I'd quit my day job and start a kit plane company and build whatever airplanes I want.

TBM-850

T-38, baby.

A ticket for myself and friends on the first available ride to space.

Buy land and build my fantasy airport in the American west somewhere for cement, grass and water landings for everyone to fish, hike, camp and enjoy with plate warmers for pancake breakfasts, hands on activities for the kids, and free PPL's offered for Vets. Aviation scholarships are a great idea, too. I'd live in a loft in a hangar where I could toss a cot in a corner and a protective glance down at...well, I don't know what airplanes I would have in the hangar. Maybe a motorglider, I'd like to learn to soar. Maybe if that farmer digs up those Spitfires (in Burma, was it?), he would sell me one and I could spend many satisfying years putting it together. Oh, and the airport would be entirely energy independent. ;-)

Twin Otter on amphibious floats.

Oh boy, oh boy... I'll probably win the 'that guy is NUTS' competition here! :) I don't like turbines. You gotta go too high. I remember flying a Grumman Cougar some 3 years ago from Lancaster PA to Worcester MA at the height of the fall colors. Never got higher than 50 feet over the tallest peak. I could see NY skyline at the distance. MAGICAL!!! So I'd get me an Aerocommander 500, a Hughes 500 (helicopters are different animals) and a Bellanca Turbo Viking. But that's not what I'd use the money for. I'd contact the Bellanca factory and build a bolt-on replacement glass-wing for the Super Viking. Then I'd design a bolt-on glass-enclosure for the fuselage and begin buying Vikings back to refurbish them. I'd also give scholarships to people willing to learn how to build the wings out of wood and would offer a menu to buy your (TURBO DIESEL!) 'NG Viking' with your choice of rag/glass fuselage or wood/glass wing, and you would be able to mix and match all the pieces at will. Keep the steel tubing roll-cage for safety, make it a 2-doors cabin and install a parachute! Then I'd revive The Super Viking in nose-wheel and tail dragger versions (like the 14-19) and the Bellanca 14-13 (ULTIMATE FUN bush plane, 180 MPH on 180 HP, 1500 empty weight and 45 MPH DOCILE stall). Why? Because NOTHING! flies like a low wood wing Bellanca! Wake up, wake up, wake up!!! Wake up before you decide to certify it for aerobatics too...

Finally a question I can fantasize about. I figure I'll need a cross country turboprop (Kestrel), an amphibian (Dornier Seastar), a powered sailplane, an aerobatic platform (Extra 300L) and a Hummingbird helicopter. Then I'd need a hanger big enough to house it all at a Florida airpark.

How'bout a C-130 too so you can carry along all the toys? Ultimate RV... :) powered sailplane? CHEATING!!! ;-)

An S76 to keep at home, and get Piper to build me a new Cheyenne 400 to keep at the airport, (and maybe a Caravan on Amphibs). For longer trips it would be best to charter whatever the best machine for the mission would be.

I'd buy a new iPad, because I still wouldn't be able to afford Garmin panel stuff

At first thought: A Cessna 182 retrofitted with gas turbine power. Or, a turbo Diesel with adequate power and power-to-weight ratio. Most of all if I had enough money, enough flight instruction to go places in not-necessarily CAVU weather without killing myself.

A Pilatus PC12 and a Husky with floats

WOW...what a blog. OK...here goes...

1.) A 1957-1959 Beech Twin Bonanza (with the bench seating and the over-the-wing entry). Fun Flying but not too far...

2.) A Super Cub (180hp please) on Amphibs

3.) A Citation TEN...I'm a go fast kind of guy

...and hopefully have enough money left over to buy a couple of fuel farms :-)

I would use the money to help EPS develop their 350 hp diesel. (www.eps.aero) the only aircraft diesel engine that will be size, shape, weight and vibration interchangeable with today's 100 LL 350 Hp engines.

and then put two of them in a Piaggo Gull

First of all, I find it amusing that an editor for an aviation publication is fantasizing over what plane to own. I mean, a few phone calls could have you flying/borrowing any airplane you want under the guise of a review. j/k

I guess I'd go with Phil R above. A Pilatus PC-12.

As we've come to expect--ANOTHER thought-provoking column! I've been flying for 50 years, and running an FBO for 44 of them. It makes me realize that I (almost) live the dream of most pilot's fantasy. My stable of airplanes--updated:

Keep my Cessna 206--hard to beat for flying into back-country airstrips here in MN. and Canada.

Trade my Enstrom helicopter for a Jet Ranger.

