Catherine, this plane is like that 1000 dollar pizza that's been on the news. Is it worth it? To the right person it is.
I would love to have an aerobat. If I had an aerobat, I'd love to have the taildragger version. If I had an aerobat taildragger, I'd want to do the sparrow hawk conversion so I could have better climb performance and still keep the aerobatic certification. If I had a 152 Aerobat with the sparrow hawk engine STC and taildragger conversion, I'd want long range tanks.
This airplane is poised to make someone a VERY nice machine. To overhaul the engine and make give it 125 horses, you're looking at at least another 17000 dollars. But, with 46,000 invested, you're looking at a low time 152 Aerobat, Taildragger, 0 SMOH, Sparrow Hawk Conversion, and Long range tanks. What a machine that would be. A high dollar machine, for sure, but hole cow...what a machine. You'd add all the personality it needed, no doubt.
The price of admission is, indeed, high. But dang, look at the possibilities.
This is what happens when I sleep on something.
