You are welcome to drive my Mondial anytime. Too bad we don't live about 2000 miles closer, huh? Are you getting the idea that the Maser hunt is proving fruitless? TR?
I still have one hold out/prospect. There is plenty of junk and projects out there. The prices have jumped 30/40k on the good ones this last summer. No telling if they are coming down in the near future. I will NOT over pay for a mediocre car!
Darn ! I have a Mediogre 6 that is priced just right that I wanted you to look at ! It has a unique engine made of 2 three cylinder Zeekly's taken off a Buhl Bull Pup. The light weight tear drop body is of proven design that was tested on the Utah Salt Flats. It is so authentic that you can still smell the av gas in it. The sound is incredible when it is at speed. You can run along beside it and hear every piston firing.AND handling! The light weight wire wheels are straight from an exclusive source in China. DON'T DELAY ! This is a one time offer deal and after next December it goes on eBay. Switches
Unfortuneately - much of our good stuff is being picked up my clever EU purchasers. A good number of the big airplane sales I am dealing with are ones being purchased and exported to Austrailia/Europe because the dollar is so weak. I normally make 2-4 trips a year to the UK or Europe - this year I haven't been anywhere - can't afford it! Good Luck on the car of your dreams.
Russ, I'm tardy with my good wishes for you and your new mount. I have always liked the T-28 from the view of one who is limited to just looking now. Anyway, congratulations and have great flying in the years ahead. Switches
Hey Russ, Yes! What Switches said.... Sorry for the belated good weather wishes. It's gonna be great! Sunny skies and yeah! Tailwinds.... all over the place Er..... except on landings... Charlie
here is the list of sqwaks from the pre-buy. Most are already fixed by the seller. Overall not too bad for a 50 year old plane. Hoping to get it in next two weeks. Here's the ppi by one of the best t-28 guys in the country: 1) Prop nicks from cowling opening during flight 2) Nose gear door & link assemblies are worn 3) Intake boot #3 is not safety-wired 4) Recommend aluminum fittings on hydraulic pump be changed to steel 5) Some hoses dated 1987, some missing date tags. Recommend changing non-conforming hoses. 6) Right side exhaust stacks loose 7) Right elevator trim tab rod ends worn & hinge wire is in backwards 8) Left elevator trim tab horn is loose & trim tab repair is questionable 9) Recommend worn engine baffling be replaced. 10) Lower rudder bearing is worn. 11) Emergency canopy bottle low on nitrogen. 12) Flap actuator hose may be leaking. 13) Battery jar is not serviced correctly 14) Right mag has over 100 RPM drop on mag check Aircraft make, model, year North American / T28-A / 1951 N number / Serial number N8989H / 51-7695N Total time Airframe (per logbooks) 2815 Total time Engine (per logbooks) 26.0 SMOH S/N W440065 Are all AD's complied with? Yes Is there evidence of damage history? None found in records available -if so, specify extent of damage: Is aircraft current & in airworthy Yes. Prop AD completed 01/27/2006. Pitot static test completed condition: on 02/08/2006. W&B completed 02/01/2006 by actual weighing. General Comments Aircraft is fairly straight. All components appear to be operational. Low mag reading on ground run-up appears to be spark plug related. Aircraft should be flown & another mag check performed to determine if these are related. No corrosion found upon inspection of aircraft interior. A thorough interior cleaning of the fuselage should be performed. The accompanying squawk list has been discussed with aircraft seller. Aircraft & logbooks inspected on: 11/26/2007 By: James Trudeau Image Unavailable, Please Login
Thank you for posting that inspection, Russ. It is a part of aviation that I have not been exposed to and it is very illuminating. I have rebuilt nothing but new homebuilts and basket cases so the whole airplane quantification process is new to me. I think that you will have a great time in the coming year with this bird. Switches
Sounds like you got your money's worth from the PPI. Certainly there are some things that need to be addressed before you take delivery. Take Care -
this is really the first time I have invested so much time in looking at and flying different planes (see other threads) and hiring out a ppi, so I thought it might be an interesting read. I surprised myself a great deal by settling on a T-28a, as I am such a T-6/tailwheel guy, and this was one of the most expensive planes I looked at. It was really a sure thing I was getting an SNJ-5 or a Yale. Although they flew exceptionally well, the SNJ-2 and the BT-13's wet center section and associated fuel leaking concerns really eliminated them from the process. And, although Sparky will call me a wuss, I was really put off by the FAA ADs and attitude towards the T-6 wing attach AD deal the more I researched it -- and just did not want to futz with it after seeing what they did with T-34s. When this essentially new 2800 hour lightweight, stripped and simplified T-28a with a 28 hour engine showed up that had the same mpg as a T-6 but 50 mph faster (and a really a sweet flying thing), it got me to consider something outside of the original plan. That all said, if and when I get a warm fuzzy about the T-6 and the AD issues, I'll probably swap back to an SNJ or if I really lose my mind, you know I've always liked TBMs... since I cannot afford my dream plane FM-2 or Corsair. Maybe subconsciously I just think as I get bigger, I need a bigger plane. My ownership history, which is usually many years: Aeronca L-16 (6 years), SNJ-5 (9 years), and now a T-28a. At least I am picking up a little speed with the weight... Here is another cockpit shot of T-28A 8089H: wonderfully simple and straightforward. Image Unavailable, Please Login
I think Russ got cheated. How is he going to know what time it is when he's flying? All those clocks on the panel show different times and some don't even have hands. That's why I liked flying the Air Camper, just three clocks to look at. Switches
That's like the Aeronca - it had 4 clocks and three of them didn't work so I always knew exactly what time it was. Just got off the phone with the current owner - he is going through fixing the PPI squawk list and needs another couple of days to fix them. No problem here! He has been great about all this, which certainly makes it worth the price. It's 850 NM to SAT from JAX, so with a few landings in-between that will be good training and help meet insurance time requirements. I am really going to spend hours beating up some patterns and training with this plane for the first several months.
I envy you and I wish you many happy hours in the T-28. Like Spasso, I love the sound of them but I also think that it is good airplane.CHEERS, Switches
I cannot wait Russ, First Lee tells me he is going to let me drive his 599 and now your going to let me fly your t-28. 2008 is going to be a fun year.
Yes, he will be back seating for the return flight and a day of check-out. As far as the FAA is concerned, it is like a Piper Arrow with regards to check out. Unlike the big engine T-28 planes, the A model DOES NOT require a type rating. That, and the non-restricted experimental certification were pluses for me. OBTW, you all have a standing invitation for a flight. Just let me know and show up. I wonder if Rob will sponsor me if I put the AviatorChat.com logo on the tail? I would have asked for consultant status at FChat but I just bought 5 years...
Heck, Sparky put FerrariChat.com on the Mustang and I didn't pay him anything. If it helps you expense things as a business, I'm there for you.
I think this is a really good move for you Russ. The case you have made for buying this particular plane is pretty solid and logical. Please keep us informed.
These are all Exp, so everyone I have talked to works with an A/P and then the A/P signs off the annual. Straight hour time I've been quoted around 40 - 50 hours. I have always done owner assisted annuals as I feel it really makes you a better pilot, besides the fact it really takes down the expense and I think it is a blast to work on planes. I can tell you my old T-6 was far less in maint. costs than my Ferrari. FAR less. More to come rt
