http://www.controller.com/listingsdetail/aircraft-for-sale/GRUMMAN-OV-1B-MOHAWK/GRUMMAN-OV-1B-MOHAWK/1135205.htm Someone talk me out of this...the asking price is not outrageous and it would be something different to take to shows. Yes it's fall heading into winter and my mind starts wandering...can anyone shed some light on these aircraft, particularly the B model? Wife says it is fine with her, but I am just starting my research...have I lost it completely?
Internal tank hold 297 gallons (if I remember correctly) and she can remain aloft for about 2 hours and 20 minutes on that. We've been talking to Mark at Courtesy for a while and will go look/fly this one after the first of the year. Probably (make that definitely) more airplane than I am ready for, but my flight instructor has 7,000 hrs in King Airs and according to the pilots that would do the training it is easier to fly than that...so we'll see. There is a DE that can do the type rating in Chicago. We have considered T28 and Texans but they are pretty "common" and the Mohawk isn't, which is a attractive to me. The Texan would be great if I ever thought I could afford to own a P-51...but alas it would be much smarter to buy time in a P-51 from time to time to get my fix than to own one with all the commensurate expenses. We shall see...but it is certainly a fun proposition to consider.
It is definitely easier to fly than a King Air. I used to fly these in the US Army. If you want to know more, please ask and I will try to answer. If you have the $, I can't think of a better airplane to buy, but I am a little partial to the 'Hawk.
You can check with the guys at the Carolina aviation museum at KCLT at the have a flying OV-1D. They can give you some insight on what it takes to keep one up and in flyable condition.
