If you had +/-30k to spend on a plane
- Thread starter 38bat
- Start date
38bat
New Member
Didn't find those in the range, do they go that cheap?
jrh
Well-Known Member
Honestly, I think you've got too many criteria to fit your budget. You can either have all your criteria met and spend more than $30k, or you can drop some of your criteria in order fit your budget. Just can't have your cake and eat it, too.
So...what are you willing to give up? Can you live with fewer seats? Or a high time engine?
Or, how much more above $30k can you spend?
Then we can start offering more useful suggestions.
esa17
Well-Known Member
You're not going to find a reliable 4 seater for $30k, honestly you'll need to spend around $45k for what you want. Anyone that buys and sells aircraft will tell you everyone wants the same thing:
A plane that goes 200kias, burns 6GPH, and costs $20k. Sadly, they don't exist.
A plane that goes 200kias, burns 6GPH, and costs $20k. Sadly, they don't exist.
Chewie von Nubbins
New Member
Well, for just 5k more than what you are asking about, you can have this bargain. 
Seriously, what's the rush to buy an airplane before even learning how to fly and getting your licenses?
REDUCED! 1979 CESSNA Skyhawk for $35,000. 11,000 TT, 1750 SFREM, 6-year old white, red, blue paint, new leather interior, wheel fairings, Cessna IFR avionics. Sacrifice! $35,000. TN/(423) 432-8747.
AIRCRAFT SUMMARY
Year:1979 Type:CESSNA SKYHAWK Registration:N6405D Airframe Total Time:11000 Hours Engine/HP:160HP Engine Times:1750 SFREM
AVIONICS
CESSNA DIGITAL NAV COMM WITH GLIDESLOPE
CESSNA DIGITAL NAV COMM WITH VOR/LOC
CESSNA 300 ADF
CESSNA 300 TRANSPONDER
SPERRY DME
LORAN 612C
OTHER EQUIPMENT
WING TIP STROBES
DUAL HINGED WINDOWS
REFUELING STEPS
SHOULDER HARNESS
CONTACT
Aircraft Sales & Leasing
423-432-8747
(phone)
http://tappix.com/727581
Seriously, what's the rush to buy an airplane before even learning how to fly and getting your licenses?REDUCED! 1979 CESSNA Skyhawk for $35,000. 11,000 TT, 1750 SFREM, 6-year old white, red, blue paint, new leather interior, wheel fairings, Cessna IFR avionics. Sacrifice! $35,000. TN/(423) 432-8747.
AIRCRAFT SUMMARY
Year:1979 Type:CESSNA SKYHAWK Registration:N6405D Airframe Total Time:11000 Hours Engine/HP:160HP Engine Times:1750 SFREM
AVIONICS
CESSNA DIGITAL NAV COMM WITH GLIDESLOPE
CESSNA DIGITAL NAV COMM WITH VOR/LOC
CESSNA 300 ADF
CESSNA 300 TRANSPONDER
SPERRY DME
LORAN 612C
OTHER EQUIPMENT
WING TIP STROBES
DUAL HINGED WINDOWS
REFUELING STEPS
SHOULDER HARNESS
CONTACT
Aircraft Sales & Leasing
http://tappix.com/727581
Amen to that. $30k will get you a nice airworthy bird, but it's going to be old (like pre-1970), or have Cessna boat anchor radios (IMO) or both. $30K canget you a pimped-out IFR 150 or 152 (2 seats). $45K will get you in the "tradeoff" area where you get decent radios or paint/interior but not not both; $50k-$60k will get you both. It's easy to find great paint & interior, good engine and crappy radios; harder to find good engine/radios but crappy paint/interior (which is really what you want).
If you're going IFR try not to go pre-1969 (Piper) or pre-196? (Cessna) or you'll get the horrible scattershot non-six-pack instrument panels.
DE727UPS
Well-Known Member
"Shouldn't be hard to find a late 1960s Warrior"
The Warrior came on the scene in 1974. I believe the Cherokee 140 was discontinued in 1977.
