/6255038347001
The question came up about buying an aircraft that doesn’t have wheel pants (fairings). Is it really worth the money just to make it look better? Or is there more value to fairings than just looks.
My thoughts, of course, it also depends on the aircraft.
Wheel fairings or wheel pants do more than just look good. But some aircraft are designed with a landing gear that doesn’t support wheel fairing (trailing link gear like the Beechcraft Sundowner).
Fairings can also increase the cruise and flight performance of an aircraft. Although it is usually only one or two knots. While that is not much of a speed increase, any boost in cruise speed is better than nothing.
Wheel fairings can also protect the aircraft from being damaged from inadvertent rocks being thrown against the wings, cabin or tail surfaces. If you are flying from dry smooth or paved runways its probably a good thing to have fairings. If you are flying from dirt mud snow or worse, leave the fairings in the hanger. Same goes for unimproved strips. Rough terrain will just break the fairings into pieces.
Even though, if you think about it, this is probably where you need them the most. Because they also have a few drawbacks like they can be clogged with rocks, snow and mud. And they can be damaged by rocks and debris picked up on the runways.
Oh, and fairings get in the way when airing up those low tires and fixing a flat.
And those Cessna nose wheel shimmies, that can destroy a wheel fairing.
I guess it really comes down to the aircraft, how you are using it and where you are going.
But personally, I like the looks of most aircraft when they have wheel fairings.
From a reader – “I am not a pilot yet. Not even a student pilot. I want to start flying lessons sometime later this year. I am thinking about buying a plane and then receive instructions in it. After some research, I am inclined towards buying a Beech Skipper. The plane was only produced from 1979 -1981. What do you think of the Skipper?”
Well to start, buying an aircraft to learn in, is a great way to go… if you know you like the aircraft before you buy it. The Beech Skipper is a nice trainer, and a comfortable run around aircraft. While it might not be a great cross-country traveler, it can be used for that if you have the time. It look’s like only about 350 of the aircraft were built, so production and finding a good one might be an issue.
First, I would make sure you fly in a number of different aircraft before you settle on the Skipper. Many new pilots buy an aircraft and after the first few hours realize they really would rather have a different model. I would start my lessons and get hours in a few of the different aircraft available. Cessna, Piper, Beech and many others all have advantages or disadvantages.
From the insurance angle, buying your own aircraft and buying insurance is not a problem if you stay away from complicated (complex), high performance or very expensive aircraft. The underwriters do not want to put student pilots in aircraft that will increase their chances for claims.
Typically, insurance rates will be about the same for the similar models of trainers. I would guesstimate that a zero hour, student pilot could insure a trainer for under $1,200. That number is based on a $20,000 hull value, two seats, fixed, tri-gear, and all metal trainer. A Cessna 150 would probably be a little less than the Skipper, mainly because of the numbers of aircraft that the underwriters have experience with.