Selling My Airplane? - Cheers To The Dumbest Thing I've Ever Done! 

This breaks my heart, Cory. As a father and a husband, I understand. The sacrifices we make for the betterment of the lives around us and a lot of the time it goes unnoticed. I sold my motorcycle and ended up buying another one 2 weeks later. Lol. You’ll get another airplane. I’ll be happy to inspect the next one for you.

Can't wait to see what the next chapter in your aviation journey unfolds. Thanks for all the aviation content you have put out so far.

I’ve been there. I have learned the hard way to not get in a hurry on major decisions.

Hey Cory! I love your channel and not just for the content you produce, which is great but also, for your style. I like your honesty and easy going nature. It's a tough decision but you're doing what's best for the fam. Also, owning a plane is not the only way to stay in the aviation game! Cheers!

Discovered your channel recently and have really enjoyed it. You offer the perspective of a lot of us GA pilots with families and full time jobs. Haven’t watched all the past stuff yet so I’ll be seeing them for a while yet. I’m sure you made the right decision for you and your family.

Awesome video. Your passion for aviation is huge and not hard to detect. I hope you are able to get into another plane. Keep up the great videos.

I feel your pain/relief. Sold my '68 C in May for similar reasons. I wish I could say I'm content with the decision, but not a day goes by that I don't think about where I've traveled in her or where I'd like to fly. The satisfaction of sharing the skies and VHF with both Brickyard pilots & controllers of NY Approach while on flight following has been a privilege. Dreaming of owning an M20K someday and touring the Western states. I've appreciated your vlogs as a fellow C owner, and thought of you as we flew near Sparta, passing over lake Michigan. Good luck on your next mission!

I have enjoyed your channel from the beginning. Like a previous poster made mention, I can't wait to see what the next chapter is for you. You can't get attached to planes, or cars, so maybe the next plane you move up to something more roomie, faster, etc. You never know, and you are making a sound business decision. Good luck in your hunt, whenever it comes up again.

Cory, I wish you the very best. Family always comes first, I get that. I waited until later in life to fly and become an owner. I look forward to your next aviation adventure and wish you good health and happiness for you and your family.

So sorry to see you go, but we understand!

Airplane ownership is not a cheap endeavor and I applaud you for making that decision. You are young and maybe later in life when time and finances are better you will get back into it. Good luck.

So sad to see you sell your Mooney, Cory!😢. Really enjoyed seeing a Mooney on RU-vid that looks like mine. There are not many Mark 21’s, let alone on RU-vid. I wish you the best!

From the other side of the pond I have been following you channel and enjoying it. I was out of aviation for 23 years to focus on career, kids and other passions. I now fly in various types in part ownerships with a Discus bT glider 1/3, Grumman AA5 Traveller 1/12 and a Commander 114B 1/11 ownership. I really found that part ownerships is the right balance for me, as I get access to multiple tools for different missions. One for fun (glider), one for small airfields and one for longer distances. I fly maybe 70-100 hours a year, but would not put enough hours on one type to own it and it would then limit my overall passion for aviation from both a time and financial perspective. Hope you find what works for you. Good luck :)

Sad to see the Mooney go, but you are doing the right thing! Best wishes to you and your family

It’s a shame aviation is so expensive. I’m a student pilot right now and I have to work an average of 8 hours overtime every week to fly once a week. It’s absolutely worth it, it’s the best thing I’ve ever done, but I’m not sure how I’ll keep flying after my ppl. I can’t see owning a plane and I can’t work those extra 8 hours every week indefinitely. Might have to rent once or twice a month unless I can find a really affordable partnership.

You are absolutely correct on all counts. Family and future are number one. I sold my Cherokee three years ago because I was too busy and didnt want it to be a hangar queen. I retired a year ago and am still able to enjoy my passion flying my friends C172 for the cost of fuel. I can understand the emotion in letting her go but I can tell you that in time it will be ok and you will realize you did the right thing for yourself, the future and your family.

I'm sad for you but I perfectly understand. In my case my wife and kids dont like to fly that much, so most of the time I go on business hours and work late in the evening when everybody is asleep to make up for the "lost time". But man that feeling of being in the air is worth it 100%. Its just a constant stress to find time to go to keep her flying.

Completely relatable (re: life and actual usage). An airplane for those that don't know .. need to be flown. Sitting is very bad for them. All of that costs money .. pay now or pay (much more) later. Good luck brother.

Corey! Don't know if you remember me, but I used to fly out of Sparta with Mark. Keep your head up bro. As someone that has had to walk away from flying several times I can tell you that it only dies if you let it. You can still enjoy that freedom when you need to, and I hope you go rent as much as you can. Not as rewarding as looking at it and saying it's yours, but if it's that or nothing, well, anything is better than nothing. You will be back. Take care man.

All valid reasons you have. No shame in it. Maybe we’ll see you back on here with one of those kit plans in the future.

I almost sold my Mooney a few years ago. The more I thought about it the harder it was to let it go. I realized I could not get a more economical plane and if I sold it I would most likely quit flying. I’m currently working on my IFR hoping it will get me to fly more. If after the IFR I’m not flying more I will need to probably sell it. Hate to think about it though. Good luck in what comes next.

Never trade your soul for money, because it's just money, it goes around and around. Find a way.

Well we all know the saying about the happiest day in a pilot's life. It's important to know when to call it so that you can get back into it at a later date. I'm sure it's a solid decision based on your situation, and it takes a responsible person to make it when it's hard. Good luck, and we'll see you in the sky, you'll find a way to do it for cheaper I'm sure.

