[JLemons]

Thanks for the replys! This is not the first time I have persued the idea of buying a Skymaster. About 3-4 years ago I found a couple that seemed very tempting to buy. I ran the numbers, and factored in the insurance quote. In the end, my monthly payment would have been in the neighborhood of around $700 - $900 a month. Too costly for the monthly budget. This airplane seems to be the perfect deal financially. I have a relative who is an A&P mechanic who is eager for me to buy an airplane. I can see the savings in maintenance alone as he has told me he will work for "ice tea" and flight time.

At this point and time of my life (I'm 40), I really haven't stepped out and took on an adventure that is nearly this "risky" or costly. We have no "family toy". I have been very conservative with my finances and my "no debt" status is something I'm pretty proud of. Aviation has always been my primary interest in terms of a hobby and career, and being a helicopter pilot in the Army has brought more job satisfaction than any other job possibly could. My one regret in life will be the day I realize that I can no longer fly and did not persue airplane ownership at a time when I should have. Having said that, I am faced with the decision between buying an airplane or paying off our house early. Currently, I have a plan to pay off the house by April 08. If I move forward with owning a Skymaster, the house pay off plan will be extended a few more years. Not a big deal really.

Soon I will be leaving Iraq and return home. Once again I will present the idea to my wife about owning an airplane. There's just so many things that make this kind of decision easy but yet so difficult. Who else has been in this position?

James