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

by Mike Busch

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 (publication date Christmas 2019) 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.

Genres: Aviation

Kindle Edition

Published June 20, 2019

Reviews

[Jeff Stephenson · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I first purchased into the airplane I now completely own by myself, I felt overwhelmed and a bit terrified. Not terrified to fly the plane-I had my license to fly and always spent enough time behind the yoke to fly it safely. What terrified me was the maintenance. How can I keep this flying machine airworthy? I knew nothing, and really still know very little, about aviation mechanics. I knew that, besides a limited amount of allowable things approved by the FAA, I can not attempt to do anything mechanically to it. Only an A&P mechanic can do that, and sometimes it feels like they have me by my purse strings. What Mike Busch’s books do, well preach is the better verb here, is inspire confidence in the airplane owner to become owner-in-charge. No, maybe I cannot “swing wrenches” on my airplane, but I can take a proactive approach to its maintenance. I can be knowledgeable about how my plane works and what needs to done to the plane to keep it in airworthy condition. I can be the boss of the maintenance organization that keeps my airplane flying. Mike Busch provides the tools for empowering airplane owners to make smart decisions about the maintenance and upkeep of their airplanes. I no longer need to feel terrified of airplane maintenance. Because of Mike Busch’s teachings, I took a major role in my first owner-assisted annual this year, and I now plan to do every annual inspection I can as an owner assisted annual. Overall, it is not about saving airplane owners some money, although that is a byproduct of his teachings. It is about making airplane owners more knowledgeable, responsible, and active in maintaining their own airplanes. For that reason, I highly recommend his entire book series to all aircraft owners!

[Gary Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book, it gave me so much advice on what to do in so many areas of owning and airplane. Every pilot should read this book

[James · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love Mike Busch’s philosophy on maintenance and how an owner should have more responsibility than just merely being an “appliance operator”. I had just finished “Manifesto” from him and felt this was the right next step in relation to detail. Every owner should do themselves the favor of reading Mike Busch or listening to his YouTube channel.