Least Expensive Plane To Buy and Own

Michael Adams wrote:
I am looking for some input on the least expensive airplanes to own. I've
heard so many horror stories about the $5000 or even $15,000 annual, or the
seat adjuster that costs $600, that I thought I would get some input on this
before buying. So I'm looking for low purchase price (used), low repair and
parts costs, and low $ per hour to run.

Piper Cub
Aeronca Champ

On Aug 24, 6:14 am, Dave Butler wrote:
Michael Adams wrote:
I am looking for some input on the least expensive airplanes to own. I've
heard so many horror stories about the $5000 or even $15,000 annual, or the
seat adjuster that costs $600, that I thought I would get some input on this
before buying. So I'm looking for low purchase price (used), low repair and
parts costs, and low $ per hour to run.

Piper Cub
Aeronca Champ

Both those planes may find a rib rubbing and result in a $10,000
annual. I had this happen with the Aeronca Chief and my neighbor with
his Piper Cub.

-Robert

On Aug 24, 9:44 am, "Robert M. Gary" wrote:
On Aug 24, 6:14 am, Dave Butler wrote:

Michael Adams wrote:
I am looking for some input on the least expensive airplanes to own. I've
heard so many horror stories about the $5000 or even $15,000 annual, or the
seat adjuster that costs $600, that I thought I would get some input on this
before buying. So I'm looking for low purchase price (used), low repair and
parts costs, and low $ per hour to run.

Piper Cub
Aeronca Champ

Both those planes may find a rib rubbing and result in a $10,000
annual. I had this happen with the Aeronca Chief and my neighbor with
his Piper Cub.

-Robert

The Champ has an AD against the wooden spars. If the AD
is done properly, cracks are found in too many of of them. And a
cracked spar has to be replaced, not an inexpensive job, or the wings
can be replaced with brand-new aluminum-spar wings from American
Champion, another option that isn't cheap.
Those wooden spars crack in several ways: 1) At the strut
attach plywood doubler, where it creates a locally stiffened area, and
the spar tends to suffer compression cracks at the ends of the
doublers; 2) The ribs are aluminum and are fastened to the spar with
small nails through a flange on the rib, and as the spar shrinks
widthwise with age, those nails force the grain apart and cracks
appear in the spar faces; and 3) Cracks have been noted at the spar
butt connection holes.
None of this is good news. And further, the steel struts on
these older Champs are known to rust out from the inside; I flew a
number of hours on one before another mechanic stuck his awl clean
through the strut during an annual.
The small Continentals found on these airplanes sometimes
need TLC on the valves, and the crankshafts in many of them aren't
nitrided and wear rapidly (especially the front journals, farthest
from the oil pump) once the bearings wear and the oil pressure
falls.
I don't think there are any airplanes guaranteed not to
present unpleasant surprises of some sort. Been around aviation long
enough to think so. And as a mechanic, many owner wannabes come to me
and they often have some particular airplane they're looking at and
want my advice on what it might cost. Then they don't like what I tell
them, buy the airplane anyway and find out the hard way that it can
cost a lot more than they initially thought.
This isn't to discourage airplane ownership. It's just to warn
that you need to be really careful, and get a thorough, independent
inspection done before buying. Remember that the previous owner most
likely didn't want to spend any more than necessary on it.

Dan