Warren I totally agree with you that the conversion to 30-gallon tanks is expensive. Each person out there has different levels of dollars that they can justify puting into their airplane and that bears upon their final decision. Our AP/IA rate here in Dover, Delaware is $45.00 per hour. As you know, AP/IA rates vary considerably all over the country, so the 50-hour installatin cost will will vary. I would like to play with the numbers once again. Let us assume that the cost of removing the original tanks, having them professionally overhauled and returned to service costs $2500. Now lets take the 30-gallon conversion kit and say that it can be purchased and installed for $5,000. In reality, you are faced with an additional $2,500 expendature and this could be recaptured if/when you sell the airplane. David did elect to repair his three tanks. He would be an authority on the comparison. I would like to bring this question up to the chat-line group. "If you were on a hunt to buy an Alon and you had two identical Alons to chose from; [a] had the tank conversion and [b] did not, would you pay the extra $2500 for the one that had the STC'd 30-gal tanks?" George Frebert N6549Q
On Mon, 17 Apr 2000 05:50:44 -0700, [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: > George, getting mail returned on Aircoupes. How are you posting? warren > From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > Message-ID: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > Date: Mon, 17 Apr 2000 08:36:24 EDT > Subject: Re: Gas tanks > To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > George, I am not sure of your math. But think it is $3,100 - $300. = > $2,800.. At $55. x 50 hrs or so = $2,700. Plus $3100. comes out at $5,800.oo > Yes to me that is pretty much a factor in not installing the 30 gallon tanks. > Having wrecked an Ercoupe 415 I also know that you exit out of the airplane > over one of the wing tanks. The tail being high after the nose wheel gives > out. > I guess that I am a bit feebleminded, because the header tank is not a big > fire concern to myself. Other than with an electrical fire under the panel. > I am put in mind of two Ercoupe fires. One here in California and one in > Mich. > Here the airplane was a time bomb waiting to go off. And in Mich. the pilot > was flying in weather that he should not have been. Oh, yes, there was the > one that a fellow and his friend stalled. One got before the fire. > I would like to read a report on the Ercoupe family airplanes and fires. > Other newer aircraft burn. The ones with wing tanks only. > Now lets go to room under the panel. Here again money talks and I am not in > need of a lot of more inst. or radios I fly in class B airspace and have not > been ask not to return. > I fly 450 mile trips up to San Jose and not been totally lost yet. just what > am I missing that is so important. Well, a GPS would be nice. > An about age 33/35 here we are in total agreement. If I had all three tanks > start to leak at one time I guess that I would have to look at putting out so > big $$$$. And then things would be different. > For you with the time and/or money Can I buy your old tanks? I may need > them someday. > Thanks you all for being here. This will be good for us all. Yours, Warren > H. _______________________________________________________ Get 100% FREE Internet Access powered by Excite Visit http://freelane.excite.com/freeisp __________________________________________________________________________ ______ To unsubscribe from this list please send mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] _________________________________________________________ Enlighten your in-box. http://www.topica.com/t/15
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