Hey!! What are you looking at?!

bmoeller

bmoeller

Pre-takeoff checklist
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Sep 16, 2015
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122
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Collegeville, Pa
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RedHeadBarron
Buying an airplane? I'm not, but I've been doing the whole wishlist search online. Partly because I love just looking, learning more about airplanes and enjoy aviation websites.

Started wondering what others look at while scanning the classifieds. Pictures? Price? TSMOH? I find I narrow a search to a particular aircraft, then start scanning the prices. If that meets my imaginary price range I dive a little deeper. Pictures jump out too, but not sure they have the same draw as say a car search. Not sure why, but if I see it's half decent looking, I'll continue with the details.

TAP and Barnstormers both seem cluttered in their own ways, but Barnstormers' somehow seems easier to scan.

Just curious what others do
 
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I've been window shopping too. Model year, followed by price, then TTAF & engine hours. I like to look at interior pics mainly. Condition of upholstery, carpet, panels. Avionics. I don't care about exterior, and verbage telling me paint is x/10 is enough, don't need pics unless there is a description of hail damage. Too many exterior pics out there for me.
 
If a detail is left out, it's usually bad! If the TT on the airframe is missing, it's HIGH, if there are not good pictures of the interior, it's rough. No paint close ups, it needs paint. No price, it's probably too high! I have been looking at trading boats and ones that have good engine times list the engine times, ones with high time don't list the time!! :rolleyes:
 
That's how it starts...

You are "just looking".
Then you begin to wonder if you could really do it.
Then you start looking at the benefits.
Then you stumble across that "Real deal" close to you, and think to yourself, "HEY! I can afford to do THAT!".
Then you're looking for a place to put your "new" airplane.
 
The "in for a penny...in for a pound" mentality sets in quick doesn't it. I start looking at ads for doable first airplanes, which ultimately digresses into well if I'm going to spend that much on a 172 may as well just do a 182. Well those prices are getting higher...so maybe I should get my last airplane first. Hello Turbine Malibu...then the bank account steps in. :)
 
A JetProp Converted Malibu would be my dream

Would the transition from the 152 trainer to the JetProp be difficult? ;)
 
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As far as airplane porn sites, I've been scouring the amphib section of TAP & Controller. I've seen a few sweet looking things that I'd love to get wet.
 
I cruise the Amphib section on TAP too. I have a thing for Widgeons.
 
FlyingElvii said:
That's how it starts...

You are "just looking".
Then you begin to wonder if you could really do it.
Then you start looking at the benefits.
Then you stumble across that "Real deal" close to you, and think to yourself, "HEY! I can afford to do THAT!".
Then you're looking for a place to put your "new" airplane.
Click to expand...

:yeahthat:... Pretty much my story...:yes:
 
FlyingElvii said:
That's how it starts...

You are "just looking".
Then you begin to wonder if you could really do it.
Then you start looking at the benefits.
Then you stumble across that "Real deal" close to you, and think to yourself, "HEY! I can afford to do THAT!".
Then you're looking for a place to put your "new" airplane.
Click to expand...

LOL! That fear (or hope..depends how you look at it) is what floats in the back of my mind. Can't wait to hear what my wife says when I bring that up at the dinner table. I figure it will start with a laugh, followed by a "you serious?!", with more laughing.

It could be worse...that could be the reaction in the bedroom...lol!
 
So one of the things I'm getting up to speed on is the TSMOH. I get a little frustrated with the time (aka 200, 500, 1200, etc), but they don't provide any dates when it was performed.

Sweet! 350 SMOH....oh..it was in 2008? Well that's about 3-4 hrs a month. That's not optimal usage. Most likely some months the aircraft never saw use. Anyways, is that one bit of information you want to see more of? I just don't see it enough in a listing and it aggravates me. I would think that's a no-brainer bit of information to include
 
bmoeller said:
So one of the things I'm getting up to speed on is the TSMOH. I get a little frustrated with the time (aka 200, 500, 1200, etc), but they don't provide any dates when it was performed.

Sweet! 350 SMOH....oh..it was in 2008? Well that's about 3-4 hrs a month. That's not optimal usage. Most likely some months the aircraft never saw use. Anyways, is that one bit of information you want to see more of? I just don't see it enough in a listing and it aggravates me. I would think that's a no-brainer bit of information to include
Click to expand...

Like anyone selling anything, I assume if it isn't listed, it doesn't add value or will look unfavorable.
 
The 5 stages of aircraft buying:

Denial: Surely there must be a slightly used pressurized twin turboprop out there for under $100'000 that I can run for $100 per hour!
Anger: Why doesn't aircraft manufacturers come out with new stuff that's affordable? **** the FAA. **** the insurance companies. **** the lawyers.
Bargaining: Maybe I can get an experimental instead.
Depression: The Icon A5. Enough said...
Acceptance: There's this 172 across the country that is older than my dad. But at least I can fly it halfway home before I have to overhaul the engine.
 
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