First off, thanx for the comments. I'd also, like to thank everyone who has provided me with
pre-look inspections (and opinions) on other aircraft which haven't been, how should I say, [color:"red"]
up to par. [/color] You all know who you are and I'm forever indebted to y'all. (Well, maybe not
forever!!) But, I may have to buy y'all several
cool drinks in a red cup! I contacted Bart Deal a couple of weeks ago for a quick look at this thing, just to see if it was worthy of a pre-buy inspection. Being only 40 minute flight away, he gladly accepted. To my total amazement, sent about 40 something
detailed pictures of it that evening. Then, he insisted I call him on the phone to discuss each picture as we scrolled thru each individual frame on our respective computer screens. I highly recommend any other potential buyer to do the same, as I feel the club members would be more than happy to help someone out on their first purchase.
I contacted the seller and Bart's mechanic for a rendevous at the Enid, OK airport for the notorious "pre-buy inspection." (I think I've paid for 2 of them prior to this one.
) The next day the mechanic told me of his findings, the drawbacks to a 1690 hr. engine, throw-away Slick mags, and a few minor issues.
Overall, there were no
major issues found. (so far...but let's keep those fingers crossed) Hopefully, if luck and proper maintenance allows, I can coax another 200-300 hours out of the engine before I'm ready to do anything major to it, even though I'm fully expecting the mags to give up in the meantime.
Y'all have to keep in mind, I haven't seen the actual plane yet, just in pictures. Paint & interior seemed original and it appeared to have lived indoors most of it's life. But, I know it'll need paint and interior soon, as my posterior wants to plop down on some (p)leather!
Ah, and that brand new 25k Garmin avionics stack, imron 4-color paint, carpet, metal panel...
[color:"red"] ********** S L A P ********** [/color]
snap out of it Bengie! Deep breath now. Ok, ok, I'll confess, I already have the wingtips with the landing lights in them, so maybe I can get mine installed before Ed Pataky gets his shipped to him!
Seems I came across a nice, never been installed, used pair a few weeks back and just
couldn't pass them up. Still in the original box with unused STC! Sorry you had to pay
RETAIL Ed!!
As for the trip home, I'll probably head out to Oklahoma around the 20th of this month and follow the interstate system home, as I feel it'll be safer with a highway below me the whole time. There's just something about flying an unfamiliar aircraft I not comfortable with, so this way I've got options between emergency landing on a highway or the nearest airport. As a plus, I've got a friend whose loaning me his Garmin 396 for the trip home.
That'll spoil ya!!!
Yeah, I can see the headlines in the local paper now,"
Pilot Emergency Lands On Highway, Unscathed..... Pulpwood Truck Takes Out Plane and Pilot!" 
It oughta be a fun trip if the weather holds out, 'bout 600 nm, more or less. For now, I'll be keeping it in Eufaula, AL, as there are no available hangers in Columbus and my stuff just isn't quite ready at home for the new baby.
Thanks for all the encouragement and obvious peer pressure. Let's just hope this is the one. (for a little while, at least)
Bengie Phillips
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