Buying an older airplane

Kai Glaesner wrote:

imagine you consider byuing an older airplane, e.g. a Piper from the Pa-28
Arrow series: is there an age (or a year of birth ;-) you would not exceed?

I wouldn't go much further back than 1917.

George Patterson
Treason is ne'er successful, Sir; what then be the reason? Why, if treason
be successful, Sir, then none dare call it treason.

"G.R. Patterson III" wrote in message
...


Kai Glaesner wrote:

imagine you consider byuing an older airplane, e.g. a Piper from the
Pa-28
Arrow series: is there an age (or a year of birth ;-) you would not
exceed?

I wouldn't go much further back than 1917.

Meaning you wouldn't fly an aircraft that's older than you are? Me, neither.

Tom Sixkiller wrote:

Meaning you wouldn't fly an aircraft that's older than you are? Me, neither.

I've owned three planes. Only one of them was younger than I am and it
was made while I was in gradeschool. And I'm going to be looking at 50
sooner than I want to think about.



--
Frank Stutzman
Bonanza N494B "Hula Girl"
Hood River, OR

On 1-Apr-2004, "Kai Glaesner" wrote:

imagine you consider byuing an older airplane, e.g. a Piper from the Pa-28
Arrow series: is there an age (or a year of birth ;-) you would not
exceed? If yes, for what reason (e.g. may be that corrosion-protection was
not
usual before that year, or that copper was so expensive, they used
something
less conductive as a replacement)?


There are a number of factors at work here. Fist of all, purchase price:
All else being equal, most people would prefer a newer airplane but budget
dictates how much they can spend. Barring collectible/antique factors,
purchase price generally goes down with age. So do annual hull insurance
costs. But it is crucial to remember that maintenance and other costs
(direct operating, hangar/tiedown, liability insurance) do not. Other than
depreciation, it will cost about as much to own and fly a 30 year old
airplane as it will a 5 year old version of the same model. Maybe even
more, since the older plane is likely to require more maintenance.

Corrosion is certainly more likely to be a problem with an older airframe,
but that's not a hard and fast rule. I've seen 40 year old airplanes that
have been well maintained and are totally free of corrosion. I've also seen
10 year old airplanes that look like they might dissolve any minute.

One major reason a buyer might choose to limit the age range he/she would
consider is that most models undergo refinements/improvements over the
years. For example, Piper Arrows got a much-needed cabin stretch in the
early '70s. Then, with the Arrow III version in '77 they got much greater
fuel capacity (which increased range from adequate to awesome).


-Elliott Drucker

Kai,

Age need not be a limiting factor if you do your homework and get a good
pre-purchase. The cherokee and descendents (including the arrow) are
essentially unchanged from the original models which appeared in the 60's.
For aircraft like the cherokee, the danger that comes with age is wear/tear,
corrosion, and damage history, hence the need for a good pre-purchase.

Here's a random selection of other intangibles: before the mid to late 60's,
most light aircraft had random panel/flap/engine control arrangements (if
this is important to you); quaint items like "toe brakes" may not appear on
older aircraft; you may find it difficult to find parts for certain older
aircraft.

mark

"Kai Glaesner" wrote in message
...
Hello community,

imagine you consider byuing an older airplane, e.g. a Piper from the Pa-28
Arrow series: is there an age (or a year of birth ;-) you would not
exceed?
If yes, for what reason (e.g. may be that corrosion-protection was not
usual
before that year, or that copper was so expensive, they used something
less
conductive as a replacement)?

Thanks in advance for any help.

Regards

Kai Glaesner

Thanks for all the answers.

No it seems to me, that age is not necessarily a factor, however propper
prebuy is mandatory. But selling the plane years from now has to be
considered (especially if it's not a classic).

Best Regards

Kai Glaesner

Kai - Selling - After four years of ownig a 56 172 - I sold it in three days of
putting it on on www.barnstormers.com

Dude - If your not an owner - you are on the outside looking in. I had some of
your same thoughts before I bought my first plane. Once in ownership, and
seeing some of the ins and outs - good and bad - getting more versed in the
aircraft and maintenance issues - my thougths changed on some issues.

It's like the old saying - "If we have to explain it, you wouldn't underst

Larryskydives wrote:
Kai - Selling - After four years of ownig a 56 172 - I sold it in three days of
putting it on on www.barnstormers.com

Dude - If your not an owner - you are on the outside looking in. I had some of
your same thoughts before I bought my first plane. Once in ownership, and
seeing some of the ins and outs - good and bad - getting more versed in the
aircraft and maintenance issues - my thougths changed on some issues.

It's like the old saying - "If we have to explain it, you wouldn't underst

Hi Larry...

And my dad and I flew across state lines to see it... g

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We ended up with the C152 that we saw on the way back. Did you get your
new plane yet? I'm still shopping for something with 4 to 6 seats...

Larry,

gratz on selling your older plane. why did you sell it?

Yes, I own a plane, and ownership has changed some of my thoughts as well.
Getting maintenance paid for under warranty made me think that an extended
waranty would be a good idea. I never buy extended warranties on anything,
but a plane purchase changed my outlook.

"Larryskydives" wrote in message
...
Kai - Selling - After four years of ownig a 56 172 - I sold it in three
days of
putting it on on www.barnstormers.com

Dude - If your not an owner - you are on the outside looking in. I had
some of
your same thoughts before I bought my first plane. Once in ownership, and
seeing some of the ins and outs - good and bad - getting more versed in
the
aircraft and maintenance issues - my thougths changed on some issues.

It's like the old saying - "If we have to explain it, you wouldn't underst

Dude wrote:

Larry,

gratz on selling your older plane. why did you sell it?

Yes, I own a plane, and ownership has changed some of my thoughts as well.
Getting maintenance paid for under warranty made me think that an extended
waranty would be a good idea. I never buy extended warranties on anything,
but a plane purchase changed my outlook.

That's ridiculous and shows how little you have learned to date. A
warranty on a new plane won't save you any money as nothing breaks in
the first few years and the warranty cost is figured into the cost of
the plane. I have a 67 182 and would consider selling it for an older
182 or a 206. Older 182's have more performance than newer ones and of
course a 206 can't be beat.