So, guys... let's say I may be in position to acquire the
plane tom-d pointed out earlier. Let's say it's in decent condition (although somewhat higher hours than quoted in the ad), but had been flown very little for the past 15 years.
Tom covered the "flown very little for the past 15 years" concurs that I also had when I read this.
Define: "very little". 0 hours a year? Has it flown 50 hours a year? 100 hours a year? 1000 hours a year? For how long?
You really need a good look at the logbooks on it if it hasn't flown.
You also need to find a 210 specialist for a solid pre-buy inspection.
By way of explanation, our aircraft has had three owners or owner-groups since she rolled off the line in Wichita. The initial owner of 79M in California didn't fly her enough.
After putting two new jugs on (probably corrosion killed them from not flying enough), the second owner spent a LOT of time and money whipping her back into shape, repainting her, putting the STOL kit on, etc. He owned her for a long time and flew her a ton, per the logs. He probably had other plans, but never got around to them on the interior. It's still a lovely 1975 "Goldenrod", and we just started talking about re-doing it this coming year.
You can read in our logs and see where stuff was prematurely worn out between the first and second owners, because she was a hangar-queen early in her life. Once owner #2 got after it and spent some serious coin, she was a great bird, and he flew her a lot. She's still an ultra-low-time airframe for the model year, but when we purchased her, she'd been flying regularly. Someone else took those "all this stuff has dried out, cracked, etc..." hits.
At pre-buy our mechanic's comment when my co-owners originally went to look her over was, "It's a great airplane, and at this price, the next people to walk into the hangar will buy her if you don't."
Realistically, she's not perfect, but things she needed were factored into the price tag other than an IFR GPS, which is a whole different topic. If you're getting into serious IFR... you're going to have to do that too.
What do y'all think? yes, I know buying a plane isn't entirely rational, or makes sense financially, and all of that. I'm doing it for the soul - there is something tremendously appealing about owning one (I have no clue why). This plane does seem to fit my mission reasonably well. I don't know of this is the right plane, but it's possible.
I would recommend flying at least a representative model of the type before "falling in love". There's TONS of airplanes out there for sale right now.
Personally, I know a lot of people don't mind the "shotgun" panels of the older birds, but I've spent too much time behind a "six-pack" instrument panel to enjoy it. Not a huge issue, but I wouldn't like it. I've flown behind both, "shotgun" just isn't my personal preference.
What do you think of this one as a starter plane of sorts? (while I am chatting to a couple other owners about similar planes, too, since this one was linked here I am using it as the example)
I'm still quite nervous about the age of the frame and the implied age of the technology involved in an aircraft this old. At the same time, it's likely that I will trade up at some point in the future (5-10 years).
As long as it's inspected by a mechanic who you're paying and they deem it happy, airframe isn't an issue. Find an expert in the type and start working with them.
What should I think about? is it easy to find a mechanic for these? how about an instructor that can teach me it for insurance? I am in the SF east bay, any pointers?
You're really not far from the home of the Cessna Pilot's Association -- a membership and a phone call to John there asking his opinion of both purchasing the 210A and what to look for, as well as a recommendation to a local mechanic will probably save you thousands of dollars.
There probably is no better "technical"/"mechanical" reference group for Cessna owners than them.
Their organization name is a misnomer. They're not so much a "Pilot's" Association as they are a "Mechanics" association. They won't teach you how to fly it, at all. But they do know all the stuff that breaks, how to do a proper inspection, what are the problems the various owners of the different Cessna types and models are, etc. Highly recommended.
