https://intnsity.com/categories/aviation/ Recent content in Aviation on intnsity Hugo -- gohugo.io en-us Sun, 30 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000 https://intnsity.com/posts/owning-an-aircraft-for-12-months/ Sun, 30 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000 https://intnsity.com/posts/owning-an-aircraft-for-12-months/ <img src="https://intnsity.com/posts/owning-an-aircraft-for-12-months/20230805_133433.jpg" alt="Featured image of post Owning an Aircraft for 12 Months" /><p>This year I owned an airplane: a 1973 Piper Cherokee 140 (PA-28-140), tail number <strong>N15927</strong>, with a Garmin GTN 650 + GTX 335 and a leather interior. At the time of inspection the hours were: ACTT 3,651, Tach 1,013, Hobbs 1,581, and 600 hours to TBO.</p> <p>Purchasing the plane was an adventure in itself. We first got a plane near Dallas under contract. However, the seller determined he could not let go of the plane and backed out. We later found the Piper Cherokee, tail number N15927, in Tupelo, MS.</p> <p><img class="gallery-image" data-flex-basis="320px" data-flex-grow="133" height="1440" loading="lazy" sizes="(max-width: 767px) calc(100vw - 30px), (max-width: 1023px) 700px, (max-width: 1279px) 950px, 1232px" src="https://intnsity.com/posts/owning-an-aircraft-for-12-months/20230805_093322.jpg" srcset="https://intnsity.com/posts/owning-an-aircraft-for-12-months/20230805_093322_hu_e484d6618c39c099.jpg 800w, https://intnsity.com/posts/owning-an-aircraft-for-12-months/20230805_093322_hu_63648dc6fc814a18.jpg 1600w, https://intnsity.com/posts/owning-an-aircraft-for-12-months/20230805_093322.jpg 1920w" width="1920"> <em>August 5, 2023 - The panel during the beginning. The Garmin GTN 650 + GTX 335 is one of the big reasons this Cherokee stood out.</em></p> <p><img class="gallery-image" data-flex-basis="320px" data-flex-grow="133" height="1440" loading="lazy" sizes="(max-width: 767px) calc(100vw - 30px), (max-width: 1023px) 700px, (max-width: 1279px) 950px, 1232px" src="https://intnsity.com/posts/owning-an-aircraft-for-12-months/20230805_133433.jpg" srcset="https://intnsity.com/posts/owning-an-aircraft-for-12-months/20230805_133433_hu_68075e12d9915f57.jpg 800w, https://intnsity.com/posts/owning-an-aircraft-for-12-months/20230805_133433_hu_d7b1e8f011fff0b0.jpg 1600w, https://intnsity.com/posts/owning-an-aircraft-for-12-months/20230805_133433.jpg 1920w" width="1920"> <em>August 5, 2023 - A look at N15927 in the hangar.</em></p> <p><img class="gallery-image" data-flex-basis="320px" data-flex-grow="133" height="1440" loading="lazy" sizes="(max-width: 767px) calc(100vw - 30px), (max-width: 1023px) 700px, (max-width: 1279px) 950px, 1232px" src="https://intnsity.com/posts/owning-an-aircraft-for-12-months/20230805_133458.jpg" srcset="https://intnsity.com/posts/owning-an-aircraft-for-12-months/20230805_133458_hu_263bf920ba4570ce.jpg 800w, https://intnsity.com/posts/owning-an-aircraft-for-12-months/20230805_133458_hu_a7a4904239137305.jpg 1600w, https://intnsity.com/posts/owning-an-aircraft-for-12-months/20230805_133458.jpg 1920w" width="1920"> <em>August 5, 2023 - Side profile. A flight-school Cherokee.</em></p> <p><img class="gallery-image" data-flex-basis="320px" data-flex-grow="133" height="1440" loading="lazy" sizes="(max-width: 767px) calc(100vw - 30px), (max-width: 1023px) 700px, (max-width: 1279px) 950px, 1232px" src="https://intnsity.com/posts/owning-an-aircraft-for-12-months/20230805_133507.jpg" srcset="https://intnsity.com/posts/owning-an-aircraft-for-12-months/20230805_133507_hu_d583c979d7f98d0d.jpg 800w, https://intnsity.com/posts/owning-an-aircraft-for-12-months/20230805_133507_hu_4c41c6ae68720423.jpg 1600w, https://intnsity.com/posts/owning-an-aircraft-for-12-months/20230805_133507.jpg 1920w" width="1920"> <em>August 5, 2023 - Piper Cherokee 140.