Figured it would appeal to the tinkerers and barn bike rebuilders.
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Free airplane ....if he can get it started
- Thread starter MacDoc
- Start date
Figured it would appeal to the tinkerers and barn bike rebuilders.
I've watched it. It is a little sad watching the butchery. While he clearly has some mechanical inclination, he just as clearly knows little about planes. Even if he gets it to run, it will be six figures before it's allowed to take off.
There was a pretty interesting story I followed about a decade ago . Somebody found a B class US bomber that was crash landed in the ice on delivery to the European theatre sometime during WW2 in the arctic. Sponsors put up thousands, they dug it out, flew in 4 rebuilt engines and got it flight ready.
Some shortcut they bugee corded a can can inside to run a gen set that sat in the back of the plane, something to do with hydraulics. Anyway on the takeoff run the can vibrated loose, and the plane burnt to the wheels on the run way.
Some shortcut they bugee corded a can can inside to run a gen set that sat in the back of the plane, something to do with hydraulics. Anyway on the takeoff run the can vibrated loose, and the plane burnt to the wheels on the run way.
That is an incredibly sad video. I can't believe they did that. I watched it long ago.
I don't know... he currently has the exposure to get a little help here and there. I would say the chances of it ever flying are greater than zero lol
The cabin is so gross though
To repair it to a state where someone would want it would probably be six figure on engines (something like 50K+ per engine), six figures on the AWD that needs completed (replacement wing spar or something similar IIRC), mid to high five figures on instrumentation, five figures on interior, question mark on additional work like tires/brakes etc but probably another six figures in miscellaneous. So realistically, something like 300K+ to restore a plane you can sell for ~150K. Like every other restoration, crap return. Now some people may throw in parts/hours to help him out so that may not be cash (and if it was cash, nobody would do it).
Any thing engine or avionics has to be done by a CERTIFIED aircraft mechanic/tech, and any parts he replaced will have to be removed and certified.
So anything this guy did has to be redone by someone else... that charges LARGE.
I helped my neighbour rebuilt his 4 cylinder Lycoming
He had the plane inspected and got asked for the engine logs... only to find this out.
He paid a guy about $4,000 (this was 25-30 years ago) to take the motor apart and put it back together.
The guy kept saying "You guys do good work".
UHmmmm COULD YOU NOT say that
So anything this guy did has to be redone by someone else... that charges LARGE.
I helped my neighbour rebuilt his 4 cylinder Lycoming
He had the plane inspected and got asked for the engine logs... only to find this out.
He paid a guy about $4,000 (this was 25-30 years ago) to take the motor apart and put it back together.
The guy kept saying "You guys do good work".
UHmmmm COULD YOU NOT say that
$4,000 for the piece of paper (and associated labour) is really cheap. You can easily pay more than that for an STC that includes no parts or labour just authorization (for instance to run automotive fuel instead of being stuck with 100LL).
Not sure how reputable this site is but the prices are in line with what I expect ~50K to overhaul each engine. Don't remember which ones are in the subject plane but price should be similar. Twin props cost a hell of a lot per hour as your maintenance and certification costs double from a single engine. There is a reason singles now often sell for more than the twins that were far more expensive to start with.
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My ex partner had the engine overhauled for certification , it was a lycoming I believe in a Lake amphibious plane , I think it was $24,000 in 1986ish.
There is a reason you hear about small planes that end up in the far north and out west on ranches where they never visit an actual airport again. In terms of crazy pricing, its crazy .
There is a reason you hear about small planes that end up in the far north and out west on ranches where they never visit an actual airport again. In terms of crazy pricing, its crazy .
I dont know how that works now with insurance. I guess you just fly uninsured? When my buddy puts floats on, it costs about $1000 to put them on, insurance goes up about $2000 for the summer and then another $1000 to put wheels back on. There is a reason so many people fly experimental instead of certified. On the flipside, if you buy a certified plane with good logs and a thorough inspection you shouldn't have major ugly surprises.
I've enjoyed some of the restorations of the classic WWII fighters even to the point of getting Rolls Royce help with the Merlin engine rebuilds.
I was surprised the engine in the twin above fired and ran....long way from flight worthy let alone certified.
I was surprised the engine in the twin above fired and ran....long way from flight worthy let alone certified.
The Lancaster flying out of Hamilton ( where else its the only one in north america) sends 1 engine a year to California to the last shop that does giant merlin engines, last I spoke to the pilots there ( almost all retired air canada guys) it was 120k US , so 1 per yr , 4 engines with a spare on rotation.
The fuel bill used to atsronomical on a weekend , I expect to hear it overhead less often this yr.
The fuel bill used to atsronomical on a weekend , I expect to hear it overhead less often this yr.
IIRC $2500 a ride last time I checked.
We just about lost it a few years ago. Some 80 year old rivets let go on the wing during a high speed run but they were able limp back safely. They advised the other few Lanc organizations around the world to check the rivets on theirs and they too were about to fail. Long term corrosion wasn't considered when the Lancs were built.
Even the props have to be overhauled after X time installed, even if they aren't being used. Sitting static on a shelf doesn't count but sitting static on a plane does.
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