Keep the toys--a Raven balloon, A Grob 103 Acro glider, a Kolb LSA. Upgrade the engine on the Kitfox on wheel-penetration skis from a 582 to a 912.

Keep the Lake Buccaneer.

Keep my Cessna 120. I bought it before I owned a car, and bought it back and restored it 13 years ago. Some things are not for sale.

I fly a Cessna 414 and a King Air 200 for others--as long as I have access to them, why buy my own?

I have an old Jet Commander. I'd use a few of those big-winning dollars to put fuel in it--just to be able to continue fly a jet.

I'm close to living the dream--with only a few upgrades. I ALREADY get to spend all my time at the airport, and fly whenever I want! Only Paul has a better deal than that! (laugh)

Waco HRE, DeHavilland Mosquito, Curtis Model 75E, Pilatus PC-12, Grumman Gulfhawk, C-119, PBY, and a field full of radial engines.

John Wilson had the right idea: TBM 850.

It's a turbo-prop, so it sounds awesome and you get the performance to fly in the flight levels and cruise at respectable speeds. But it's also single engine, so fuel burn is relatively reasonable. And it's also small enough that I can get in to most of the airfields I fly to, but roomy enough to carry family, friends, and baggage in comfort and style.

For the shorter flights, I'd keep flying my Archer II (but upgrade the more outdated avionics - no need for full glass, though).

"a few phone calls could have you flying/borrowing any airplane you want under the guise of a review"

Do you normally have such a rich fantasy life or are you making a special exception for me? :)

"a few phone calls could have you flying/borrowing any airplane you want under the guise of a review"

Do you normally have such a rich fantasy life or are you making a special exception for me? :)

Phil has a great start on my fantasy hangar. A PC-12,Husky on floats, New Diamond TwinStar with fly by wire controls (when available), L-39 and Extra 300.

A few months ago I penned a whole column on picking the perfect airplane(s) for another electronic aviation publication. If interested you can read it here; http://www.pageturnpro.com/AircraftOwner/35861-83-AircraftOwner-February-2012/index.html#4

A Husky for flying the back country, an MX2 Aerobatic airplane for upside-down fun and of course a Phenom 300 for family travel.

I already have the plane of my dreams. It's use the money to either: 1) top off the tanks or 2) but 2 brand new mags or 3) Fix #2 Nav radio

Mark, That must be some expensive #2 nav ;-)

What kind of plane?

I'd just keep my 76 Cardinal RG, dress it up a bit, and then augment it with a P51 painted to commerate my Dad's from WWII. Can't think of a better way to recognize the greatest generation than to "Keep em flying."

My Dad told me years ago, "If you have to feed it, fix it or **** it, RENT don't buy". I would only own what I could carry on the jet my wife and I are traveling on, and Renting whatever fantasy plane intrigues me this week. I have owned a Pitts S1S for 15 years, so I'm past that thrill. I owned a hot air balloon years ago, and have friends with things like an IFR C-182, T-6, Cessna 150 Aerobatic, so I really don't want to spend money on things, but on experiences. Where do we want to go this month where people don't constantly ask us for money?

B-747-SP with the tailwheel conversion and tundra tires!

Oh I would probably trade my 66 182 for a new diesel 182 and an Executive interior Caravan. Build a hangar at my airport community.

Jets take too much care and feeding. The above will serve well enough my airplane traveling needs.

"The unfortunate side effect of having owned airplanes is that you never think what it costs to buy them, you always think what it costs to operate them." So true!!

I have spent so much time and money upgrading my P172D that I'd probably continue to do that, but I'd like to own a large heated hangar nearer where I live, like one I saw at Front Range a few years ago, euphemistically named the Taj Ma Hangar. I'd also like an electric tug to make moving the airplane in and out of the hangar easier. I really don't need or want a faster, fancier airplane, as I've been able to live those fantasies in the past.

First, get as many type ratings as I can. Second, scratch my itch of working on aircraft when I want to by volunteering at the nearest warbird restoration project. Third, find somebody else's airplane to fly, so I don't have the headaches of owning one. Fourth, goto item 1 above.) This way I get to fly LOTS of airplanes, and have no ownership headaches!

All

All

Grumman Super Widgeon G-44A (270hp engines)At 145K you can spot all those great bodies of water, good for fishing, standing up in the bow compartment.

Super cub, P-51, and a Pilatus PC-12 for me and my family. I'd also put aside enough money to get my kids each a plane of their own for when they turn 17.

Stampe SV4C (with the Gypsy engine) for fun Marchetti SF-260 for personal transport and either an Eclipse or TBM for longer trips.