</em></p> <p>Owning a plane and owning a boat have their two best days in common: the day you buy it and the day you sell it. My plane spent its life at a flight school, and I never flew it.</p> <p><img class="gallery-image" data-flex-basis="320px" data-flex-grow="133" height="1440" loading="lazy" sizes="(max-width: 767px) calc(100vw - 30px), (max-width: 1023px) 700px, (max-width: 1279px) 950px, 1232px" src="https://intnsity.com/posts/owning-an-aircraft-for-12-months/20230925_181409.jpg" srcset="https://intnsity.com/posts/owning-an-aircraft-for-12-months/20230925_181409_hu_fa6518d4d767bc24.jpg 800w, https://intnsity.com/posts/owning-an-aircraft-for-12-months/20230925_181409_hu_261dddae2ba7f62c.jpg 1600w, https://intnsity.com/posts/owning-an-aircraft-for-12-months/20230925_181409.jpg 1920w" width="1920"> <em>September 25, 2023 - Cowling off for the cylinder repairs.</em></p> <p><img class="gallery-image" data-flex-basis="320px" data-flex-grow="133" height="1440" loading="lazy" sizes="(max-width: 767px) calc(100vw - 30px), (max-width: 1023px) 700px, (max-width: 1279px) 950px, 1232px" src="https://intnsity.com/posts/owning-an-aircraft-for-12-months/20230925_181419.jpg" srcset="https://intnsity.com/posts/owning-an-aircraft-for-12-months/20230925_181419_hu_d4de644a7e2c6ec4.jpg 800w, https://intnsity.com/posts/owning-an-aircraft-for-12-months/20230925_181419_hu_91113c9189e8a22d.jpg 1600w, https://intnsity.com/posts/owning-an-aircraft-for-12-months/20230925_181419.jpg 1920w" width="1920"> <em>September 25, 2023 - The engine with heads exposed.</em></p> <p><img class="gallery-image" data-flex-basis="320px" data-flex-grow="133" height="1440" loading="lazy" sizes="(max-width: 767px) calc(100vw - 30px), (max-width: 1023px) 700px, (max-width: 1279px) 950px, 1232px" src="https://intnsity.com/posts/owning-an-aircraft-for-12-months/20230925_182005.jpg" srcset="https://intnsity.com/posts/owning-an-aircraft-for-12-months/20230925_182005_hu_d1357828298c476d.jpg 800w, https://intnsity.com/posts/owning-an-aircraft-for-12-months/20230925_182005_hu_a047c6cd38e354f.jpg 1600w, https://intnsity.com/posts/owning-an-aircraft-for-12-months/20230925_182005.jpg 1920w" width="1920"> <em>September 25, 2023 - View inside wing for structural inspection.</em></p> <p><img class="gallery-image" data-flex-basis="320px" data-flex-grow="133" height="1440" loading="lazy" sizes="(max-width: 767px) calc(100vw - 30px), (max-width: 1023px) 700px, (max-width: 1279px) 950px, 1232px" src="https://intnsity.com/posts/owning-an-aircraft-for-12-months/20230925_182016.jpg" srcset="https://intnsity.com/posts/owning-an-aircraft-for-12-months/20230925_182016_hu_7deca275b86da57.jpg 800w, https://intnsity.com/posts/owning-an-aircraft-for-12-months/20230925_182016_hu_4acbce5ffd947e6b.jpg 1600w, https://intnsity.com/posts/owning-an-aircraft-for-12-months/20230925_182016.jpg 1920w" width="1920"> <em>September 25, 2023 - Airframe detail: green primer and no corrosion.</em></p> <p><img class="gallery-image" data-flex-basis="320px" data-flex-grow="133" height="1440" loading="lazy" sizes="(max-width: 767px) calc(100vw - 30px), (max-width: 1023px) 700px, (max-width: 1279px) 950px, 1232px" src="https://intnsity.com/posts/owning-an-aircraft-for-12-months/20230925_190346.jpg" srcset="https://intnsity.com/posts/owning-an-aircraft-for-12-months/20230925_190346_hu_60ad5c64321ec906.jpg 800w, https://intnsity.com/posts/owning-an-aircraft-for-12-months/20230925_190346_hu_28fae58b347ab005.jpg 1600w, https://intnsity.com/posts/owning-an-aircraft-for-12-months/20230925_190346.jpg 1920w" width="1920"> <em>September 25, 2023 - Under the plane: exhaust, nose gear, and a mechanic&rsquo;s eye on everything.