Anxious about plane purchase

L

Lindberg

Final Approach
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Lindberg
If the pre buy goes well, I'm days away from owning my first plane, with a partner. All kinds of anxious thoughts going through my head, from, I'm going to bankrupt myself, to, with all the extra flying in an unfamiliar plane, I'm going to kill myself.

I also don't really have a place to put it yet. Temporary hangar is arranged, but Ican't get a response about hangar space from the airports I've contacted. It's a nice 1948 170, so I really don't want to leave it outside.

I have a mechanic I trust doing the prebuy, and then we'll fly it. But I'm still worried there could be some unseen critical part that's almost rusted through and is going to snap right at the best possible time to take me down. Or maybe just make the plane worthless.

Anybody else feel this way when buying? Does it go away once you're the owner?
 
It never ever goes away, ever. But every time you open that hangar door, and see that airplane is yours and that you can fly it whenever you want, its worth it. Participating in the maintenance will help, you'll know when the aircraft needs something. Fewer surprises. Have the same mechanic do the prebuy and and annual. Fewer surprises still. And enjoy your new airplane. Pics or it didn't happen.
 
Lindberg said:
All kinds of anxious thoughts going through my head, from, I'm going to bankrupt myself...
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You'll never crunch the numbers again after you buy it. They won't seem important anymore. You really want to find a hangar--and rig up a mouse-proofing system to keep the little squatters from moving in. You'll love the 170, I had a toy one--a 140. :)

dtuuri
 
steingar said:
It never ever goes away, ever. But every time you open that hangar door, and see that airplane is yours and that you can fly it whenever you want, its worth it. Participating in the maintenance will help, you'll know when the aircraft needs something. Fewer surprises. Have the same mechanic do the prebuy and and annual. Fewer surprises still. And enjoy your new airplane. Pics or it didn't happen.
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I don't know if this is a faux pas, but this is it: https://www.controller.com/listings/aircraft/for-sale/19570603/1948-cessna-170. The only thing I'm not super excited about is the panel, but in person, it's nice and clean, just a bit anachronistic. But we're buying it to fly it, and it's very functional for that.
 
Nice looking one. The panel is not original looking but it's very clean and well equipped. Best of luck with it.
 
jsstevens said:
Nice looking one. The panel is not original looking but it's very clean and well equipped. Best of luck with it.
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My question about the panel is why the vacuum gauge has such a large scale!
 
Well, "it" comes back about once a year - about annual time ...
 
After the first few years it just becomes another ongoing expense, like the rent.
 
Very nice looking 170. While the panel isn't original, it is likely much more functional and reliable over the original piano key switches, old breakers, etc. Look at it as being a cost saving feature of not having to fix the old stuff in the panel. :D

I grew up in my mom's C170B and have flown another with 180hp/CS prop. Love them and have considered buying one several times.

Good luck. I'm sure you will enjoy it and the anxiety will soon disappear. Nothing like owning your own plane and knowing it is available anytime you are?
 
Has it been hangared ? For how long? The wings were recovered when? With what? Engine rebuilt by whom? Be sure pre buy mechanic knows what he's looking at. Is it a B model or is it earlier? The 170 evolved into the 180. The 170 , with 145 hp is a bit underpowered but fine with two people on a nice hot summer day at sea level.
 
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Say - your my kind of Crazy!!

That panel is just fine - enjoy that 170 for what it is: FUN!
 
JCranford said:
Sweet looking 170! Im right there with ya on the anxiety part! I just had my offer accepted on a 210.
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So that explains where you snuck off to last Saturday! Congrats!!!!! Got photos to share?
 
Jimmy cooper said:
Has it been hangared ? For how long? The wings were recovered when? With what? Engine rebuilt by whom? Be sure pre buy mechanic knows what he's looking at. Is it a B model or is it earlier? The 170 evolved into the 180. The 170 , with 145 hp is a bit underpowered but fine with two people on a nice hot summer day at sea level.
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It is a straight 170, not an A or a B. The year, the dual struts, the non-tapered fabric wing are all straight 170 features.
 
Anybody else feel this way when buying? Does it go away once you're the owner?
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I feel this way about every major decision of my life. The good news is that this anxiety forces you to do your research so you usually will have made a good decision. The bad news is sometimes we make bad decisions despite what we thought was thorough research but more often it's because life has a way of throwing you curve balls.

