Calling all pilots....
- Thread starter irvingj
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KYDan
Platinum Member
There have been spar issues with the plane. Has the required retrofit been done? There are ADs about this. How many hours, and what engine?
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irvingj
Elite Member
I missed it, it's been sold.
Yes, it had had the spar/aileron balance retrofit done. It had 12 out of the 40 required initial hours completed, and had the Jabiru 3300 engine (!), with a fair number of bells & whistles.
Last asking price was 34,900, "or best reasonable offer." I just got word today that it was sold.
Seemed like a good deal; unfortunately, the builder/pilot (apparently an airframe & power plant certified mechanic) had developed a terminal illness and had died after completing the aircraft, the -B retrofit, and only the initial 12 hrs of flight time. The estate was selling it.
I've never had a ticket, but have flown a lot, and was thinking.....:drool:
One of these days, I'll make it. Been dreaming (literally!) of having my own plane for oh, about 45 years.....
Oh, well... cruising on the motorcycle is close.....
Yes, it had had the spar/aileron balance retrofit done. It had 12 out of the 40 required initial hours completed, and had the Jabiru 3300 engine (!), with a fair number of bells & whistles.
Last asking price was 34,900, "or best reasonable offer." I just got word today that it was sold.
Seemed like a good deal; unfortunately, the builder/pilot (apparently an airframe & power plant certified mechanic) had developed a terminal illness and had died after completing the aircraft, the -B retrofit, and only the initial 12 hrs of flight time. The estate was selling it.
I've never had a ticket, but have flown a lot, and was thinking.....:drool:
One of these days, I'll make it. Been dreaming (literally!) of having my own plane for oh, about 45 years.....
Oh, well... cruising on the motorcycle is close.....
KYDan
Platinum Member
I am not a fan of the Jabiru engine, yet. It still needs to prove itself over time. The Rotax is my preferred powerplant for light aircraft at present, but competition is a good thing. Keep looking the 601 is a good design if built, maintained and flown within its design envelope.
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irvingj
Elite Member
Thanks, Ray & KYDan.
Ray, somehow I figured you'd be into aviation....:laughing:
My former student (who's now an aeronautical engineer) is also a bit skeptical about the CH designs. He maintains there are some cherry --or at least excellent-- 172 types out there in the same price range or a bit higher. His suggestion was to stick with a proven airframe. (His present aircraft is a 1958 "vertical fin" 172 with a new engine.)
Ray, somehow I figured you'd be into aviation....:laughing:
My former student (who's now an aeronautical engineer) is also a bit skeptical about the CH designs. He maintains there are some cherry --or at least excellent-- 172 types out there in the same price range or a bit higher. His suggestion was to stick with a proven airframe. (His present aircraft is a 1958 "vertical fin" 172 with a new engine.)
I can't see buying a straight tail, Continental underpowered 172. For a few bucks more, you can buy the "modern" version with the more powerful, less expensive to repair, and more powerful Lycoming engine, and the superior cuffed wing design.
I would also strongly recommend you avoid anything that is not entirely painted. Polishing one gets old really fast.
Over the years, I have seen lots of guys try this both ways, (buy a fixer upper vs. one that has been all fixed up). Since there are costs in aviation that cannot be avoided. You will end up spending a certain amount of money no matter what, if you fly it. Especially in this market, you will come out ahead in the end, if you find an aircraft that has good or new paint, a good or new interior, upgraded or new avionics, an engine that has been rebuilt by a reputable company, and has reasonably low time, rather than buying one that needs some or all of this done.
Shop around, lots of real bargains out there right now!
I would also strongly recommend you avoid anything that is not entirely painted. Polishing one gets old really fast.
Over the years, I have seen lots of guys try this both ways, (buy a fixer upper vs. one that has been all fixed up). Since there are costs in aviation that cannot be avoided. You will end up spending a certain amount of money no matter what, if you fly it. Especially in this market, you will come out ahead in the end, if you find an aircraft that has good or new paint, a good or new interior, upgraded or new avionics, an engine that has been rebuilt by a reputable company, and has reasonably low time, rather than buying one that needs some or all of this done.
Shop around, lots of real bargains out there right now!
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irvingj
Elite Member
Thanks, Ray. I'm not sure if Kyle's 172 still has the original engine, it may have been "upgraded" (?). It was, however, restored and put together by an employee of an engine overhaul place, if I remember correctly. Kyle had a lot of faith in this guy's work.
Here's a pic of one of his latest projects; he was called to Switzerland to check up on or oversee (?) float installation on a Porter.
I'll see if I can find a pic of his 172. It's funny- he calls it an "old lady's plane," but he likes it, says it's very dependable. I think this is his third plane.
He flew it out here from Minneapolis last year, and we took it up the Connecticut River valley and then circled Mt. Washington one afternoon. Took about 2 hrs.
I just did the same today --with my car-- to show my wife's brother & SIL (from MO) our mountains. Covered over 200 miles, with HEAVY traffic. We were out pretty much all day. Man, am I beat!
Oh- guess you could say I'm proud of this "kid"- here's another shot of one of his projects, a conversion for the Cessna Caravan to a Garrett 850shp turbine, while he was in Alaska. The new engine apparently cut fully-loaded takeoff distance off water by 2/3.
Oops- guess the file was too big. Anyway, he was the man on that project.:thumbsup:
Here's a pic of one of his latest projects; he was called to Switzerland to check up on or oversee (?) float installation on a Porter.
I'll see if I can find a pic of his 172. It's funny- he calls it an "old lady's plane," but he likes it, says it's very dependable. I think this is his third plane.
