This is possible -- I too sold my plane for more than I paid for it, but I'm sure that's just down to luck. I had one annual inspection that cost ~$3K -- it cou

This is possible -- I too sold my plane for more than I paid for it, but I'm sure that's just down to luck. I had one annual inspection that cost ~$3K -- it could have cost $750 or $8K -- you just never know what's going to break next, and in most cases, you cannot just decide to fix the problem later. An airplane is very different from a car. If the plane has a problem, it must be fixed, within a certain time frame, by an FAA licensed mechanic. Maps and charts are updated frequently, and you are required to have current versions on hand. If the aircraft panel GPS is approach certified, you are required to have updated data if you want to use it for IFR approaches, and on and on. I spent about $10K getting my license, and another $10K getting my instrument rating. Yes, you can skimp here and there, but there's just no way around it -- flying is not cheap, even if you sell your plane for what you paid for it. All that said, it's worth every penny. A few years ago, I flew by myself, just for fun, on a clear autumn day from Palo Alto, CA to Little River, in Mendocino County in the northern part of the state. Flying at 7500 feet, I watched the sun set over the Pacific and light up the peaks and western slopes of Sierra. I told the controller I was going off-frequency for a moment and turned down the radio. I could see a ship or two on the water, the Russian River valley below me, and what seemed like the entire width of Northern California spread out across a 270 degree view. Worth every penny.