To the OP. Like I said before. I still think you'll get the closest thing to what you seek with a Cherokee 140. If you could live with a "pimped out 152", you could do better but you give up a couple of seats. That would be the way I'd go, but I easily fit into one. If you need 4 seats, I think you could find a B model Cherokee 140 with basic IFR and a low time engine for 30K.
The Warrior came on the scene in 1974. I believe the Cherokee 140 was discontinued in 1977.
To the OP. Like I said before. I still think you'll get the closest thing to what you seek with a Cherokee 140. If you could live with a "pimped out 152", you could do better but you give up a couple of seats. That would be the way I'd go, but I easily fit into one. If you need 4 seats, I think you could find a B model Cherokee 140 with basic IFR and a low time engine for 30K.
BenWlson
Well-Known Member
These are usually a little more than $30k. Good ones are a little closer to $50k. I've been debating for a long time whether or not to spend my money on my own airplane or on professional training. If I bought the airplane, I would be broke trying to insure, store, maintain, and feed it. If I bought the training, I would be broke with FO income... I start my advanced training next month. This beauty of an antique will have to wait.
Cessna 170
Enough seats to carry the family, and I can build that tail-wheel time so the insurance company will even let me polish Dad's Swift.
tprops4me
Well-Known Member
Not going to happen. If it is around 30k, and has all the wants you listed, it will not be airworthy. If I were you I would find a Cherokee 140 that fits your mission or an old Piper tri-Pacer. It may be an ugly plane, but at least it is slow.
If you are looking to haul 4 butts at once, you will need to add at least another 30k to your budget.
If you are looking to haul 4 butts at once, you will need to add at least another 30k to your budget.
tprops4me
Well-Known Member
Here ya go:
http://www.controller.com/listings/...917.htm?guid=EE17A16ACEA04216917105FAC1863AFB
I know the engine is high time, but the compressions are still good. You don't have to change out the enginge just because TBO has passed. It's so cheap you will even have money left over for the pre-buy inspection which usually gets turned into an annual if you decide to take it. Beware of the plane that advertises fresh annual, because they may be trying to hide something. Have your own done. If you find something wrong the seller will have to fix it or you can have the repair cost knocked off the total. Fabric airplanes are the best. At least to me. It's the easiest to repair, but you do need to hanger it. Do not let the looks of this plane fool you. It has a very rugged gear for rough or grass strips. Great short field bird. Fair useful load. Remember you always have trade-offs. Airplane buying is something that should not be done without learning what to look for. If you are interested in buying, get educated, and I don't mean on an internet forum. Go to the local airport, and talk to people.
http://www.controller.com/listings/...917.htm?guid=EE17A16ACEA04216917105FAC1863AFB
I know the engine is high time, but the compressions are still good. You don't have to change out the enginge just because TBO has passed. It's so cheap you will even have money left over for the pre-buy inspection which usually gets turned into an annual if you decide to take it. Beware of the plane that advertises fresh annual, because they may be trying to hide something. Have your own done. If you find something wrong the seller will have to fix it or you can have the repair cost knocked off the total. Fabric airplanes are the best. At least to me. It's the easiest to repair, but you do need to hanger it. Do not let the looks of this plane fool you. It has a very rugged gear for rough or grass strips. Great short field bird. Fair useful load. Remember you always have trade-offs. Airplane buying is something that should not be done without learning what to look for. If you are interested in buying, get educated, and I don't mean on an internet forum. Go to the local airport, and talk to people.
BenWlson
Well-Known Member
The Tri-Pacer in my signature here was purchased about 4 years ago for $20k. You can't find an easier airplane to fly, and it's performance numbers are better than a comparable model 172.
We've put at least $6k worth of radio upgrades in it to make it an IFR trainer and installed all new interior, so it would probably sell for more now.
We've put at least $6k worth of radio upgrades in it to make it an IFR trainer and installed all new interior, so it would probably sell for more now.
38bat
New Member
To those of you who posted constructive replies I really appreciate it. DE I think you have me on the right track with the 140, it seems like I can definately get one with low hours for around 30k. A super nice one for mid 30's with some shopping. Thanks and I look forward to any help you all have to offer and I will take the jabs/criticism the from the rest of you to get the good stuff!