Club Homepage Forums Classified Ads Buy & Sell - Everything But Airplanes Possible purchase: top overhaul vs. major?

I hadn't really planned on getting my own 150 until next year some time, but I saw this ad in Trade-a-Plane that caught my eye. It's located only a half-hour drive from me, and he's asking under $17,000:


I just called the guy and found out that it's about 2500 SMOH.

So what do you guys think? Worth a look? Or am I just asking for heartache?

Thanks,

- Jeff

I'd check it out, but don't get your hopes up.

I personally wouldn't go for it, for that price. Esp when annual is coming up.

I bought 40J for $19k 5300 tt, 287 SMOH... beautiful paint, beautiful interior.

Now a nice avionics stack... yes, I am commited to this airplane! Annual is coming up though, ouch. Next annual I plan on putting on VGs and the tip tanks (I'm liking the idea of going to Clinton with one stop!)

Just keep your eyes peeled!

Would the airplane be worth $25,000 with a fresh overhaul, and could you afford it? That's probably at least what you'll have in it if the engine shows signs of failing after you've bought it. On the other hand, you may get several more years out of it, depending on the shape it's in now, and how often you fly! I wouldn't automatically walk away because of the engine time, but it certainly deserves a lot of close scrutiny before (and after) buying it! Has it been on a regular and up to date oil analysis program? If so, any abnormal trends developing? Are the logs complete and show a history of regular and up to date preventative maintenance? (Oil & filter changed regularly, plugs cleaned, gaped, or replaced, etc.) It does have an oil filter, doesn't it? It is probably true that the longer you go between overhauls, the more expensive the overhaul will become. If the paperwork impresses you, you might be on to something. Otherwise, there are a lot of airplanes for sale!

Lot's of birds "needing paint and interior" but with a fresher motor that would be the better buy. Not sure I would be hot to trot to buy a bird with a 2500 hour O-200 in it.

There is a gorgeous L model in Barnstormer up here with new paint and interior, fresh engine and he has had it for sale for months at $23,000, so you might get it for $20K. Only $3K more and the expensive stuff is already done. Haven't seen it, and only using as an example.

Plus I liked buying my plane far from home... the flight home was certainly a cool experience.

Thanks for the dose of sense, guys. It Vrefs at 14K and change, even if I knock a few hundred hours off to make up for the TOH. Probably best to pass. *sigh*

(By the way, here needs to be a term for that state of mind you get in when a plane starts to look good to you, even when it's a bad idea. Kind of like "beer goggles", but with planes. Maybe "air goggles"? )

- Jeff

Yeah, Stephen Mayotte's story in the XCountry section [cessna150-152.com] sure does make that sound attractive.

But that raises a few logicstics questions. In fact, I believe I'll start another thread on it...

- Jeff