I was in a similar situation and postponed until after the kid was out of school. Maybe you can come back to ownership later.

When I was younger with young kids, we owned a C172. It was a lot of fun and very expensive. I noticed it was cutting heavily into my retirement plans. So, we sold her. I invested all the extra money. My wife thought I was crazy, too. That was until we retired early, Having financial freedom and a life of leisure is the ABSOLUTE BEST!! I wish you the best of luck!!

@mytimetofly hey sorry to see that you are selling the bird. I've been in RQB twice, onces coming back from OSH in 2006 when I diverted due to some major storms across Michigan and once going to OSH in 2019 as a fuel stop. My buddy learned that there was no Starbucks in town other than the one at the college, he was devastated.

I hear you about the risk. I am 1 of 8 owners of our plane. We budget our annuals for 5500$. This years was 15,500. We also did 18k in avionics upgrades. Its not cheap

Hey Cory, definitely an emotional video! I wish there was a way we could connect outside of comments. I haven't sold my C but if I did and it was time to get another plane, a J or something faster would be picked. Idk which I would choose but it would be a mooney again for me.

I don’t justify owning my Arrow, it is a money pit. My aircraft broadens my kids knowledge and has pushed them to understand science. It costs money but causing a hunger to understand the physics of flying is worth the money. My daughter plans to become an aviation lawyer.

Yeah, good time to sell. Seems like prices are starting to slip as we go into the fall of 2023. We'll see how it all turns out.

It is one of those decisions that all airplane owners face sooner or later. Having owned two different planes at different times of my life I can relate to every comment you have made here. They all apply. My first plane was sold the day my son was born. I got another one 10 years later and kept it 10 years. Loved every minute that I owned it. One day I realized I no longer had a use for it except for joyrides with the CAP squadron and that got to be humdrum. So, 20 years ago I let my girlfriend go to another home where I am grateful to say that I have learned she is loved and cared for at least as well as I could have done, maybe better. All good things come to and end. One day you might find a new reason to have a plane and you will get another one. It happens, I know because it happened to me. Enjoy your memories!

The West Michigan Flight club has a Mooney M20J. The club is the most affordable way to fly in West Michigan.

Will you still continue flying? I love your content, I’m a student pilot close to my truck ride, and I live just south of you by the Lansing area. Cheers to the next chapter and all the best to you and your family! 🍻

Sorry to see your selling. I’m in my 30’s also so I definitely understand life pulling at your from all sides. I ended up buying an SLSA zenith 601xl because of how affordable they are to buy and own. Maybe look into a partnership on a zenith since they are possibly even more bang for the buck than a mooney.

Hey Cory...so did you end up selling? I saw it on marketplace for a bit. I feel your pain...I sold my Cherokee 140 about fifteen years ago and havent flown since. Thinking about getting back into it. I'm here in Michigan with you.

Sometimes tough decisions have to be made in life. I know how it feels to make those decisions. Hang in there!

I own a 150L, and as much as I’d like to move up to something faster with a higher gross weight, I’ve made it too nice to part with. It’s an affordable, reliable airplane that is IFR certified with multiple STC & PMA upgrades for safety and improved flight performance.

To help justify airplane ownership I broadened my search for investment properties or businesses to a 3 hour Mooney radius. It worked…. Now I can’t afford to sell my plane.

Good luck with the sale.

Are you going to give up GA as a whole? Or going to explore experimental? I don’t think I’ll ever go back to certified again.

I know what you mean about the risk - my a/c was running perfectly fine, but then I found metal in the oil filter 😢

We are selling our mooney too. We decided to buy a house. It is bittersweet because he love our plane so much. But we know this is the best financial decision for our young family. My grandpa sold his Harvard in 1967 at the age of 19 to buy my dads diapers. He's never quite gotten over that 😂

Well I hate to see this video, but I understand. Maybe there is a future in joining a larger flying club in the area or something like that. I think that may ultimately be the route I go when I finally take the leap to get my private. All the best to you and your family.

“Some other content as well?” Such as? I’m curious.

Cory, buy yourself a Zenith 300. Their inexpensive and experimental with a 150 mph cruise.

Oh man shame. That Mooney rocks and your videos are great but being an owner myself I fully understand . Btw we wrote each other back and forth regarding getting the dynon drx window stand. I don’t use mine as I don’t like it on the glareshield due to the heat. I’ll buy it and pay the shipping. Let me know. I feel like you and sad to see her go.

How much are you or did you sell it for? I’m interested in a manual gear Mooney

Of course, I move to the Sparta area and you sell the Mooney!!!

Hey man we are here with you. I hate seeing you sell the plane especially me being and AP and owner of a Mooney m20G myself. It has been great seeing you fly and enjoy the sky and allowing us all to join in on your happiness. I know this isn't the end for you. Trust me I have learned a lot from you. You believe in doing what needs to be done and you do just that. This is just a pause for flying right now. We all know you'll be back and I for one will still support you. I hear you say you're focused on getting some money lol. If you're doing some investing and stocks let us know I'm just getting in to doing it. God bless man ✌

Did you ever sell?

I don't own a plane which I wish I could you will never be a happy person walking away! Money wealth all that's great but like a musician walking away from music -- they never really can without being miserable. Good luck!

To buy another Mooney??

Divorce the wife, sell the house, keep the plane, move to AZ.