Yea shocked pretty much sums it up. Several of us pilots knew each other and were sitting near each other. When the bidding STARTED at 10 thousand we all looked at each other as if to say REALLY? There were at least 5 or 6 potential bidders and only two that I know of that actually bid. The buyer is a pilot from the Wausau Wisconsin area. He already owns an Aztec and a 185 so money doesn't seem to be one of his limitations. In my way of thinking, aircraft appraisal isn't a strength of his either.
Many of us openly debated what we might be willing to pay, and as Kevin said, we all topped out at around 5 grand, and all of us were within a thousand or so of each other. I had worked out a side deal on the nose ski with a friend Lowell who brokers / fixes and sells airplanes in case he got it. The actual buyer must not have seen this airplane ahead of time, or he has more money than sense.
I did go introduce myself to the buyer and asked if he had any interest in the ski's. He said "What ski's?" Well the airplane came with ski's, they wouldn't sell them separately, and I'd be interested in the ski's if you don't want them. Oh he says, well in that case I want them. Ahhh... Well if you change your mind I left my card with the ski's, just give me a call. He won't call.
It was a nice trip up and back with Kevin, another 150/152 member I have now gotten to meet in person. That and the collective disbelief made it an adventure to remember.
Last edited by Jim_Curns; 12/11/11 02:11 AM. Reason: knew not new