Stearman, new ACA Scout, TBM 850, and a P-40.

That's easy. I'd buy a Bonanza. That's it. I'd pay off my family's houses, send all the relatives' kids to college, and put the other $180M to work in a philanthropy helping homeless kids and single moms. It's too much money to waste.

I reckon that if you buy a ticket, you're entitled to at least 15 minutes of "what if" daydreaming. I've therefore had several hours to work out my scheme :-)

The Eclipse or TBM are spot on but since we're talking pie in the sky ...

1. The indulgence: Buy and rejuvenate one of those old English WW2 airfields and get something powered by a merlin engine. 2. More indulgence: buy and fix the BD-10 design, including a new generation engine then get people to form an orderly queue. 3. The responsible yet even more awesome option... Buy a pensioned off aircraft carrier, convert it to a mobile hospital and disaster relief vessel and commission a fleet of super STOL Zeniths. Wanna get your carrier endorsement? Form an orderly queue Ladies and Gentlemen! 4. A PBY. In grey, with a speed stripe and semi automatic potato guns in the blisters.

I would buy a small local airport. Lease space out to other pilots. Try and organize aviation events. For myself, a Husky with some performance mods. For speed and economy a new Kestrel. A low and slow high-wing, and a high and fast low-wing.

Spitfire MK26 Kit

John Hogan, count me in for #3! The first thing I did with every carrier-capable flight sim I've ever owed was to land a 172 on the flight-deck. I think there's a myth-busters episode in there: a Z-701 home made barge landing and take-off.

Hey, just do the math... spend a mil on the a/c and upgrades, and you have enough left in the bank to fuel, maintain and overhaul it for a thousand years if you fly a couple hundred hours a year. I'm with Paul but I'd go for the 40 or 50, just because I'd be able to afford to not worry about seating for a change.

Presuming that Cirrus ever finished the damned thing (I'm not holding my breath), I'll take a Vision SF-50. It's comfortable for my 6'-3" linebacker-size frame. It offers good visibility (although I'd lose the windscreen center post along with the still-a-wet-dream parachute). It has the range and speed that I need, and it will fit in my hangar. Still waiting.......

After a lot of philanthropy, I would spend about $5M on a Beech 18 (for traveling in style), a Grumman Widgeon with round engines (lake toy), a Bearcat (what would be cooler?), a Cub (for fun), and a two hole Pitts (for maximum fun).

BD5J!!!

I go for John Hogan's #3. An aircraft carrier, and a STOL airplane. I'd also like a Rans S-18 Stinger 2.

Paul, Brilliant blog for a bunch of pilots to light up their Christmas creativity! If anyone's paying attention, apply said creativity to one's gift giving to their significant others........ Time to play.....I'd want a PC-12 as the ultimate multipurpose friends and family wagon to go just about anywhere at near jet speeds, at a fraction of the cost, and all the room and payload you'd need. Next, a back country workhorse - probably a 206 all tricked out. Have to have a Extra 300 two seater, and i really want to get into soaring and would need someone to help pick out the right plane. And on days when you just can't go fast enough, I'd get checked out in a Citation X and go rent it whenever need be. No way the stable could be complete without slow and low, but instead of a Stearman or similar, I'd go with the AirCam - totally unobstructed view, power redundancy, eco-friendly (at least compared to a Stearman), and very simple to fly. And a couple of hangers to store it all. I'm guessing the initial check is about $6-$7M. Probably spend $1M - $2M operating and maintaining annually. With a little luck, 25 good years to play, so i'm all in for $50m. Use the rest to create value in other people's lives. Thanks Paul - that was fun! time to get back to work......maybe i can still earn it....

Turbo Commander with -10 engines (fast, carries a load, gets in and out of short strips) and an MD-530F helicopter (the high / hot machine)

To buy; a modern engined Wilga so my wife could give me a tow in our glider or of course vice versa. Not asking too much if I bought a factory re- furbished Foka 4! Sign me AIRNUT

I'd entertain the thought of pretty much anything WWII warbird. And look for a long-lost aircraft somewhere and fund getting it out and restoring (think Kee Bird B-29, the Greenland P-38, or the Spits crated and buried in Burma) to fund and participate in. And a tail dragger like an Aeronca Champ just for the pure fun of it.

