I am a new member of your organization, and am looking for a used aircraft that won't make me regret the decision a year from now.

Here is a bit of background. I received my pilot's license in 1976, and flew for a bit, but then hung it up until recently. I have 160 hours in SEL fixed gear. I am 7 hours away from taking the Instrument practical. I learned to fly in Beech Sundowners, but all we have here in Central VA are rental 172s.

I plan to ease into retirement, and will be "commuting" between VA and RI. I am looking for comfort, load capacity (wife, luggage and 2 dogs), and value. I have been looking at a 1969 Arrow (850 SMOH), 1966 Cherokee 6-260 (1650 SMOH), and a 1976 Lance (with 0 time engine). All are affordable, though as one can suppose, the insurance in my situation for the Arrow is $2,400, the Cherokee 6 is $3,000, and the Lance at $6,000. I will also need 10-15 hours with a CFI, and 10-15 hours solo before taking any passengers.

While I am leaning toward the Cherokee 6, the Lance with the Mattituck engine is appealing, despite the high insurance.

Then, someone suggest the Dakota. I question the "volume of the Arrow and Dakota, but the 235 engine might outperform the Arrow, and at a possible lower insurance cost. But the capacity is still a question, and I'd hate to get a 4 place plane, only to realize that the 6 place (without 2 seats) would be the best in the long run.

Bottom line, if I had 500 hours, and was rated for a complex/High Performance, the Lance would be the hands-down winner. I would appreciate any advice that your members might have regarding the capacity/volume of the Dakota/Arrow line versus the Cherokee 6/Lance hull.

Thanks.

I needed a load carrier, had 5 in the family, so the Cherokee 6 was the best choice. I've got a 1970 PA32-260.

AVG was my insurance, $75000 hull value, -0- time in type, no IFR, 250 hours total pilot time, was $1900 my first year. I had no HP endorsement, so they required (I'm not kidding) 1 hour with an instructor before I could solo and 3 hours before I could carry passengers. Needless to say, I spent a bit more time with the instructor!

Now with 140 hours in type, my renewal dropped to $1800 for same hull value.

Flying down last night to work, I was doing 140mph indicated at 4500 feet (150mph true) at about 12.5 gal/hr at LOP. Pushing it up to 75%, around 14 gph I can do 160mph true. The plane also has a turbo normalizer and I've had it at 180mph true at altitude (I should be able to go faster, but the turbo won't hold sea level much past 11K, which we will look at during the next annual).

Most I have hauled in the plane is 700lbs of sandbags, 50lbs of tools, full fuel (500lbs) and me. That put me at gross (turbo STC + O2 takes some of my gross) and the plane was 200+ feet above the end of our 4000 foot runway on a hot summer day. (and thanks to everyone here for the tips). With the family, I don't run at gross, so that means only 50 gallons of fuel, but very comfortable flying out of a 3000 foot runway at Put In Bay ohio.

Only problem I have had in one year of ownership was a bad electric fuel pump and two fouled plugs (my fault) in one cylinder.

I'm also a advocate of buying higher time engines, since everyone seems to want "low time" and real bargains can be had and relatively speaking, if you get out in a year or two, not much difference in value between 1650smoh and 1850smoh and you can then decide to dump it or stay with the plane (rebuild). Of course, full pre-buy, oil analysis should be done.

I have a similar quandry to the author initiating this string. I am a 300 hr VFR pilot working toward my instrument rating and do not have complex or high performance time. I have narrowed my search to a Cherokee 235/236 or a Cherokee 6/300. The wife would love the wider cabin and club seating of a 6. Can you tell me roughly what the difference in operating costs would be between the two? Seems like fuel burn, for one, is relatively close. I know the 6 would be slower, but perhaps there are some speed mods to bring it closer to a 235/236?

Operating cost between a cherokee 6 and 235/236 would be identical..Why?? because they have the same engine..236/235 is carb vs the 6 300 is fuel injected..same fuel burn, maybe slightly more in the 235..Fuel injected engines tend to burn less fuel than carb models..I just sold N2225S to a new pilot, zero hrs in type and on 150k value insurance was 3500 dollar range..he had to do 10 hrs with the instructor..What a great ride though..if interested go to www.jmaircraft.com..got some nice ones..On the speed issue the later model 6's with the large wheel pants cruise above 145kts vs 140 or less in the older style pants..

regards
Jim McCandless

If I were a retired airline pilot (how else do you get 25K hours ;-} ) with that kind of mission profile, I think I'd have to go for the Deb or a nice older Bo over a Piper. Or better yet, an RV-10.