Owning your own plane can be one of the most rewarding experiences you could ever hope to imagine. For many, the freedom and excitement provided by private flight is unmatched by anything else. Today, with the ever-changing economy, owning your own plane can be a reality and has never been easier. Internet auctions and online retailers have a wide array of planes ready to buy and fly. Online services have made it extremely easy for price comparison and offer a dizzying supply and wide range of aircraft. Everything from single engine prop-planes to multi-million dollar private jets. The benefits of private ownership are many. No more hassles associated with international airports, security checks, long lines, cramped space and hidden fees. There are more and more private airports offering convenient locations, often locations closer to your desired destination. Private flight will open your horizons to small airports that large airlines could never dream of entering.
In an article on private flying by the BBC, they write that there are, "5,170 airports in the United States open to the general public, but only 503 of them serviced by commercial airlines. There are a further 3,000 airports scattered across Europe, but only 10% served by scheduled flights. The rest are used by private aircraft." This is a tremendous advantage for travelers with access to their own planes. Destination convenience is not the only reason to consider a purchasing your own plane. The market is well suited and more open then ever before. Prices on planes have never been better. The recent downshift in the world economy has created a huge surplus in private aircraft and many are looking to sell, making it a buyer's market. Prices can vary to a great degree depending on what you are in the market for.
Dreaming big and looking for the most luxurious planes money can buy, the upper market can take you to new heights. For those with no limit, take a look at the Airbus ACJ319 corporate jet, expoed at the Farnborough airshow, this large jet with a cost of $87 million has the most spacious cabin of any business jet in the world. The new Gulf Stream 450 will run you about $39 million, a steal for those with that kind of budget.
Not ready to drop close to a hundred million? There are plenty of luxury planes out there for much less. The six-seat Cessna Citation CJ3 will run you $8 million brand new, and just over two million used. You can still get into the private jet market for far less. Take the older Learjet 35, which has eight sets for about $600,000. The luxury of private plane ownership does not mean you have to pay exorbitant prices. Prop-planes are a very affordable option. It's important to understand that all planes require extensive upkeep to be flight legal. That means an old plane is as reliable and well running as it was the day it was built. So that can really open up your options. An older prop-plane like the six seat Piper Saratoga will run between $250,000 and $450,000. A 1960's Cessna propeller plane might only cost you around $20,000 to $40,000.
After you find and buy your dream plane, there will be costs associated with upkeep, maintenance, storage, insurance and any miscellaneous aviation equipment and accessories you may need. Insurance is fairly cheap, about the same as your home car, and tie down fees around the same. Of course, if you have a luxury jet you will want your own hanger. Every private pilot will also need to stock-up on aviation gear, like head sets, logbooks, flight charts, etc. A quick perusal of Pilotmall shows you there are a number of accessories you will want to buy and several items you will have to buy before you hit the clouds.
Every private plane owner will tell you the luxury of private ownership is not the luxury inside the plane or even the plane itself. The real luxury is the freedom private plane ownership provides. Long or far away trips are now only a few miles away. No more overnight stay in transit, no hassles at the airport. You get to just jump in your own plane and go. And as anyone will tell you, freedom is the ultimate luxury. With plane ownership now well within the reach of more and more people, freedom is yours for the taking.
