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Gang;
Let me first apologize to Ed for posting this to
both the lists, I really beleive it's important enough to do so, and I'm not too
sure everyone is a dual member.
This was sent to me in response as I was conversing
with a gent from the east coast regarding an Ercoupe. He wanted to know if
I had a complete airplane for sale and I didn't. My usual warning about
the condition of these aircraft went to him with an emphasis on the prebuy from
a knowledgeable mechanic. If you've been reading my ramblings, it's no
secret that I think most of them have been maintained like crap and people are
getting away with selling $9000 airplanes for over $20K lately. If you're
out there trying to do due diligence prior to a purchase, you had better buy
with your head, not your heart. This guy was almost as lucky as the fellow
who bought it. Don't let this happen to you!
Al;
I hear you
about the 'get rich' guys. I looked extensively at an Ercoupe in my
area last year. I test flew it (owner went up with me, stated that he had
just overhauled the engine, and was _very_ careful about what we did), and after
thinking about it a couple days called the guy and told him that if it passed
inspection (from an A&P I chose) I would buy it. This was a basic
precaution, added to the fact that the recent overhaul he noted wasn't in the
logbooks....
He told me that someone else had just sent him a check for the full price ($24K) sight unseen. Couldn't compete with that, wished him well.
Two-three months later I saw the same plane for sale as a project for $10K (Ohio). Called the mechanic involved, who told me I was down to 5-6 lives - the plane had a cracked left spar, and the rear attachment bolt for the left wing had been _ground down_ on one side to fit through the hole in the distorted wing. Owner eventually spent another $15-25K rebuilding the plane. Mechanic was stunned that I had lived through the experience of test-flying it.
I ever see that guy again I'm going to take a 2x4 to his knees.
Still love the Ercoupe, would love to find a flyable example. Hard to locate, looks like I might be back to an experimental, if I can find a metal one that I can park outside - hangar space is really hard to find in the area.
He told me that someone else had just sent him a check for the full price ($24K) sight unseen. Couldn't compete with that, wished him well.
Two-three months later I saw the same plane for sale as a project for $10K (Ohio). Called the mechanic involved, who told me I was down to 5-6 lives - the plane had a cracked left spar, and the rear attachment bolt for the left wing had been _ground down_ on one side to fit through the hole in the distorted wing. Owner eventually spent another $15-25K rebuilding the plane. Mechanic was stunned that I had lived through the experience of test-flying it.
I ever see that guy again I'm going to take a 2x4 to his knees.
Still love the Ercoupe, would love to find a flyable example. Hard to locate, looks like I might be back to an experimental, if I can find a metal one that I can park outside - hangar space is really hard to find in the area.
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