Going completely nuts---first pick-deHavilland Mosquito, bomber version. Originals are too rare, so what the hey..hire someone to design/build a fullscale out of carbon fiber, with rebuilt RR engines. For going really fast..a two seat F-106, so the wife can come along. For slow fun, Pipistrel makes a nice line of LSA's, powered & glider. Anything else, join Avantair & Netjets so all the maint. issues aren't mine. Fund a veterinary specialty hospital here in central FL. Oh yeah, the giving to charity thing, too. HAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!!! Merry Christmas to all.

my powerball winnings would purchase the following AC, 1) Quest Kodiak=fully loaded and fly all my friends and buddies around to remote airstrips for some well deserved r&r! 2) P-51D w/a sweet sounding Merlin. of coarse build a decked out hanger for my girls. so I'll keep dreaming(and)buying those PB Tickets! Jim/777

Put me down for a PC-12, MiG-15 and the B.E.2f down in New Zealand.

How about a Piagio Avanti 11, or if a turbine single, a TBM 850

I'd buy and restore every model of the Luscombe 8 series ever built plus maybe a custom or two and build a Luscombe flying museum on a nice turf strip in the midwest somewhere. Any and all other tail draggers would be welcome too.

One thing you can say for sure: GA pilots don't come out of no cookie cutter! I've enjoyed reading these comments.

Paul !!!! Did you really pick the numbers???? If you did I would be looking for a shiny Smith and Wesson to shot myself with :-). Interesting comments. Ain't aviation a wonderful thing to fantasize about.

Yer dern tootin' I picked the numbers. Now, would you be at all interested in this bridge I have for sale up in New York?

I'd get a Piaggio Avanti (It's just a beautiful airplane!) and a Cub.

I'd start by writing a check for about $2.5 to Intercontinental Jet Service Corp., so they could build me the ultimate short-body Mu-2 -- with with a proper digital autopilot. My low and slow airplane would be a Wilga, equipped of course with a big noisy radial engine. I figure that between the Mu-2 and the taildragger I'd need the rest of the money for insurance.

Epic LT, or maybe enough to get me a Shearwater 201. King Air C90 wouldn't be terrible either ;-) Hmm, maybe a Shearwater 201 done as a turboprop?

Pointless though, as I don't play the lottery.

A Lockheed F-104. Zoom and boom. Kick in the burner, accelerate to Mach .9 on the deck, pull her up to 30,000', zoom out to Mach 2, then pull back on the stick and shoot for the stars.

I started reading the comments then I got to Phil Ryder's (#12) and stopped because he wrote "PC-12 and a Husky with floats" ditto for me. Only I might opt for the traditional gear on the Husky and find a Cessna 185 or 180 for the floats.

Buy a ranch out west, or find a rancher who'd be willing to go along with this idea of mine, and then buy a DC-3 (I'll have to get my type rating and find another pilot to fly with me) to ferry inner-city kids (boy scouts, girl scouts, YMCA, whatever) out to the ranch for camping weekends. The ranch wouldn't have to be that remote, but the idea is to make the kids think that they're really leaving civilization, so a dirt strip on the ranch is a must. Example of a trip: Leave Dallas or Fort Worth at dawn on Saturday. Fly for a couple of hours, take a potty break and CAF museum tour in Midland, fly for a couple more hours and land at a ranch near El Paso. Feed everybody, then put the kids on horses and have them ride a few miles to the camp ground. Spend the night under the stars with the coyotes. Reverse the process on Sunday and have everybody home by supper time.

I figure I'd have enough money to cover the liability insurance for one, maybe two trips.

I'd go for a Lancair Evolution. Figure if I'd won Powerball, I'm going to have some time on my hands and might as well build exactly what I want. The carrier idea is one heck of a thought though; perhaps the Navy could offer cat shots & landings in exchange for a sizable donation to pay down the national debt? I'll take mine from an EA-6B please. Really don't want to be tandem for such an event.

For sure, I'd fly a lot more than at present. I like the "own and operate my own airport somewhere in the West" idea, but it's not practical for my family no matter what our wealth, so I'll restrict the fantasy to what I'd put in my hangar (if I had a hangar): CTLSi or Grumman Tiger for local fun flights; keep my Peterson C182 Katmai for most flying, and a TBM850 or Eclipse--probably in a shared ownership arrangement--for serious traveling. As my father said, "So long as you can't afford something, you might as well figure out exactly what it is that you can't afford."

My only ground rule is no more planes than I could stay current in. An AirCam for sightseeing; Skybolt for aerobatics; SeaRey for water flying; F-1 Rocket for a sport plane; Sparrowhawk sailplane; a Bearcat or an FW-190; and some turbine thing for IFR X-C, maybe a Piaggio Avanti. And lotsa ridiculous projects such as a scaled down Republic Rainbow.