He flew it out here from Minneapolis last year, and we took it up the Connecticut River valley and then circled Mt. Washington one afternoon. Took about 2 hrs.
I just did the same today --with my car-- to show my wife's brother & SIL (from MO) our mountains. Covered over 200 miles, with HEAVY traffic. We were out pretty much all day. Man, am I beat!
Oh- guess you could say I'm proud of this "kid"- here's another shot of one of his projects, a conversion for the Cessna Caravan to a Garrett 850shp turbine, while he was in Alaska. The new engine apparently cut fully-loaded takeoff distance off water by 2/3.
Oops- guess the file was too big. Anyway, he was the man on that project.:thumbsup:
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Irving
You say you do not have a pilot's license so I assume if you buy a plane you will be using it to take flight lessons. It may be difficult to find an instructor who will teach in an experimental airplane. As the others have said, it's hard to beat an older 172 thats in good condition.
You say you do not have a pilot's license so I assume if you buy a plane you will be using it to take flight lessons. It may be difficult to find an instructor who will teach in an experimental airplane. As the others have said, it's hard to beat an older 172 thats in good condition.
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irvingj
Elite Member
Excellent point, V1. I was thinking I could get an LSA ticket at a nearby grass strip where there are a number of ultralights and instructors. Guess I'm going to drop back & regroup....
Ray, Kyle just likes floats, I guess. Here's a shot he sent me while on vacation in the Maldives; guess he just couldn't leave those floatplanes alone! (He really knows how to make me drool....:laughing
Ray, Kyle just likes floats, I guess. Here's a shot he sent me while on vacation in the Maldives; guess he just couldn't leave those floatplanes alone! (He really knows how to make me drool....:laughing
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KYDan
Platinum Member
Excellent point, V1. I was thinking I could get an LSA ticket at a nearby grass strip where there are a number of ultralights and instructors. Guess I'm going to drop back & regroup....
Ray, Kyle just likes floats, I guess. Here's a shot he sent me while on vacation in the Maldives; guess he just couldn't leave those floatplanes alone! (He really knows how to make me drool....:laughing
There is nothing like landing on the water! Until the economy tanked I was planning on building a Sea Rey, but that's life. I could put my little Zenith 701 on floats, but then I would not be able to use it on my short strip effectively. There are a lot of great LSA planes available at very reasonable prices. I am a light plane aficianado, but I will never turn down the opportunity to fly some heavy iron if it is offered. Like many pilots I cut my aviation teeth flying in a 172F many years ago and it was great and may be the best general aviation plane ever built. That said, I was thrilled when I soloed and got my ticket, but the first time a sexy little Swift showed up my love affair with the Cessna departed as quickly as the Swift! Reminded me of driving the family wagon when I was 16, it was great until one of my buddies showed up in a 'vette! Flying is all about whatever yanks your chain. If you cruise once and awhile a 172 is OK, and it is a good solid airplane. But, at my age I enjoy the journey a whole lot more than most of my destinations. And, flying with the Rotax 912S powerplant I burn less than 5 GPH and cruise about 90 this time of year and can get into and out of a 300' strip or patch of ground. Lot's of fun, I also like to fly flexwings, and just about anything else. Check out the Aerotrek if you want a nifty little cruiser. My father-in-law and I delivered one to a customer in Kingman, Arizona from Bloomfield, Indiana. Great little airplane based on the Avid flyer. We averaged 100 nmph cruise and burned about 4.2 gph. Fun to fly and it has quick fold wings. New ones go for about 75 to 80K ready to fly with a LSA ticket. I have flown a lot of planes over the years and have never found one that I did not like something about it. Some are much harder to fly than others, but they are all fun. I like UL's as well. Life is an adventure. I do not enjoy the build process as for me it is too long and tedious, but it is a great way to really know about aircraft and the least expensive way to get a new plane! Plus you get to say, I built it!"
tungularafishcamp
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Any of you fly boys have any experience with gyrocopters?? Was thinking that might be better than a ultralight for our conditions here in Kodiak.
KYDan
Platinum Member
No, one of my buddies built one and I never got to fly in it with him. He lost the engine (Subaru) and was auto-rotating to land and didn't see some power lines until it was too late. My first ride in a helicopter was on the end of a rope beneath a Cobra in 1971. Sort of soured me on whirlybirds.
scoutcub
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Yea, I would say that's a good reason not to like em.
I flew Cobra's for 4 years (in the 80's) and it's still my favorite machine to fly. Been flying helo's since 85.....and unfortunately will never be able to afford my own chopper. Don't even have 1 hour of starch wing time.....
:laughing:beppington
Elite Member
I would love to do it all over again, and fly heli's on the government payroll.
Would not even mind the being shot at part, ..maybe.
That's probably easier to say while you're not being shot at :shocked:
:laughing:
tungularafishcamp
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gyrocopters arent helicopters, they cant hover or vertical take off n land they have to have forward air speed. Some of the better units have a powered main rotor for shorter take offs then it is your airspeed through the rotor that keeps you aloft. More like an ultra light except they can supposedly take more wind.
KYDan
Platinum Member
Some of the newer and more refined gyros can sort of do a bouncing takeoff that is just short of vertical. The Rotax 914 is a great engine for them. I don't have anything against anything that flies and have taken many heli rides since the service. We are planning on a cruise vacation to Alaska next summer and I hope to get some right seat time on a Beaver with floats. Also plan the heli ride to a glacier. We are then heading up via the RR to Denali then on to Fairbanks. I am anxious to see what has changed at Eilson since 1973, the last time I was there.
