SOLD Aerobat delivered I’m not sure if I want to do this. My A&P says, “Let’s find a way to keep it.” My IA says, “Why are you gonna sell it?” I’ve been putting this off. Scheming a way to keep two airplanes. But no solution satisfies my family’s interests.
I bough the airplane to teach my girls to fly and as the “the final lifetime project to keep me outta trouble.” Planned on working on it the rest of my life. But 1) the girls lost interest in flying. 2) my IA’s father made me an offer on an RV-6A I couldn’t pass up. It’s not in the family’s budget to keep two airplanes long term. So here it is...
1973 A150L N6120F s/n A1500421 Born May 31, 1973
TTSN 4434 - TSMOH engine 436 - Last compressions 79-75-72-72 - Sensenich propeller kit 23 hours since new - Magnetos 130 hours since 500 hour inspection - Alternator - new Plane Power and VR, vacuum pump 47 hours since overhaul - Two millennium cylinders 30 hours since new - Concorde battery 3/2016 - all log books since day one.
Panel: Garmin; GMA 340 Audio Panel - GNS430W (pigtail for G5, updated terrain & obstacle database) - SL40 - GTX330ES (can add Davtron Probe for OAT and Density Altitude. Ordered one but the seller stiffed me.
) GI106 CDI. Plus a nice Sigma Tek caging Attitude Indicator with inclinometer - newer altimeter - Trans Cal altitude encoder - Sigma Tek DG. Full IFR, but I let the IFR certification lapse. Can get it re-certified.
I can’t stop messing with this airplane. I just keep rebuilding it one part at a time. The paint and windows are 1973 original. They were on my 2-3 year list. Here’s what I’ve gotten to, so far...
F & M spin on oil filter - Cessna Club belly drain - Whelen LED landing light - Rebuilt shimmey dampener - rebuilt torque link with MacFarlane kit - JPI FS450 fuel flow (pig tailed to connect to GNS 430W. But not yet connected) - replaced clock and G meter with Flight Data Systems clock, timer, G meter, volt meter and OAT ( needs probe for OAT) - added 12 volt socket per AD, it had been removed - tomato can vents replaced with nice Venture vents, one with OAT gage - AFRC sunvisors - Installed new elevator bushing, bearing kit from MacFarlane - Macfarlane seat roller kit on pilot’s seat - MacFarlane inboard seat rail ( the one with holes in it) on the pilot’s side - New anti collision beacon bulb - rebuilt fuel shutoff valve ( very smooth) and two new Saf-Air drain valves for the wing tanks.
I recently finished my instrument panel refurb! Go figure!
I fabricated a new aluminum eyebrow panel. New glove box cover. DJ helped me fab a new left shock panel and new right side overlay panel. Both are powder coated. And a new lower panel. What a pain, but it’s sweet. The primer got new o-rings. New master switch, CA2 cb (what a pain!) all new rocker switches, new mixture cable, new carb heat cable (both 1973 original. Had to go), new flap switch; removed, cleaned and replaced the parking brake, cabin heat and cabin vent cables and good as new (that cabin vent is a
but now is a smooth operator).
I had wind storm damage two years ago before I had a hangar. 35+ totaled aircraft. But I had skin damage to rudder, port aileron and trim tab. I sourced a trim tab from Fieth in Sacramento. The aileron got re-skinned. And the rudder was sent to Colorado for a rebuild (basically a new rudder and cap). The tail tie down was dragged once about a time and repaired well. But dang if I can’t find it in the logbooks. Ahhh the 1970s. Everything else is straight and flies straight.
I’ve refurbished the interior. Only door jambs and painting the rudder pedals left. Leather seats in good shape. Hooker navy blue harnesses in excellent condition. Navy blue Airtex carpet in great condition. Why the @#%*¥£! am I selling this thing? Sorry. Focus. It’s late. I swaged a minor leak from the #3 cylinder exhaust pushrod tube. Brian, that ATS Tool really works! Free loan to any Club member. Since I had all of the control cables out for the lower panel swap... new gasket for oil tank (another pain in the ...) All of the parts for this and most of the labor complete before the RV-6A interjected itself. I get attached to inanimate objects. They don’t talk back but they bite. I have scares to prove it!
So, it’s not a perfect Aerobat. But I was going there. Thanks for the image Brian Anderson. I’ll not get my Money back out. That Sensenich prop was a killer! That’s cool. I didn’t buy it to flip it. But my point is, I cared well for it.
Included are some odds and ends. And the items for my “short list of improvements.” New front windshield in box. New MacFarlane Kevlar steering rod boots, tow bar, Bruce Canopy cover (could use a trip back to Bruce’s for refurb) Cessna flap buttons, cargo inspection cover buttons, tail cone cover snaps, some gaskets, cowl plugs, pitot cover, fuel tank dip stick, two owners manuals (one original and one reproduction. New co-pilot inner seat rail (the one with holes in it) pilot outer rail and nut/bolt kit. I scrounged hard to get that correct original owners manual. So it goes in a safe and only comes out for fly-ins!) yadda, yadda, yadda. You get the picture.
I’ll give it some time and if no one here wants it, I’ll move it to Barnstormers. If you think I’m off on price, please email or PM me.
I’ve a lot going on, so please be patient on my replies. I’m not going to play anyone. I’m living in my small basement with three cats due to house repair. One daughter just graduated and is moving on. My mother in law was out for two weeks. We put our dog to sleep. I’m trying to sell our Aerobat. I’ve an RV-6A to reassemble. And my in laws are coming out for a week next week. I ain’t making any of this up.