</em></p> <p><img class="gallery-image" data-flex-basis="320px" data-flex-grow="133" height="1440" loading="lazy" sizes="(max-width: 767px) calc(100vw - 30px), (max-width: 1023px) 700px, (max-width: 1279px) 950px, 1232px" src="https://intnsity.com/posts/owning-an-aircraft-for-12-months/20230925_190353.jpg" srcset="https://intnsity.com/posts/owning-an-aircraft-for-12-months/20230925_190353_hu_45ae79d77114a6fd.jpg 800w, https://intnsity.com/posts/owning-an-aircraft-for-12-months/20230925_190353_hu_4fc360e75e9d083f.jpg 1600w, https://intnsity.com/posts/owning-an-aircraft-for-12-months/20230925_190353.jpg 1920w" width="1920"> <em>September 25, 2023 - Fifty years of history to look through.</em></p> <p><img class="gallery-image" data-flex-basis="180px" data-flex-grow="75" height="2560" loading="lazy" sizes="(max-width: 767px) calc(100vw - 30px), (max-width: 1023px) 700px, (max-width: 1279px) 950px, 1232px" src="https://intnsity.com/posts/owning-an-aircraft-for-12-months/20230925_195546.jpg" srcset="https://intnsity.com/posts/owning-an-aircraft-for-12-months/20230925_195546_hu_819739d0c5d8da19.jpg 800w, https://intnsity.com/posts/owning-an-aircraft-for-12-months/20230925_195546_hu_156cc032ef32975d.jpg 1600w, https://intnsity.com/posts/owning-an-aircraft-for-12-months/20230925_195546.jpg 1920w" width="1920"> <em>September 25, 2023 - The wing on jacks.</em></p> <p><img class="gallery-image" data-flex-basis="180px" data-flex-grow="75" height="2560" loading="lazy" sizes="(max-width: 767px) calc(100vw - 30px), (max-width: 1023px) 700px, (max-width: 1279px) 950px, 1232px" src="https://intnsity.com/posts/owning-an-aircraft-for-12-months/20230926_171155.jpg" srcset="https://intnsity.com/posts/owning-an-aircraft-for-12-months/20230926_171155_hu_a0626cc4668cb0a8.jpg 800w, https://intnsity.com/posts/owning-an-aircraft-for-12-months/20230926_171155_hu_7c13ddb24f1a1761.jpg 1600w, https://intnsity.com/posts/owning-an-aircraft-for-12-months/20230926_171155.jpg 1920w" width="1920"> <em>September 26, 2023 - Tried a new carburetor before cylinder, didn&rsquo;t help.</em></p> <p>Due to life circumstances changing after buying the plane, I moved and never continued my flight training. I left the plane with a startup flight school.</p> <p>The plane was never a good investment. It always cost money, and it did break even for the most part. We experienced needing to replace a whole cylinder shortly into ownership, and this cost a few thousand dollars.</p> <p><img class="gallery-image" data-flex-basis="180px" data-flex-grow="75" height="2560" loading="lazy" sizes="(max-width: 767px) calc(100vw - 30px), (max-width: 1023px) 700px, (max-width: 1279px) 950px, 1232px" src="https://intnsity.com/posts/owning-an-aircraft-for-12-months/20231116_123958.jpg" srcset="https://intnsity.com/posts/owning-an-aircraft-for-12-months/20231116_123958_hu_8c94368da9805e7a.jpg 800w, https://intnsity.com/posts/owning-an-aircraft-for-12-months/20231116_123958_hu_49d3c12c41f95ead.jpg 1600w, https://intnsity.com/posts/owning-an-aircraft-for-12-months/20231116_123958.jpg 1920w" width="1920"> <em>November 16, 2023 - The overhaul shop floor. Cylinders everywhere.