Airplane Ownership

by Ronald J. Wanttaja

Presents a resource and guide to airplane ownership. This book offers information on selecting, purchasing, financing, insuring, hangaring, and maintaining an airplane. This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0070681589
• ISBN13: 9780070681583
• Release Date: October 1994
• Publisher: McGraw-Hill Professional Publishing
• Length: 301 Pages
• Weight: 1.45 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 7.4" x 9.2"

Customer Reviews

Starting to show its age but still worth owning

I bought this book prior to purchasing an airplane, read it then put it on the shelf and promptly forgot about it. Now, after owning a plane for 2 years have rediscovered the book and upon review can validate the authors thoroughness and careful selection of subject matter to cover. He did a great job. Most topics covered are still accurate today and very relevant to me as an aircraft owner of two years. Where the book could use a refresh is of course in the cost info cited as well as an update related to availability of information on the internet.

Had to buy it!

I picked this book up at the local library while I was looking for my first plane. After using up all my renewals and continually referring to it, I had to buy. It goes into much more detail than other books about what to expect during and after purchase.

Everything You Need to Know

Simply put, if you're even thinking of buying an airplane you should buy this book first. This book reeks of experience. It's by Ron Wanttaja, who received the 1992 Aviation/Space Writers' Association Award of Excellence. He's an excellent writer and is very knowledgable about owning an airplane. All aspects of owning a plane from deciding what to buy to the real world operating expenses, the new Light Sport Aircraft category, inspections, everything. The tone of the book is on saving money. He talks for instance about setting a limit of $30K for the purchase of a plane. He talks about the costs of a tie down vs a hanger and gives examples from his local area which is around Seattle. You may not have the financial issues as a primary concern, but many of the same subjects apply without regard to their cost -- what to look for when you inspect a used plane for instance. I'd list the chapters in the book, but think it's better to just say that every aspect you can think of (and more) is here. And, oh yes, this is the new second edition of the book that updates the information on a lot of areas.

I keep coming back to this book, It's worth every penny!

This book is an informative, easy to read, engaging look at buying and owning an aircraft. It walks you right through the different types available, and explains many of the advantages and pitfalls of the different types (antique, classic, homebuilt, modern, etc) of aircraft available. It goes on to explain what you can and can't do in owner maintanance. This book shows how to do what you can do, with photos and illustrations to back up the text in many instances. Overall, of all the airplane ownership books I've got, this is the one that I keep coming back to, it's well done, interesting, and informative!