Opinion on this plane?

[Cwalsh7997]

Hi guys were still looking at planes and my dad came across this one. It doesn't have the greatest avionics but it looks like a pretty sound plane for the price, lemme know what you guys think?

http://www.trade-a-plane.com/detail/1713293.html

[Cruiser]

First, any plane is better than not having one.  

 

Second, this plane looks good. But as I have stated here in the past, your job in the buying process is to find a good (great) Mooney expert that knows were to look for (as in major $$$$$) issues and report those to you. Once the airplane is pronounced acceptable by mechanical and structural needs, you and Dad can check the paint and interior/avionics to see what looks good for you.

I am not trying to be crass here, just get someone that will save you money (there are several threads on this forum where buyers got stung) in the long run.

 

I strongly recommend Bruce Jaeger. He did an awesome job for me.

[FloridaMan]

+1 on Bruce Jaeger. He knew my airplane for 20+ years and the owner for longer than that. 

[Cwalsh7997]

First, any plane is better than not having one.

Second, this plane looks good. But as I have stated here in the past, your job in the buying process is to find a good (great) Mooney expert that knows were to look for (as in major $$$$$) issues and report those to you. Once the airplane is pronounced acceptable by mechanical and structural needs, you and Dad can check the paint and interior/avionics to see what looks good for you.

I am not trying to be crass here, just get someone that will save you money (there are several threads on this forum where buyers got stung) in the long run.

I strongly recommend Bruce Jaeger. He did an awesome job for me.

How can I get in touch with him?

[rbridges]

I see you've looked at E and F models. The extra 5 inches of legroom is nice for the rear passengers in the F. I have a C so I can tell you that an E will be snug if you fly with more than one other person. Anyway if you are entertaining E models, you may as well look at Cs. I started off looking for fuel injection but I have been more than pleased with my carbureted plane. You can typically get a nice C or okay F for the same money.

[pinerunner]

It sounds a lot like my E model only a year newer. I'm happy with mine and don't have J model envy (much). Ditto what they all said about prepurchase. I'm glad to have the fuel injection and option to go LOP but was looking at C's too back when I was shopping. I get comments when I take off about how fast it climbs out (often alone and tanks half full). Apparently it makes the C172's look sad.

[Houman]

How can I get in touch with him?

http://www.jaegeraviation.com

[carl]

Can you sleep in a mooney?  this one has curtains. does the back seat fold back so it would be comfortable?

[Hank]

I was told by a buddy while still taking lessons, "you can sleep,in an airplane, but you can't fly a house." Fortunately that's a choice I don't need to make.

[gsxrpilot]

I think that one's been listed for sale for over a year.

[DaV8or]

This plane looks OK and a fair deal. You really have to go see it though and of course get a quality pre buy. The 201 windshield and the 6 pack panel are definite pluses. The avionics are serviceable and well supported, but be aware of the upcoming ADS-B mandate. This plane has nothing that will help you there. My advice is to get a copy of the logs and go over them with a fine tooth comb. If everything looks good, go see the plane in person. If it looks good to you, negotiate a price. Keep in mind the dated avionics and what that means to you. If you guys reach an agreement, use a purchase contract, use an escrow company and get the title/docs search ,get a quality pre buy inspection, negotiate what is found as per your contract, buy that sucker and enjoy!

 

If it were me, I'd want better avionics, or a budget to fix that problem. However, I understand that many have no issues with old radios. Call me jaded by 12 years of renting!

[Bravoman]

I was told by a buddy while still taking lessons, "you can sleep,in an airplane, but you can't fly a house." Fortunately that's a choice I don't need to make.

I've slept in my Saratoga on more than one occasion. And no, it wasn't while flying!

[goterminal120]

That airplane was on the market almost two years ago when I was looking, and I swear it was listed in the low 60's,putting it out of my budget range. Makes me wish I was still looking.

The only thing laking in the panel is a gps, but I have found more utility in my Ipad than any of the three panel mounts I have. Other than approaches of course. Definitely worth a closer look.

[larryb]

The vast majority of the cost of an airplane is OWNERSHIP and not purchase. In 3 years I've spent as much on owning as buying. What this means is don't focus on purchase price and focus instead on the best possible plane you can acquire.

[Yooper Rocketman]

Hi guys were still looking at planes and my dad came across this one. It doesn't have the greatest avionics but it looks like a pretty sound plane for the price, lemme know what you guys think?

http://www.trade-a-plane.com/detail/1713293.html

My hangar partner and best friend MAY be driving through Columbus OH is a couple weeks on business for me.  He is an A&P and owns a M20E he has been maintaining for over 25 years.   He is going to Florida and may be picking up a turbine engine for a friend of mine in Columbus to deliver to a engine shop for inspection.  If that part of the trip materializes, do you want him to look at it?  He could either do a cursory look, or might even be up to a PPI for you.  He is definitely Mooney savvy.  He is also just recently retired so would not be too expensive.

 

Tom

[MyNameIsNobody]

Cosmetically it looks good. I paid 15 grand more for a lesser plane 15 years ago. The sloped windshield and eight pack panel are expensive to do. Late J Style yokes. Older GPS. On paper this looks like a great deal. All depends on the engine (1/2 way to overhaul). Why the recent prop overhaul? What was extent of tank re-seal? Corrosion in cabin tubes and spar? If all good I would have been all over this plane at that price...

Good luck. DO a thorough PPI and log review!

[Yooper Rocketman]

I agree with "Nobody" (?).  On the surface this looks like a pretty decent plane for the price.  

[jetdriven]

I'm a run on condition kinda guy but this engine was built in 1976. I'd prett much factor an engine on delivery, and I wouldn't fly it much.

[Shadrach]

I too feel the engine should be priced as run out, and any buyer should be prepared to replace it. However, I have seen ancient engines that "magically" dodge the cam spalling bullet. 1160 hours in 38 yrs ain't a lot. Maybe he averaged an hour every 2 weeks, so it might be fine. Howeve, low time on 30+ year old engine usually means long periods of inactivity. We know this one has only flown 25 hrs in the last 2.5 years. It's hard to say with this one as it appears to have been well taken care of. I suspect the recent prop overhaul was done due to time and age. I'm betting it's the first time the prop has been OH'd and that means the blades likely have enough meat to do another.