</em></p> <p><img class="gallery-image" data-flex-basis="180px" data-flex-grow="75" height="2560" loading="lazy" sizes="(max-width: 767px) calc(100vw - 30px), (max-width: 1023px) 700px, (max-width: 1279px) 950px, 1232px" src="https://intnsity.com/posts/owning-an-aircraft-for-12-months/20231116_124418.jpg" srcset="https://intnsity.com/posts/owning-an-aircraft-for-12-months/20231116_124418_hu_5cc48d694a75e1fc.jpg 800w, https://intnsity.com/posts/owning-an-aircraft-for-12-months/20231116_124418_hu_1c96ab67f540fbf8.jpg 1600w, https://intnsity.com/posts/owning-an-aircraft-for-12-months/20231116_124418.jpg 1920w" width="1920"> <em>November 16, 2023 - A piston in hand. A few thousand dollars, delivered.</em></p> <p><img class="gallery-image" data-flex-basis="180px" data-flex-grow="75" height="2560" loading="lazy" sizes="(max-width: 767px) calc(100vw - 30px), (max-width: 1023px) 700px, (max-width: 1279px) 950px, 1232px" src="https://intnsity.com/posts/owning-an-aircraft-for-12-months/20231116_125217.jpg" srcset="https://intnsity.com/posts/owning-an-aircraft-for-12-months/20231116_125217_hu_7e3783df31596076.jpg 800w, https://intnsity.com/posts/owning-an-aircraft-for-12-months/20231116_125217_hu_a75175729db1bb08.jpg 1600w, https://intnsity.com/posts/owning-an-aircraft-for-12-months/20231116_125217.jpg 1920w" width="1920"> <em>November 16, 2023 - Cylinder base and crankcase studs, up close.</em></p> <p><img class="gallery-image" data-flex-basis="180px" data-flex-grow="75" height="2560" loading="lazy" sizes="(max-width: 767px) calc(100vw - 30px), (max-width: 1023px) 700px, (max-width: 1279px) 950px, 1232px" src="https://intnsity.com/posts/owning-an-aircraft-for-12-months/20231116_125717.jpg" srcset="https://intnsity.com/posts/owning-an-aircraft-for-12-months/20231116_125717_hu_5d41a09d882996c.jpg 800w, https://intnsity.com/posts/owning-an-aircraft-for-12-months/20231116_125717_hu_31b0c8e381f35f0b.jpg 1600w, https://intnsity.com/posts/owning-an-aircraft-for-12-months/20231116_125717.jpg 1920w" width="1920"> <em>November 16, 2023 - Cylinder barrel seated on the crankcase.</em></p> <p><img class="gallery-image" data-flex-basis="180px" data-flex-grow="75" height="2560" loading="lazy" sizes="(max-width: 767px) calc(100vw - 30px), (max-width: 1023px) 700px, (max-width: 1279px) 950px, 1232px" src="https://intnsity.com/posts/owning-an-aircraft-for-12-months/20231116_130744.jpg" srcset="https://intnsity.com/posts/owning-an-aircraft-for-12-months/20231116_130744_hu_36977c8b66b55473.jpg 800w, https://intnsity.com/posts/owning-an-aircraft-for-12-months/20231116_130744_hu_12c26c01c52126e9.jpg 1600w, https://intnsity.com/posts/owning-an-aircraft-for-12-months/20231116_130744.jpg 1920w" width="1920"> <em>November 16, 2023 - A row of cylinders waiting their turn.</em></p> <p><img class="gallery-image" data-flex-basis="180px" data-flex-grow="75" height="2560" loading="lazy" sizes="(max-width: 767px) calc(100vw - 30px), (max-width: 1023px) 700px, (max-width: 1279px) 950px, 1232px" src="https://intnsity.com/posts/owning-an-aircraft-for-12-months/20231116_132706.jpg" srcset="https://intnsity.com/posts/owning-an-aircraft-for-12-months/20231116_132706_hu_c5173b76f1c4eb74.jpg 800w, https://intnsity.com/posts/owning-an-aircraft-for-12-months/20231116_132706_hu_6d1c6d5e3953f209.jpg 1600w, https://intnsity.com/posts/owning-an-aircraft-for-12-months/20231116_132706.jpg 1920w" width="1920"> November 16, 2023 - Pistons, rods, and cylinders on the bench. The most expensive part of year one.*</p> <p>It is possible to be in the aviation business at a very high level such as in jets, commercial aviation, or doing services for wealthy people. However, I do not believe I will be making any investments in aviation at the scale that this was on; it would not have outgrown a hobby.</p> <p>I can see a future flying and continuing to aviate, but always remembering: it is a hobby, not an investment.</p>