Jim, you are a risk taker and this is one of those exciting prospects that doesn't pop up in our area very often so I say get a bidding # and GO FOR IT!!
I had a very similar deal with 02F in that she hadn't been flown in 12 years, but was hangared, had no airframe corrosion and no evidence of mice nesting. I bought it with the idea in mind that I would need to stick at least $10K in it. As you know, I've put new cyls, prop, wheels and radios in Foxie so that ate up my budget and now I have a great plane....but not a 150/150.
An update, I ran up there quickly today to take a peek.
It sat for 23 years!!!! last flew in 1988
Bird nests were mostly removed from under the cowl, but remnants remain. All over the place.
Inside the wings looks clean, very clean, but I only checked part of the right wing
not much in the panel, 1 navcom no trnsp
paint looks grungy but should clean up, always hangared.
exterior plastic looks good, very good
same owner since 1969, nice enough guy, tried to be helpful, didn't know a lot. Life changes were the reason he quit.
The 150 hp engine went in in 69 as part of the purchase deal as 0 time engine It now has about 750 hrs. An STC number was noted in the airframe log for the switch, but I don't know who's and now gross weight increase was noted in the W&B
All those issues are "bargaining chips" in your favor... However if it is an auction it can be bid up to a ridiculous amount by the dreamers, flakes and tire kickers that show up at these things.
I'm back, yep I do know the risks and accept that. Quite honestly, taking risks, albeit calculated ones is how I got where I am. It's also fun if the risk isn't too big or keep's you up at night.
Back to the plane
The skis are nice looking and are a set of three. A pair of 2000's which surprised me and they are plenty big. Of course the third is the NA800 for the nose which started this whole circus of events. He was adamant they would all sell with the plane as a package, now after our talk he will probably sell them separate. We'll see.
I've been thinking about the goals here. Truthfully I don't need or even want a second 150. The extra hp is cool but at what cost in this case. My AOA if you will is that of bargain hunter. I've also wondered if I want to be the guy that pours all the extra time and money into this thing, probably not, and that will be reflected in my bid value. So quite possibly someone else will want it more than me.
I hereby retract my bid price and wish to encourage you to buy the skis, then let him keep the rest. That engine probably wouldn't even be a good core. 4 grand, tops. Now....if the seller would pay to get it through an annual...the price could easily quadruple...
Ray at Beegles told me to bid on aircraft salvage what you could get for the engine and radios. The rest moves so slowly that you can't ever count on that money. So.....honestly, without being able to peer into the innards of the engine, I'd say pass. But get that ski. Not that I'd have a clue as to what to do with a ski...
Gary Shreve When writing the story of your life, never, ever let someone else hold the pen. [Linked Image]
