Mike Busch on Airplane Ownership (Volume 1): What every aircraft owner needs to know about selecting, purchasing, insuring, maintaining, troubleshooting, modifying, and flying light airplanes

Mike Busch on Airplane Ownership is the much-awaited sequel to his previous books Manifesto and Engines. In this two-volume set, Busch distills his wisdom from his more than 50 years as an aircraft owner. He brings his refreshingly commonsense and often outside-the-box approach to every aspect of owning and operating a general aviation aircraft.Volume 1 covers selecting, purchasing, insuring, and maintaining an aircraft. Busch emphasizes that it is the aircraft owner-not his mechanics-who bears the regulatory responsibility for airworthiness. He discusses how to choose the right mechanic or shop and how to manage the maintenance they perform. Busch dissects the much-dreaded annual inspection, and how owners can keep it from spiraling out of control. He offers guidance about the all-important post-maintenance test flight, and how to deal with an owner's worst nightmare: a mechanical breakdown far from home.Volume 2 covers the rules and regulations that every aircraft owner needs to know but is often not taught. It discusses owner-performed maintenance, troubleshooting techniques, aircraft modifications, twins, and resolving owner/mechanic disputes. It takes the reader on a guided tour through the various aircraft systems, discussing the operation, care and feeding of each one. It offers guidance on how to fly safely and efficiently, including leaning techniques, air-speed and altitude selection, and more.The volume concludes with Busch's thoughts about the future of owner-flown general aviation and where we're headed. If you own an aircraft (or want to), these books will be an invaluable addition to your aviation library.** Table of Contents Prologue PART I - Buying an Aircraft 1 - Choosing the Right Airplane 2 - Do You Really Want a Twin? 3 - The Prebuy Examination 4 - Buyer Beware 5 - Damage History 6 - Car Talk 7 - Lessons from a Scuzzy Skyhawk PART II - Insuring Your Aircraft 8 - A Matter of Policy 9 - Insurance Woes PART III - Aircraft Owner Responsibilities 10 - Who's Responsible for WHat? 11 - Is it Save? Is it Airworthy? 12 - Is Your Aircraft Too Broken to Fly? 13 - Discrepancy Discretion 14 - Is Your Equipment List Up to Date? 15 - Maintenance Records PART III - Managing Your Maintenance 16 - Owner-in-Command 17 - Recommended or Required? 18 - Five Secrets of Cost-Effective Maintenance 19 - The High Cost of Airplane Parts 20 - Work Orders and Invoices 21 - When to Say "No" 22 - Know Before You Say "Go" 23 - Don't Shoot Yourself in the Foot 24 - Consider the Source 25 - Whoa! This Isn't an Inspection! 21 - Blind Trust 27 - Errors of Distraction 28 - Trust, But Verify PART V - Choosing the Right Mechanic 29 - Whom Should You Trust? 30 - Mini or Maxi? 31 - The Perfect Mechanic 32 - Certified Repair Stations: Pros and Cons 33 - "But My Mechanic Says..." 34 - Life on the Trailing Edge PART VI - The Annual Inspection 35 - All About Annuals 36 - An IA's Dilemma 37 - How to Flunk an Annual Inspection 38 - Never Log Discrepancies 39 - The Annual Inspection Trap 40 - Annual Inspection from Hell 41 - Back in the Game PART VII - Dealing with Mechanicals Away from Home 42 - Breakdowns Away from Home 43 - Fix It Now... or Fix It Later? 44 - Traveling Toolkit 45 - What Are the Odds? 46 - Stuck in Reykjavik PART VII - Reminiscences from 50 Years of Aircraft Ownership 47 - From Appliance Operator to Maintenance Savvy 48 - A&P... Hey, That's Me! 49 - Generation Three Epilogue Index "Mike Busch on Airplane Ownership is the much-awaited sequel to his previous books Manifesto and Engines. In this [book], Busch distills his wisdom from his more than 50 years as an aircraft owner. He brings his refreshingly commonsense and often outside-the-box approach to every aspect of owning and operating a general aviation aircraft. Volume 1 covers selecting, purchasing, insuring, and maintaining an aircraft. Busch emphasizes that it is the aircraft owner--not his mechanics--who bears the regulatory responsibility for airworthiness. He discusses how to choose the right mechanic or shop and how to manage the maintenance they perform. Busch dissects the much-dreaded annual inspection, and how owners can keep it from spiraling out of control. He offers guidance about the all-important post-maintenance test flight, and how to deal with an owner's worst nightmare: a mechanical breakdown far from home."--Back cover