Any "Latest & Greatest" about Delta?
![Default](https://www.airlinepilotforums.com/images/icons/icon1.gif)
you know before I throw another log on the fire on this frosty mid August evening in Atlanta, I was thinking.... I heard that slow...
but I was thinking on a rather serious note there sure is a lot of layoffs going on with people I know personally. theyre told its economy related. makes me wonder if the delay in hiring and then the smaller number than we all hoped for not to mention the rumored strong response from recallees is a subtle indicator?
but I was thinking on a rather serious note there sure is a lot of layoffs going on with people I know personally. theyre told its economy related. makes me wonder if the delay in hiring and then the smaller number than we all hoped for not to mention the rumored strong response from recallees is a subtle indicator?
![forgot to bid is offline](https://www.airlinepilotforums.com/images/statusicon/user_offline.gif)
![](https://www.airlinepilotforums.com/clear.gif)
Can't abide NAI
Joined APC: Jun 2007
Position: Douglas Aerospace post production Flight Test & Work Around Engineering bulletin dissembler
Posts: 12,037
![Default](https://www.airlinepilotforums.com/images/icons/icon1.gif)
I run a side business that is doing contract work about 800 miles from where I live. I can drive the round trip and write off the miles which comes out to a tax write off of $750 or so. That is what the government says it "costs" me to drive my car for that round trip. I spend about $200 for gas and $50 for food on the driving. Roundtrip ticket purchased 5 days in advance costs me about $700. Still takes me about 7 hours to get there if I fly so it saves me 5 hours, but then I have to rent a car or bum a ride from someone. I've only flown once.
![](http://www.mcfarlaneaviation.com/newsletters/images/35-33.jpg)
Figure your making at least a buck and a quarter from Delta. Don't know if they are paying you for mileage, but 26 hours of windshield time between Delta trips must just suck for you and your family.
Speaking of family, trips to the beach are "currency." Besides, you need the tax write off.
Mine's an A36 now, but the F33 or 33-35 is a better machine unless you need the extra capability. I had a 33-35 with a fresh IO-550 by D'Shannon and all the go fast goodies that I sold when Delta hired me ... wish very badly I still had it. Best flying airplane ever built IMHO (and that includes the 757, heresey I know)
![](http://www.aerofiles.com/mooney-bravo.jpg)
Plan B if you have no kids. Go for the parallel valve Lycoming powered M20C through J models. They're all good and very reliable. M20J - "205" or late as you can afford "201" since quality improved as time went on.
The six cylinder Mooney's never made much sense to me. At that point they perform much like a Bonanza, but just aren't nearly as comfortable and you're giving up 757 control coordination.
The tupperware airplanes are, again, a bit slower and thirstier than the Bonanzas. Some say they are comfortable, but the build quality of the early ones annoy me and the newer ones are very expensive. Most morons run the IO-500's hot on the ramp while playing with the avionics reducing the life of everything under the cowling. Cirrus needs an APU install for their customer base.
Last edited by Bucking Bar; 08-16-2013 at 06:57 PM.
![Bucking Bar is offline](https://www.airlinepilotforums.com/images/statusicon/user_offline.gif)
![Default](https://www.airlinepilotforums.com/images/icons/icon1.gif)
Bar, just wondering, what are the acquisition costs and overall care and feeding for the aforementioned aircraft? Seems like it's got to the point where most airline pilots can't afford a plane for themselves, am I wrong? How does one make that work?
![flyallnite is offline](https://www.airlinepilotforums.com/images/statusicon/user_offline.gif)
![Default](https://www.airlinepilotforums.com/images/icons/icon1.gif)
![Smile](https://www.airlinepilotforums.com/images/smilies/smile.gif)
![80ktsClamp is offline](https://www.airlinepilotforums.com/images/statusicon/user_offline.gif)
![Default](https://www.airlinepilotforums.com/images/icons/icon1.gif)
Frankly, it's sad to read a pilot writing something like that. Let me suggest an three hour option that will allow you to arrive in style and relaxed...
Figure your making at least a buck and a quarter from Delta. Don't know if they are paying you for mileage, but 26 hours of windshield time between Delta trips must just suck for you and your family.
Speaking of family, trips to the beach are "currency." Besides, you need the tax write off.
Mine's an A36 now, but the F33 or 33-35 is a better machine unless you need the extra capability. I had a 33-35 with a fresh IO-550 by D'Shannon and all the go fast goodies that I sold when Delta hired me ... wish very badly I still had it. Best flying airplane ever built IMHO (and that includes the 757, heresey I know)
Plan B if you have no kids. Go for the parallel valve Lycoming powered M20C through J models. They're all good and very reliable. M20J - "205" or late as you can afford "201" since quality improved as time went on.
