PROFICIENCY & EFFICIENCY 83 TECHNIQUE 86 OWNERSHIP 88 WX WATCH 90 FRUGAL FLIER 92 NEVER AGAIN “Aircraft Maintenance from the Educated Owner” is a series of how-to tips from A&P mechanic Jeff Simon (www.aopa. org/aircraft/aircraftmaintenance.html) ON THE WEB | EFFICIENCY View Jeff Simon’s how-to series, “The Educated Owner,” online. | Buy or rent? Choose the smart training option B Y I A N J. T W O M B LY IF YOU WANT to save money on flight training, buy an airplane. This common bit of advice comes up often during the inevitable conversation about how to save money in aviation. But is this really true? Can buying really be more cost effective than renting? Based on conversations with owners who have bought to train— and comparing various rental rates and purchase prices around the country—the short answer is: It depends. 80 | AOPA PILOT May 2013 A.J. GARCES Based on conversations with owners who have bought to train—and comparing various rental rates and purchase prices around the country—the short answer is: It depends.http://www.aopa.org/aircraft/aircraft-maintenance.html http://www.aopa.org/aircraft/aircraft-maintenance.html http://www.aopa.org/aircraft/aircraft-maintenance.html http://www.aopa.org/aircraft/aircraft-maintenance.html