[tadd]

Thank you for all the replies on the general flying front. I know I am trying to posit a situation that I will get the most use and enjoyment.

Like Varment says, having to store offsite becomes a big expense that can dwarf the cost of the hardware. So being able to keep it at home is a huge plus... along with just being able to open the shed and roll out and go if the mood strikes.

From the interactions I have had with ex-military aviators (like my old boss who flew F117s), convivence and cost seem to be the drivers for 'keeping' a private flying vehicle. So pulling a permit to fly from home like Sea did to me is a no brainer.

As mentioned, some of this is driven by getting to fiddle with hardware. A good chunk of my enjoyment with the Porsche is fiddling with it, although being in assembly mode hasn't provided any driving enjoyment for a good while. But that will change this year thankfully. When I bought the longhood, I could have bought new, but the new ones just didn't do it for me. You have to be going so damn fast to get any interesting, I just had visions of my license being shredded in front of me. So I went old. Can feel like a hero on the off ramp at 50 mph.

This flying thing I see as something along those lines.

I guess it comes down to how practical do I want to be. Afterburns bird suggestion clearly fits that bill and I will certainly start nosing around those. Costs are doable and would be flying quick. Anything used as a trainer is a good starting point.

I have much reading to do about what can and cannot be done with older flying vehicles. I am not interested in making money, so there seems to be more options.

Lots to consider and given this is the planning/thinking/research year, I best get started as well as getting all the older projects cleaned up for new time/money pits!