The six cylinder Mooney's never made much sense to me. At that point they perform much like a Bonanza, but just aren't nearly as comfortable and you're giving up 757 control coordination.
The tupperware airplanes are, again, a bit slower and thirstier than the Bonanzas. Some say they are comfortable, but the build quality of the early ones annoy me and the newer ones are very expensive. Most morons run the IO-500's hot on the ramp while playing with the avionics reducing the life of everything under the cowling. Cirrus needs an APU install for their customer base.
![](http://www.mcfarlaneaviation.com/newsletters/images/35-33.jpg)
Figure your making at least a buck and a quarter from Delta. Don't know if they are paying you for mileage, but 26 hours of windshield time between Delta trips must just suck for you and your family.
Speaking of family, trips to the beach are "currency." Besides, you need the tax write off.
Mine's an A36 now, but the F33 or 33-35 is a better machine unless you need the extra capability. I had a 33-35 with a fresh IO-550 by D'Shannon and all the go fast goodies that I sold when Delta hired me ... wish very badly I still had it. Best flying airplane ever built IMHO (and that includes the 757, heresey I know)
![](http://www.aerofiles.com/mooney-bravo.jpg)
Plan B if you have no kids. Go for the parallel valve Lycoming powered M20C through J models. They're all good and very reliable. M20J - "205" or late as you can afford "201" since quality improved as time went on.
The six cylinder Mooney's never made much sense to me. At that point they perform much like a Bonanza, but just aren't nearly as comfortable and you're giving up 757 control coordination.
The tupperware airplanes are, again, a bit slower and thirstier than the Bonanzas. Some say they are comfortable, but the build quality of the early ones annoy me and the newer ones are very expensive. Most morons run the IO-500's hot on the ramp while playing with the avionics reducing the life of everything under the cowling. Cirrus needs an APU install for their customer base.
That and flying 800 miles over the rockies in the winter in a Bonanza just doesn't seem like a good idea to me most days.
![RockyBoy is offline](https://www.airlinepilotforums.com/images/statusicon/user_offline.gif)
![FedElta is offline](https://www.airlinepilotforums.com/images/statusicon/user_offline.gif)
![Default](https://www.airlinepilotforums.com/images/icons/icon1.gif)
Airline pilots could afford a Cessna 150......if you get an early model.
![Big Grin](https://www.airlinepilotforums.com/images/smilies/biggrin.gif)
![RockyBoy is offline](https://www.airlinepilotforums.com/images/statusicon/user_offline.gif)
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Aug 2010
Posts: 2,530
![Columbia is offline](https://www.airlinepilotforums.com/images/statusicon/user_offline.gif)
Can't abide NAI
Joined APC: Jun 2007
Position: Douglas Aerospace post production Flight Test & Work Around Engineering bulletin dissembler
Posts: 12,037
![Default](https://www.airlinepilotforums.com/images/icons/icon1.gif)
If you have a small business that requires travel, it's a no brainer, especially with the utilization Delta expects from us ... If you have to work during your off time, it might as well be fun and quick.
Staying with the BMW metaphor, how much routine, easy stuff, are you willing to do yourself? Would you fix a VANOS oil leak, or take it to a dealer? An uninformed consumer can get a $7,000 annual with less actual preventative work done than a smart guy armed with a Phillips head screwdriver and a couple of evenings can get done for $1,000. We just did an annual on a friend's cub for about $200 & a four pack of 90 minute IPA.
I like having partners to defray the fixed costs of ownership (hangar / annual / latest and greatest avionics (ie toys)) These things need to run more than most do. More it operates, the more reliable and the longer it lasts.
On the cheap, something like a Piper Pacer would be a great bet. I've owned one and it was so inexpensive that I barely ever recall spending more than cash in my pocket to keep it going. Something like this will probably be my next acquisition; something cheap enough to go out with the kiddos and play with.
![](http://www.ftlcomm.com/ensign/planes/piper/PA22/Pacer.jpg)
We've got a good number of Delta pilots who have aircraft at Peachtree City, GA. There's got to be half of an RV-6 or something to get into down there. If you found a deal like that your operational costs would run between $40 and $100 an hour. Hangar, Insurance, Annual would be $200 to $300 a month, possibly less. In any event, cheaper than a Ski Boat (figure what a boat costs you by hour...) I think my Pacer (if I can find one) has a home at a friend's fly in community with a quality mo-gas tank. If so, that thing will be nearly free to keep and operate.
![Bucking Bar is offline](https://www.airlinepilotforums.com/images/statusicon/user_offline.gif)
![Default](https://www.airlinepilotforums.com/images/icons/icon1.gif)
Good stuff bar, thanks. I assume a float plane would be the worst of both worlds...
![flyallnite is offline](https://www.airlinepilotforums.com/images/statusicon/user_offline.gif)
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post