The short answer to the question is NO. I would not pay a great deal more
for the 30 gallon tanks on any variant of a Coupe.

It is much like houses and improvements to them. You do not get back from
an improvement what you put into it. It is sad but true in most cases.
What
you may get is an aircraft that will sell faster because it is more
desirable at a similar price. This may not be fair but it is the way I
have
found the world. I, like most people look for good quality and value. If I
found two similar aircraft and one had the larger tanks that might sway me
to it.

On the more limited issue of the 30 gallon tanks modification. There are
several things that I do not care for IMHO. I do not like fiberglass fuel
tanks as I have found that they do not last particularly with auto gas
(keep in mind the new 82 octane that we are being switched to is just auto
gas). I do not like to have to modify the wings to have the extra room for
the tanks. I like the engine driven fuel pump and do not like to have to
use electric pumps. I would not refuse to own a Coupe with these tanks but
I would not go out of my way to get one. I like good metal tanks and if
properly maintained the Coupe fuel systems are all OK. They are not new
and
they may need the tanks rebuilt at some point, so we can do that it is
hard
work but it can be done. What will you do if the current manufacture of
the
fiberglass tanks stops making them and one is damaged or goes bad? Hard to
go back to original tanks!!!

This is just MY opinion and I respect other who will have a different
view.
I do agree that we need to put real money into old aircraft to keep them
in
good safe condition. We must still do our maintenance right and not use
the
excuse that parts are hard to get or expensive.

I do think that the Luscombe people have the right idea and they are doing
the right thing for their breed. They have just recently done a proper
shoulder harness with either a factory approval or STC (they are the
factory) so that all of their breed can have a simple and legal way to go
with proper shoulder harness. They have done many other interesting
modification projects and they either find acceptable parts or get a new
unit approved. Take our fuel valve that is not available. They just pick
another good quality fuel valve and get it qualified as manufacture
approved. Then any Luscombe owner can use one when his goes bad.

We need to do something to get support for our type. Univar is not doing
all that they could to do what we need. They are doing OK but not going
forward. There are important parts that are not available. Wings are
becoming a problem which will get much worse fast. We should have their
help on this and it is not coming forward from what I have seen.

We need to find a way to purchase the Type Certificate and set up an
organization much like the Luscombe group so that we can work on the
problems as a group dedicated to keeping Coupes flying and not just as a
business that will help when they can make some money on it and who will
let the problem get very bad before they can see that they will make a lot
of money by solving it. I am afraid we saw Univars true colors during the
Alon baggage compartment go around.

Have a good day and go flying your Coupe will love you for it.

Best regards,

Vern
N94892 1949 415-G


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