Buying a 260B

[Jim Worley]

[N3322G]

[Kristin Winter]

[David Pyle]

[jeffrey aryan]

[David Pyle]

[Jim Worley]

[David Pyle]

[steen]

[Ben Ayalon]

[Jay]

[Kristin Winter]

[Fook]

Jim,

I'm in a similar boat (first time buyer AF pilot), but I'm looking for a turn-key 260B.

Have you seen this one?

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1966-Pip ... 240%3A1308

[Jim Worley]

Thanks everyone for all your help, especially David. I have some more questions I would like your opinion on.
Damage History - how much does it matter? I have read in several places, that if it is old history and the fixes were done by a reputable shop with good records, there isn't that big of a price cut.
Log books - obviously you want all the logs. On a 35-40 year old aircraft, if there are a few years missing (not recently) how much does it affect your opinion?

Think of these things from this perspective. I am not buying an aircraft thinking of it as an investment (although I know, like a house it is). I am planning on keeping my aircraft for a significant time. I need a safe reliable way to transport myself, my family and my friends. If the a/c isn't going to demand a premium price 10-15 years from now, if/when I am ready to sell, I'm not as concerned about that. Maybe I'm not being realistic?

[Zach Grant L1011jock]

Jim,
Finding a NO DAMAGE old airplane is darn near impossible. Everything has been damaged at some point, weather the HISTORY is there is another thing. Gear ups, wing damage, control surface damage, all of it is fine if it has been repaired properly. Even on newer aircraft, damage history more than 5 yrs old does not appreciably affect the value. Condition is where the dollars are. I look at planes differenty than some. Engines/avionics, albeit expensive, are easy to change out. Airframes are a potential money pit of epic proportion, let alone incredibly frustrating! I will buy an airplane with a high time engine, no radios, and beat P&I, but still pay top dollar IF I can assure myself that I am getting a reliable, well maintained airframe that needs nothing. Maint. is one thing but overhaul of all the piece parts will eat you alive, and then there will be no extra cash reserve to do those other items. With a good airframe I can budget my expenditures, not just throw dollars at the sky every time I try to fly. This is tough to find as usually those diamonds in the rough are sold among friends. A good place to find these type airplanes are owners that do their own maint., but don't have the bucks or the expertiese to make the cash investments or do the highly technical stuff. Many times these airplanes are meticulously maintained mechanically, but now they need to move on to someone who has the capital to do the major renovating. Once you do the renovating, the only way to look at an airplane is that you must fly the value out of it. Afteral, why invest the money if you don't intend to use it!

-Zach