Host: Jason Zilberbrand, President of VREF, ASA appraiser, expert witness, 30+ years in aviation.Episode OverviewIn this episode, Jason pulls back the curtain on one of the most common (and expensive) patterns in aviation: the first airplane someone wants to buy is almost always more airplane tha...
Host: Jason Zilberbrand, President of VREF, ASA appraiser, expert witness, 30+ years in aviation.
Episode Overview
In this episode, Jason pulls back the curtain on one of the most common (and expensive) patterns in aviation: the first airplane someone wants to buy is almost always more airplane than they actually need.
From turbocharged SR22s to pressurized pistons with FIKI, Jason unpacks how identity, ego, and fantasy missions push first-time buyers into aircraft that outpace their experience, budget, and real-world flying habits.
Instead of shaming the mistake, he explains why it happens, how the “honeymoon period” with a new airplane can wreck a budget, and what you can do to avoid becoming the person who buys their first airplane and sells it six months later in a panic.
What You’ll Discover in This Episode
- Why first-time buyers almost always fall in love with the wrong airplane—and the psychological bias behind it that no one thinks applies to them.
- The hidden reason the airplane you want at midnight on Controller.com is rarely the airplane you can actually live with.
- The “honeymoon trap” that quietly turns brand-new owners into desperate sellers within 6 months.
- Why many “must-have” capabilities—FIKI, turbos, pressurization—become the most dangerous liabilities when you’re new to ownership.
- The surprising truth about what capability actually costs… and why manufacturers market it as safety.
- The real reason pressurized piston aircraft vanished from modern production—and why most owners never get told the truth.
- How to know whether an airplane supports your flying life… or silently owns you.
- The SR22 Turbo dilemma—and why so many first-time buyers unknowingly set themselves up to fly less, not more.
- The one question that instantly reveals the aircraft you should buy (and the one you should run from).
- ...more
The full Podocast with complete show notes can be seen here https://vref.com/news/episode-12-why-your-first-airplane-is-probably-the-wrong-airplane-11-20-25/
Jason’s Truth
“Your first airplane should be built for the life you’re actually living now—not the one you’re auditioning for. The airplane that fits your mission will support you. The airplane that outpaces your mission will own you.”
Mentioned in This Episode
- Cessna 182
- Beech Debonair / early Bonanza
- Piper Arrow
- Mooney M20J
- Grumman Tiger
- Cirrus SR22 / SR22 Turbo
- FIKI, turbocharging, pressurization systems
- Warren Buffett & “No Plane No Gain” campaign
Brought to You By
VREF — The Trusted Name in Aircraft Valuations and Appraisals. Whether you’re a first-time buyer looking at a 182 or a seasoned operator trading into a turbine, VREF keeps you grounded in data that matters.
Know what your aircraft is really worth—before you buy, sell, or finance—at vref.com.