Club Homepage Forums Classified Ads Buy & Sell - Everything But Airplanes Yeah or Nay?

Well the owner of the 150 I was looking at has come back with a counter. Before I get to the $$ here's a brief snap shot of the airplane:

1972
3200TT 1500 SMOH
a Northeast airplane ACF 50 for the last 10 years but there is some corrosion popping up.


no tag on seatbelts (illigal)

desperatly needs paint and the last paint job was not signed off correctly (no control balancing)

3 factory cyl's one Millennium all compressions in the 70's

VFR MX300 and txp

prop time/condition is suspect (original w/no o'haul)

Interior plastics are all shot

Glass is ok front windshield MIGHT polish out

Engine was replaced, BS log entry says 'replaced engine' new engine has logs since new but there was no reason given for the replacement. very little done to the engine since 1994 when some bottom end work was done

Brake disc's are badly corroded

and other nit nacky things....

ok so the seller is at $11,500 as is.

I am inclined to decline and insist on an annual inspection and prop o'haul (at my expense IF it is overhaul-able) but even though there are a zillion airplanes on the market, 150 prices (at least the asking prices) are insane.

What say you all? Any and all thoughts are very welcome! Sheesh my plan to escape from Florida to Alaska and join the circus are in the balance....

... Thanks.....

Run...do not walk...RUN from this airplane.

Tim,

I would pass on this one...sounds like a real money pit to me.

Only way I would touch it was if I was a good A&P and actually enjoyed the work and time this airplane will need.

This is the type of plane where something will go wrong month after month and bleed you white by a thousand little cuts...sorry to be so pessimistic, but this "good deal" will take $15-20K to make "right."

Your instincts are correct on this one...if you have to think hard about it, think about another!

Others will differ on opinions and that's OK, but I like FLYING my plane rather than restoring it. Just another owner's opinion....MM

Come on Sandy, we're both from Florida, tell me how you really feel? :-)

My vote is thumb-down. It's a fixer-upper. If you have the time, money, and are not in a hurry to fly it, then it could be a nice one after all the repairs are done. If you want a plane to use right now, you're better off looking for another candidate.

I'm not a fan of corrosion, soooo, It kinda stopped my interest at that point.

When I bought mine a year and a half ago. I was told don't go too far away to buy one ( like within 3-500 miles) If it's really that good a deal someone local would have taken it. It also costs extra to buy one farther away.

hey my kinda plane too bad i cant get it that my friends is a 7k plane

Can you give us a little more detail? Speaking from experience, I'm guessing this is why Sandra sugar coated it when she told you to run.

Even if this corrosion is treatable, I'd agree with Mike M. - sounds like a money pit.....engine, prop and paint can put you easily over 30,000.00 and there are far to many good airplanes out there for less than that.


Jim

Tim,

G'day

Its the old story....you get what you pay for, if you are serious about finding a plane and in fairly decent condition, you going have to stick you hand a little deeper into your pocket

Buying cheap to "get a deal" is totally false economy in most situations when it comes to Aviation

Good luck with your search though....

Cheers

Even if you're an A&P, IA, Cosmonaut wannabe, the "good deals" turn out to be false economy, indeed. However...if you enjoy the process of retrieving one from the brink of the salvage yard...I'll not be the one to cast stones. Although, the corrosion issue does have me concerned. But...a little here and there, while certainly cause for concern and further inspection, can be successfully dealt with. If it's a lot, everywhere...well...do as Sandy says. She has a unique perspective on the corrosion issue.

Got any pics, Sandy?