Club Homepage Forums Classified Ads Buy & Sell - Airplanes Only Help: Buying the 152 I Trained In...

Got nostalgic a few weeks ago, and began to wonder what happened the the aircraft I learned to fly in, N67965. A 1978 Cessna 152 II. I hadn't seen it since I got my licence back in 2004. The FAA showed the registration expired 6 years ago. Knowing it wasn't flying, and fearing the worst, I decided to go out the the airport and see if I could find it. And just like that, there it was! It was tied down with the other planes from the flight school that had since closed. It's tough to see an old friend abandoned, and left to rot, but it's also comforting to know we may be able to fly together again someday...

Please see the Flickr Album:
https://flic.kr/s/aHskBBrp2f

I used to work for the owner, but also hadn't seen him since 2004. I decided to track him down and see if I could purchase N67965 and try to get it flying again. He stated he has plans to scrap all the planes from the fight school and that I can make an offer. We have since been in talks about the final purchase price, which has yet to be determined. I'm trying pay the right price that covers the "scrap value" and still considers the many unknowns, and the overhaul/annual that's going to be required.

From the Logs, I acquired the information below:
- Curent TTAF: 8085 hrs
- Last 100hr: 7/2008 @ 7980 hrs
- Engine Overhauled in 1999 @ 5500 hrs
- Engine Total Time @ Overhaul: 1900 hrs

The flight school acquired the aircraft from Cessna Finance in 2002, and the logs didn't come with the plane. But, all the AD compliance, etc. has been verified. It flew as a trainer continuously from '02 until parked some 6-8 years ago.

The aircraft also comes with the following avionics package:
- Garmin 430 WAAS NAV/COM
- Garmin 330 GTX Mode S Transponder

So...

I'm interested in everyone's thoughts.

Penn Yan Aero's Sparrowhawk Conversion is just under $21,000. I really don't want to pay for the radios right now, but de-installing them just to have them re-installed at another date is likely to cost much more in the long run...

I know it's not good to involve emotion in these type of decisions, but I'm willing to invest a little more in this bird, because, to me, it's more than just "any" other 152...

That's a sad-looking engine compartment. Looks like the exhaust pipe is missing. At least someone kept the tires inflated.

I bought the 152 that I trained in, just few months after the flight school went out of business. So it didn't sit long.

Keep the radios. Just pull them out and keep at home until you get the Sparrowhawk conversion. That is how I would do it. Airplane like that in flying condition is going to run close to $30,000.00 USD.

Good Luck!

And keep us informed.



BTW...



LOOK A NEW GUY!!!!!!!


Welcome the to greatest Club in the World!

Corrosion is the big concern for these a/ps to me. Eng are easier to replace, but a lot of corrosion would be another story.

Bruce

Welcome, Zachary!

I think buying your trainer is a good idea, especially if you can buy it for $6 or $7 thousand. I say go for it!

Hi Zachary,

Welcome to the forum. Just from looking at the pictures it looks like a good project to take on. You only live once so enjoy what you like to do.

If you do make the purchase keep us informed on the progress.

Terry

My project 152 when I bought her.

http://s152.photobucket.com/user/150150TD/slideshow/152

Hey Gary,

Do you have any after pictures?

The 150 I purchased had been sitting in "the swamp" for a couple of years before I bought it.

Knowing what I know now, I'd do it again.

In your case, I'd do a serious look for airframe corrosion. Beyond that, the pictures seem to suggest an airplane that is complete, and not beat. If you can buy it for scrap value, I think you'd do well.

Of course, that's assuming you can put a lot of labor into restoring it, and your labor is worth $0.

PS - Welcome to THE best type club on earth!

Ray Burnham, owner of Beegle's Aircraft Service in Greeley, CO, told me to only offer what you could get from the sale of the avionics and the engine. With the Garmin GPS and XPDR, that's a good start. You might get 2 grand for the firewall forward. It's nearly impossible to make any money on the deal. That said, I've often wondered where the plane I learned on is. Emotional buying gets expensive.

And I don't have any pictures of the after of my project. It is still a project.