Oh, I gave up trying to get my money back on airplanes years ago!
It's impossible unless you have a C185 or a Cub!
$70K is not normally a problem, but this year it is. I've had to put $150K into new business venture in the last year and that's eaten all my savings/earnings etc. And its not over yet. It will start to generate money next year, but it still means I need to get through this year on two fronts - startup
and plane. That's why I need to be really smart with the expenses this year and can't afford to do gold plated stuff. It's gonna be to the bones. If I can save on stuff, that's how it's going to have to be this year. The good thing is that as far as regulations and airworthiness go, the 680V is as cheap a turbine as you can own, pretty much! No calendar items.
PS. During entire escrow I was looking at planes for sale, knowing I'd need something to fly if it got sold. It was a thoroughly depressing exercise. I looked at C152's, C175's, Stinson's, even Commander Lark's etc. Fine, but not really traveling planes (which is what I will really need with new business). Looked at some beat up old Skymaster push-pulls, etc. Things are expensive now and there's a lot of overpriced junk out there. C175's you couldn't give away 5 years ago, now they're in the $50K region. Beat up old C152's with 10000hrs TT? $25K etc. I'm glad I didn't have to go there as it is.
The saga continues!