It's purty btw.
 
N3368K said:
It is a straight 170, not an A or a B. The year, the dual struts, the non-tapered fabric wing are all straight 170 features.
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Jimmy cooper said:
Has it been hangared ? For how long? The wings were recovered when? With what? Engine rebuilt by whom? Be sure pre buy mechanic knows what he's looking at. Is it a B model or is it earlier? The 170 evolved into the 180. The 170 , with 145 hp is a bit underpowered but fine with two people on a nice hot summer day at sea level.
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Wings recovered in 2002 and always hangared since then at least. The fabric appears to be in feast shape. I don't know what it is. My mechanic doing the pre buy is a friend and fastidious. Not a Cessna expert, but very experienced with old birds and has been doing lots of research.
 
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Congrats on picking a proper plane!!

You'll be just fine as long as you're willing to roll up your sleeves and do all the MX you legally can, owner assist annual and buy your own parts.
 
dtuuri said:
You'll never crunch the numbers again after you buy it. They won't seem important anymore. You really want to find a hangar--and rig up a mouse-proofing system to keep the little squatters from moving in. You'll love the 170, I had a toy one--a 140. :)

dtuuri
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We started looking at 140s, but someone I trust suggested we'd outgrow one quickly.
 
I always liked the look of the classic C170. Very nice looking plane with a low time engine. Congrats and enjoy!
 
Yes, I felt that way. I went through what you're going through a few weeks ago. I've owned for 2 weeks now. Still feels wierd. I can always sell if I want to get out of it. I can fly anytime I want, and in fact feel like I need to fly just to put hours on it. My goal now is to get proficient with the plane, and keep improving. Plus adding my own touches to make the plane mine is fun.

Do it. You can always undo it if need be.
 
Lindberg said:
I don't know if this is a faux pas, but this is it: https://www.controller.com/listings/aircraft/for-sale/19570603/1948-cessna-170. The only thing I'm not super excited about is the panel, but in person, it's nice and clean, just a bit anachronistic. But we're buying it to fly it, and it's very functional for that.
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It is a good airplane... I know these birds pretty well. I was going to buy it a few months back and went over to fly it. It is a nice bird. I decided to keep my 172 and bought a 140 to add to the fleet.
There is a 1955 170B at our airport that will be for sale shortly. It has 180 gear and a Lycoming 360. It will be $55,000 ish
 
Has anyone noticed that he's buying Davy Crockett's plane?

In that case, the only words I can offer are: Always be sure you are right, then go ahead


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Very nice 170! I hope everything goes well for you and you become its new owner.
 
Lindberg said:
I don't know if this is a faux pas, but this is it: https://www.controller.com/listings/aircraft/for-sale/19570603/1948-cessna-170. The only thing I'm not super excited about is the panel, but in person, it's nice and clean, just a bit anachronistic. But we're buying it to fly it, and it's very functional for that.
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Very nice looking '48 (my favorite 170).

I would imagine with the relatively recent restoration, it shouldn't have too many surprises. Make sure you join the 170 Association. It is one of the better type clubs.

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD
 
Lindberg said:
Anybody else feel this way when buying? Does it go away once you're the owner?
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Yes. Not completely. But after you buy it, it's like any other machine you own, you just fix it or sell it or whatever is necessary. Nothing is permanent. You also get used to stupid crap like I'm going to deal with on Friday -- that Cessna parts are stupid expensive. Beyond stupid. I've been told a Cessna PTT switch to match the oversized hole they drill in the 182 yoke so nothing else fits well, is $200. LOL. Light two Benjamins on fire and smoke 'em if you got 'em. I'm used to it by now.

dtuuri said:
You'll never crunch the numbers again after you buy it.
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This. Haha. So true. Although I do allow myself to look them over once a year.

The annual analysis says I pay more than the cheapest rental and less than the most expensive rental of the same type on the field, and the really annoying fixed cost is the ground lease for the hangar.
 
One guy near here pranged his Cardinal enough to wrinkle the firewall. New one was a year and $2k from Cessna. A sheet of aluminum with a few holes drilled in it.
 
steingar said:
One guy near here pranged his Cardinal enough to wrinkle the firewall. New one was a year and $2k from Cessna. A sheet of aluminum with a few holes drilled in it.
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If it's a "firewall", I'm thinking stainless.

dtuuri
 
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