Can you ID my late grandpa’s plane?

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Gary Bettner

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Gary Bettner
Hello all, my apologies but I know absolutely zero about airplanes. Unfortunately my dear grandfather passed away a week ago and has an airplane and a parachute ultralight stored in a hanger that we need to sell. I have no idea what to even call it, I have a few pictures. If you know what this is or any range of value would someone be kind enough to let me know? Just need to sell it so grandma doesn’t have to worry about it. Having trouble uploading a picture but I will keep trying.Thank you
 
Forum says I have to have five posts to put up a picture?
 
Just go comment something on a few other posts. It’s an annoying feature to avoid any spam on inappropriate pictures on here. But don’t worry we’ll be able to help!
 
It’s a red to Seater biplane, Kind of like the red baron. You have to throw the propeller to start it.
 
I don’t know when it had its last annual but it has under $100 and I know it runs fine. He got too weak to start it and always had me come throw the propeller to start it for him.
 
Gary Bettner said:
I don’t know when it had its last annual but it has under $100 and I know it runs fine. He got too weak to start it and always had me come throw the propeller to start it for him.
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Sorry, stupid voice text, 100 hours
 
I’m sorry, still can’t post a pic. I’ll keep trying but it acts like it’s working then just keeps popping up a “file too big to download” sorry for all the annoying posts.
 
Gary Bettner said:
I’m sorry, still can’t post a pic. I’ll keep trying but it acts like it’s working then just keeps popping up a “file too big to download” sorry for all the annoying posts.
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Gary, your grandfather's plane is a Fisher Celebrity. Depending on condition, it could be worth between $10-20K, possibly less if it's in poor condition or hasn't flown in a long time. Having the paperwork (registration, airworthiness certificate, aircraft and engine logbooks, etc.) is important and will increase its value. It looks like it actually may have been built by the original designer (Mike Fisher). Where is it located?

Barnstormers.com is the place to sell it, though ebay can also work.
 
Dana said:
Gary, your grandfather's plane is a Fisher Celebrity. Depending on condition, it could be worth between $10-20K, possibly less if it's in poor condition or hasn't flown in a long time. Having the paperwork (registration, airworthiness certificate, aircraft and engine logbooks, etc.) is important and will increase its value. It looks like it actually may have been built by the original designer (Mike Fisher). Where is it located?

Barnstormers.com is the place to sell it, though ebay can also work.
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Wow, thanks for the info! Located in a private hanger at a private grass airstrip in Boggstown Indiana 46110. You were VERY helpful! My grandma and the family aren't greedy at all, we just want it gone for whatever it's worth or even less so we can stop paying monthly storage rent. I'll try Barnstormers.com as you suggested. Thanks again all for helping out a totally clueless first poster!
-Gary Bettner , Boggstown Indiana
 
Would be good if you had someone with a little aviation knowledge who could give you an idea of its condition. You will get some very low offers on EBay and Barnstormers.
 
How long has it been sitting? You would most likely get the best price if it had a current annual + all aircraft logs.
 
See if you can research a local EAA chapter and reach out to their leadership. You usually can find good local folks around to reduce the hassle of dealing with long distance tire kickers.
 
It's registered as amateur built. I'm just curious about the history of these Fisher planes - how is it possible for a plane to be experimental amateur built if the builder was a company founder, who built the plane and then sold it?
 
NoHeat said:
It's registered as amateur built. I'm just curious about the history of these planes - how is it possible for a plane to be experimental amateur built if the builder was a company founder, who built the plane and then sold it?
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Anyone can build a kit, register it as a experimental, then sell it.
 
Doc Holliday said:
Anyone can build a kit, register it as a experimental, then sell it.
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So a kit manufacturer can build one of its own kits, register it as an experimental amateur built, and then sell it, and do all of this as a business operation?
 
NoHeat said:
So a kit manufacturer can build one of its own kits, register it as an experimental amateur built, and then sell it, and do all of this as a business operation?
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Yep, essentially a gray area. However, if this gets obvious the FAA may step in and start restricting the issuance of amateur built/experimental.

The AB aircraft guys here can give a better perspective. The AB/Experimental category was intended for amateur builders and not aircraft production.
 
Gary Bettner said:
Wow, thanks for the info! Located in a private hanger at a private grass airstrip in Boggstown Indiana 46110. You were VERY helpful! My grandma and the family aren't greedy at all, we just want it gone for whatever it's worth or even less so we can stop paying monthly storage rent. I'll try Barnstormers.com as you suggested. Thanks again all for helping out a totally clueless first poster!
-Gary Bettner , Boggstown Indiana
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You could donate it to an EAA Chapter. We have a guy in ours that owns a Fisher Classic
 
NoHeat said:
So a kit manufacturer can build one of its own kits, register it as an experimental amateur built, and then sell it, and do all of this as a business operation?
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Nope. At least not on paper.

Someone could design and build (for their own education or recreation) an airplane then turn it into a kit. Or, you could build your own companies kits for your own personal use. Or build it for the sheer recreational fun of building. There is no rule that limits where you can buy a kit, or from whom you can buy it as long as a person (or persons) "undertakes the construction project solely for their own education or recreation." There is no rule that says you can't sell an airplane once it as complete. And, the fact of the matter is that there are thems what like to fly, and thems what like to build.

In the end, legal or not depends on the actual motivation of any particular individual - and that is pretty hard to judge from an office chair at the local FSDO.
 
NoHeat said:
It's registered as amateur built. I'm just curious about the history of these Fisher planes - how is it possible for a plane to be experimental amateur built if the builder was a company founder, who built the plane and then sold it?
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Why would the fact they work for the company make a difference? A number of Van's employees have built and fly their own personal RV's. E-AB certification is predicated on education and recreation on the part of the builder and has nothing to do with the fact that they may be the designer or employee of the company that builds a said kit. Selling it once its built is totally legal as long as there's no intent on the company's part to circumvent type certification and the associated production certificate from the FAA. There are serial builders out there that build a plane sell it, build another and so forth because they just love to build and they use the profits from the sale to fund the next kit. In these situations the FAA could care less. The FAA does care about "hired guns" who build planes for someone else for a price as this is a blatant attempt to skirt the spirt and intent of E-AB certification.
 
It's value is likely as a museum display for a tax write-off. There might be a buyer out there.
 
NordicDave said:
It's value is likely as a museum display for a tax write-off. There might be a buyer out there.
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It is not what I would call a museum piece. It would be better off in the hands of someone who will nurse it back to health and fly it.
 
Actually a company can build as E-AB and sell them....just takes the correct paperwork between the FAA, State Department, Commerce Department and the company. Note: The N6xxxx block of registrations were assigned to two different manufacturers for military use, but procured under commercial production programs. That block of numbers is now being used for Air Tractors going to the same place.

aah.jpg


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Kenny Phillips said:
It is not what I would call a museum piece. It would be better off in the hands of someone who will nurse it back to health and fly it.
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Actually there are a lot of small community aviation museums that would treasure this plane as a static display with some background on your families involvement with the plane and the chance to describe E/AB. Even if it’s not complete. There is a museum new me with 2 planes like this. Was just a thought as an alternative if plan A doesn’t pan out.
 
Looks like you are in my neck of the woods. If you want to get together I can take a look at it with you and help with the sale. Also, there are several EAA chapters around Indy, so several homebuilders around who would be very interested im sure.
 
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