vagabond

I am looking into purchasing, in whole or in part, a C-172. If anybody in the PNW, the West side of the mountains, has one or knows of a good one, please let me know. Would be interested in just the carcass as I intend to get the best radio I can find. Thanks.

LAfrequentflyer

Get a bunch of your lawyer friends together and buy a new 172 - you guys could use it to do pro-bono work in small communities and write most of the $$$ off come tax time...Thats what I'd look into doing...

-LAFF

de727ups

I have a 152 aerobat with the Sparrowhawk conversion (125hp, all new cylinders) and a GPS/comm I'd like to part with this spring. It's at KCOE. 30K.

HSLD

Don't limit yourself to an aircraft in a specific geographic region. Do some research and decide what it is you want/need (I'm talking about the aircraft) and then start shopping nationwide. Trade-a-Plane is a good source to see what's out there and what the market price is. Using a broker on your first aircraft purchase may not be a bad idea either.

I've made several spreadsheets for boat ownership that could modified for aircraft ownership. Let me know if you want it.

vagabond

Thanks, Paul. What I really want is an old open cockpit biplane, but I know it will never be a reality. I'd like something I can use to fly between SEA and SAT, and a C-172 is hardly the choice either, but it's the only thing I know how to fly.

Check your email, I've got another question/problem for Dr. Paul. hee hee.

ToiletDuck

Vegabond I was just in Uvalde Texas waiting for an icestorm to pass over. A guy walked in. Had a strait tail C-172. That's an old one. However the aircraft as very few hours on it. Down side is the engine is an older 145hp engine and not the newer 180hp engine. Talk to an A&P mechanic about it but I think they might have slightly hire mx cost. However the airplane itself is in very good condition from what I hear. The guy who owns it hasn't really flown in a long time. Puts about 10hrs a year on it. Keeps up to date with annuals ect. I believe he's asking $30k for it.

I don't know what market you're aiming for. You might want to also consider Piper Warrior/Arrow if you're looking for something with 4 seats. I flew a couple hundred hrs in the warrior and they really aren't a bad plane at all... The 172 has more head room but the piper was more fun to fly.

crewdog

Either a 172 or a Warrior are nice 3 person/4 seat airplanes.

The 172 has better visibility for sightseeing and has more headroom but is harder to preflight and fuel because of the high wing, and the Continental engine is susceptible to carb icing.

The Warrior is easier to preflight and fuel but the low wing blocks the view for sightseeing and the Lycoming engine rarely has carb ice problems.


You might also think about stretching the budget a bit and looking at a 182 or an Archer. (Or even a Dakota.) Even though I like the airplane I'd stay away from the Arrow and any retractable gear airplane in the low end ASEL category.


I like the thought about a good radio. Don't forget some ANR headsets with an iPod plug-in.


Good Luck.

CD

skywriter

The sea sat flying, I do not know what kind of weather you are going to fly in? I got my I.F.R rating in SEA in a 172 for ice I would take one of the low wing pipers that has been talked about.

ERJ135

May I suggest the piper also. Better yet get some friends together and buy a citation X Don't worry if your not comfortable flying it, you can hire me to fly hit

P.S. min salary of 150k

Pilotpip

HSLD hit the nail on the head. Don't limit yourself. Keeping your search limited to the pacific northwest may lead to corrosion issues that may not be seen elsewhere. Speaking of corosion, make sure to have a complete pre-buy inspection done by an A&P. Older cessnas in particular are prone to corosion because they had no sort of treatment from the factory (also often had bare metal paint schemes).

For some dumb reason when you compare a Cherokee and 172 that have similiar times, equipment and age the piper is almost always a little lower priced. Cherokees also have better useful load.