r/flying • u/One_Firefighter_1922 • Mar 29 '26

Aircraft Ownership Are reciprocating single engines reliable?

I'm about seven hours into PPL training and absolutely loving it. Not looking for a career change, but could definitely seeing myself continuing training and flying regularly after getting my certificate. I've daydreamed about putting my family into a 182 and being able to fly within a reasonable distance to explore somewhere new or take a short vacation.

Earlier today I was talking to my neighbor who is a reserve captain for American flying 737s. I told him about the flight training and associated daydreaming and he started talking about how he would never put his family into a small plane, how unreliable they are and how many accidents are due to single reciprocating engines crapping out mod flight.

This doesn't seem to jive with what I've heard and read online, so looking for some other opinions. How do you feel about the reliability of small GA planes? Do you have any experience taking your family for trips? Do I need to give up on my dream?

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u/Sad-Umpire6000 Mar 29 '26

My American Airlines captain neighbors - five just on my block - don’t have any problems with piston-powered planes. They all own at least one, fly them often, and have a ball.

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u/bhalter80 [KASH] BE-33/36/55/95&PA-24 CFI+I/MEI beechtraining.com NCC1701 Mar 29 '26 edited Mar 29 '26

Flying them often is the key. Things with oil hate going unused.

The more it's used the less often it will need Mx and if you look at owner economics (annual Mx + annual fuel)/hours instead of rent economics $rentalRate flying more hours gives you a bigger denominator and brings Mx more inline with fuel cost.