First Plane

[HA]

I'll agree with that, I got both in the same deal. the 172 sorta came with the wife when we got married, it's been in her family since the 60's. so I guess I was 23 when I "bought into" my first plane, personal plane anyway. work planes don't count, that isn't my money

[cowboy]

Bought into my first airplane (a 172) at 17 along with my Dad, a student pilot. At 18 I signed my Dad off for his private check ride in that plane.
My first individually owned plane was at 35, and my 170 was at 51.

[GAHorn]

I bought my first airplane (P-51) when I was 9 years old, but wrecked it right away and traded the engine (a Herkimer .050) to my brother for a crystal-radio.
Bought my first large airplane (a 1947 Aeronca Chief) when I was 34, and traded it for a 1951 StudeBaker Starlight Coupe because I wasn't flying it.
Bought my next airplane when I was 40, a 1964 Cessna 206, and flew it about 6 or 7 years, sold it, doubling my money and bought a Beech Baron which took all that money, so sold it and bought this '53 170-B about ten years ago, which I plan to keep until I quit flying.

[Flyfshr]

My '54 170 at the naive age of 30. That was 10 months ago... of course, I'm SO much wiser now...

[futr_alaskaflyer]

Thirty-seven. My first and so far my last plane, below.

But I had owned two boats in my twenties, and so I figured my experiences with pain and regret were sufficient to merit aircraft ownership.

[DaveF]

31. A 1970 Cherokee 140. It was cheap, it was local, it was fun to fly, and my wife liked it, but it was not a good Colorado airplane. After that I owned half of a 182, then one third of a T210, and now I'm where I should have been the whole time -- full owner of a C-170. I looked at 170s before buying the Cherokee, even attended 170 forums in the big canvas tents at OSH, but the 170 would have cost more than the Cherokee and I didn't have more.

[W.J.Langholz]

My first plane was one that I built when I was 8 or 9. My dad even helped me cut the prop out cause we need the power saw for that. Seat and a broom handle for a stick............little did he know that I really thought it was going to fly....... One day when I thought it was ready (painted on gauges and all) I tied a rope to the tail and drug it up on this old barn we had......parked my butt in it and down the roof we went lucky barns weren't very tall back then


W.

Now they call them RV's or something like that right Miles

[n3833v]

What a ride Willy. My first and only plane is the one I have. Wanted to fly since 9 to 11 and finally got to the place where I told my wife, it is now or never. At 67, sometime I think it should have been never, but I endure and enjoy.

John

[cessna170bdriver]

My first plane was one that I built when I was 8 or 9. My dad even helped me cut the prop out cause we need the power saw for that. Seat and a broom handle for a stick............little did he know that I really thought it was going to fly....... One day when I thought it was ready (painted on gauges and all) I tied a rope to the tail and drug it up on this old barn we had......parked my butt in it and down the roof we went lucky barns weren't very tall back then


W.

Somehow Willie, that doesn't surprise me in the least. I can just picture you coming down off that roof! From what I know of John, he has the same desire, but has put more thought into the process.

Now they call them RV's or something like that right Miles

Yes they do! That's why I doubt my 170 will be my last airplane.

[oz502man]

Bought my first plane just over two years ago - aged 30. 1951 C170A... VH-HVS

[N2255D]

At 40 I bought my first plane, a 1947 Cessna 140. Flew it for 8 years until a wind storm destroyed it.
Three months later at 48 I replaced it with my 1952 170 and been flying it for the last 15 years.

[ginbug92b]

Bought my first plane at 23, a 1947 Cessna 140, flew it for 5 years and got a wrecked J3 Cub and completely restored it. Next was a 1952 170B that I swapped a bulldozer for. Currently own a 1955 170B and a Super Cub.

[Harold Holiman]

I purchased my first plane, a 1949 170A N9027A, in 1974, I was 33 at the time. At the time we lived in Greenville, Mississippi and my brother lived in Memphis, Tennessee. I had restored a 1949 Studebaker Starlite Coupe for him when he still lived in Greenville. Whenever we were going to fly to Memphis, he would leave the Studebacker parked at the airport for us to use while we were there. I would tell people that we were the only folks in modern times flying into Memphis International Airport in a 1949 model airplane with a 1949 model rent a car waiting on us. Our first convention was at the West Memphis, Arkansas airport and the Holiday Inn Rivermont hotel in Memphis, Tennessee in 1975. Our longest flight in 27A was from Greenville, Mississippi to the Edmonton, Alberta convention in 1977. I sold my last plane, a 1953 180 N92CP, in October 2006 because of mounting medical problems.

[falco]

Bought my '54 170B when I was 35 in 1999, and recently married. Prior to meeting my wonderful wife I was looking for a Swift, but figured we might need a back seat. We did, the back seat is full, and the little 2 seat retractable dream is still alive in my workshop slowly taking the form of a Falco F8.L.

Pete

[GAHorn]

Bought my '54 170B when I was 35 in 1999, and recently married. Prior to meeting my wonderful wife I was looking for a Swift, but figured we might need a back seat. We did, the back seat is full, and the little 2 seat retractable dream is still alive in my workshop slowly taking the form of a Falco F8.L.

Pete

Our (deceased) Member "Goody" Goodrich sold his 170 and bought a swift. His wife Fran hated it because it's difficult for most women to climb up onto the wing, and step over the sidewall (especially in a skirt) onto the seat, then "slip" downward into position. As an old fighter-pilot Goody thought it was the cat's meow...but Fran rode in it once to my house/fly-in but refused to get back into it and rode in a car back home.

Swift's are beautiful, fun-looking aircraft, but not especially useful except as image-enhancers!

(Yes...I wish I had one too!)