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Speaking of diminishing airplanes

Do you all remember the "Darter" that was out some years ago? Have not seen one in many years now....

MM

I remember it as an Aero Commander 100, but it was originally built by Volaire. When I first saw the swept forward tail I thought it was a new Mooney design. Someone in the club was thinking of buying one not long ago.

I know where there is a low hour one (1100 hrs i think) if you want it Mike I am sure he would take under 15K for it. he paid 22,000 two years ago and put over 10K into it.
John

John, I know a new PPL who is looking for something like that - if you have contact info and a photo, I will gladly provide it to someone in the market and who is a motivated buyer.

I'd like to put him in a 150/152, but he is a "big fella" and I know he'd be cramped with his wife and baggage...

Anyway, thanks John. You just don't see them around anymore and I wonder how maintainable they are anymore? I will ask him. MM

Mike, you might not be doing the new PPL any favors! Finding parts for a Darter can be an expensive nightmare. That might be why after a $32K investment (and possibly still having problems) the owner is willing to accept less than half price!

Finding parts (or fabricating them) for a one-off like the 160 can be just as bad or worse!

Carl
I don't think there are any problems except maybe one. Did you ever wonder why all Darters that are for sale have one thing in common? Low Time.
I think the owner was scared to fly the dam thing, he did fly it once and a while but never ever solo. he purchased a Tampico and fly's it a bit more.
If you would like I will get you a picture and contact info.

John

This "project" happens to be located about 40 miles from my home here in central Kansas. I've known about it for some time, particularly from my career in Marketing at Cessna.

The airframe has quite an interesting history. Yep, Cessna was supposed to have destroyed it, then this guy discovered it some 20 years later in a Wichita salvage yard.

The Model 160, if Cessna had decided to certify and manufacture, would have been quite an airplane. The four-place Model 160 was to be priced at $8,450, between the 150 and 172. The prototype was powered by a 125-hp Franklin engine, providing a reported cruise speed of 134 mph. The 145-hp O-300 Continental engine was specified for the production Model 160, for a cruise speed of 143 mph. In a proposed military version, the Model 160M, a Continental IO-360 of 210 hp would have given a theoretical top cruise speed of 174 mph.

Interestingly enough, when Cessna went to designating a model number for the SkyCatcher, there were enough folks left to remember the airframe still setting out there at Lost Springs. So, now we have the "162" model designation.

For $10k, I doubt that Mr. Novak, the last reported owner, will get any bids. The buyer would be getting about $9,900 worth of aviation history, and probably 10 bucks worth of usable parts. But then, I suppose the price of scrap aluminum would be worth a bit more ...

While it would be cool to see this restored and flying, me thinks it's just a pipe dream, as in sewer, where you'll just end up flushing large amounts of cash down the toilet with no positive result. At best, you might get a mock-up rendition of what once was, given the condition of the remains as shown in the photo. You would have to bet that many of the components and interior furnishings were common to the early 172, or else you're at a dead end trying to source them to complete the plane.
I don't see any glass in the picture, and the airframe shape doesn't "look" 150 or 172, so having new front & back windshields custom blown would be very expensive. Still, last night Jay Leno had a "What we Found on Ebay" segment, and people will buy almost anything.....
-Brian