Buying & Owning Your Own Airplane [Paperback]

James E. Ellis (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0813801702 | ISBN-13: 978-0813801704 | Publication Date: October 1991 | Edition: 2

Expanded and completely updated, the second edition of this popular handbook provides complete facts and step-by-step directions for selecting, purchasing, and maintaining an airplane for personal use. Second edition features include: material on recommended first aircraft; additional aircraft references for first-time owners; additional material on ultralights and homebuilt/kit-built aircraft; leaseback information reflecting tax law changes; information on the use of autogas in airplanes; and a new chapter on high performance single-engine aircraft.

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

Can I? Should I?; Partnerships, clubs, and leasebacks; Selecting a home field; Selecting your airplane; Taking possession: paper and red tape; Insurance: the expensive enigma; Maintenance and miscellany; Engine operating practices and overhauls; Good aircraft for the first-time owner; Taildraggers and other traditional airplanes; High-performance singles; fulfilling the dream --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Paperback: 290 pages
• Publisher: Iowa State Press; 2 edition (October 1991)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0813801702
• ISBN-13: 978-0813801704
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,009,976 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

35 of 35 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great summary of main airplanes & the key purchase criterion, December 5, 1998

By 

[e-mail] (Atlanta, Georgia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Buying & Owning Your Own Airplane (Paperback)

I've looked at all the books I can find to learn about high performance singles that can carry 4 people plus lots of stuff for adventure flying. This book shows performance specifications, and summarizes the other considerations of each model, including durability, flying & landing characteristics, and maintenence issues. I liked that it covered all the major Cessnas, Pipers (including the 6 & Saratoga) and also some Grummans, Beechcrafts, Mooney's, Maules, a taildragger section & more (over 50 models in all).

Also good summary of Partnership issues, Home field selection, defining the airplane's mission, Insurance & Maintenence.

If you're looking for your first airplane to own, I'd recommend this book!

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The best $20 you'll ever spend on aviation..., March 29, 2001

By 

Jose Latour (Gainesville, FL United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Buying & Owning Your Own Airplane (Paperback)

I found Mr. Ellis' book in a local bookstore shortly after starting my private pilot training, based on my eventual desire to buy my own plane. The book reads quickly and combines a perfect blend of hard facts and anecdotal material to really define the issues a prospected buyer needs to focus on.

I pretty much devoured the book in a few days and referred back to it -- especially for the invaluable aircraft model summaries -- until I concluded that a Cardinal RG was the right plane for me. Using the "Selecting Your Airplane" chapter, I found my perfect bird after using Mr. Ellis' expertise to eliminate many contenders.

The book is AWESOME and, having read most of what is out there on this subject, the best I have found.

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Somewhat dated but still valuable information for a buyer., March 20, 1998

By 

Kenneth L. Chiaro - See all my reviews

This review is from: Buying & Owning Your Own Airplane (Paperback)

For those that are thinking of buying their own airplane, this book provides valuable information on what to look for in a plane, hidden costs of ownership, Government red tape, recommendations on aircraft for beginners, and advise on determining the real condition of the aircraft before it is purchased.