Phoebus C - why so cheap?

On Jul 21, 12:00*pm, jim wynhoff wrote:
A year or two ago, there was a Phoebus *that sold for under $7k on
Wings and Wheels. *Now there's another (without a trailer) for $7k.
How does the value of a 17 meter, 42:1 glider NOT exceed that of a
1-26? *I already have a glider I love, but I still like to look at
OTHER gliders (don't tell UF).

Jim

The Phoebus probably has a poor finish and combined with no trailer it
is probably a fair deal if you do not mind doing some work.

The Phoebus C is a very nice 39:1 sailplane with good glide up to
around 80 knots.

I owned one and found it to be very docile and fun to fly, even with
the dreaded full flying stab and off center cg towhook. I ended up
spending more time fixing up the trailer than flying it though.

Mike

[quote=mike;735376]On Jul 21, 12:00*pm, jim wynhoff


Also, there seems to be a life cycle to any generation of machinery, whether it is a glider, automobile, or even household appliance. In the phoebus's pinnacle of popularity, they seem to have commanded prices on a scale of five to six thousand dollars, when an average home ran about twice that, at least here in oklahoma. today half a house money will buy a nice $60,000 to $80,000 glider! In 2006 I bought a 1967 SHK-1 needing paint for $5000.
In 1967 this glider traded hands for about $7500. In the obove "house" ratio My $5000 was about $500 in comparable 1967 buying power!
The 24 months I spent removing three previous paint jobs and refinishing my SHK were a labor of love, however dusty and tedious. For my effort I have a pretty, clean, and 40 pound lighter classic 39/1 glider barely worth $5000. Of course that is "market" value.
I guess in short, If someone isn't flying competition where a classic would be outclassed, we are living in a time of unprecedented GOOD DEALS!
Time to join the vintage sailplane association!

Scott W.