Shipping vs. flying

[DannyDot]

I am very seriously considering buying a T-craft in NY and I am in Houston. I would like some information on the pros and cons of removing the wings and having it shipped. Do I need to put it in a box? What companies will drive the plane down in a truck? I would hate to have some minimum wage move poke a hole in the fabric.

I will probably just wait for the spring time and fly it down. I like long cross countries in a little plane. That 24 gallons of gas will really take you a ways.

In the mean time, all of you yankees try and stay warm

Danny

[stormman]

Re: Shipping vs. flying

Took mind on a trailer from California To Arkansas because the wings were off for recovering and i had to get out of there. bent the rudder getting it off the trailer and someone stole the hubcaps on the trip. Its safer flying IMHO . HELL its safer flying from the 20+ wrecks i saw on the way. Planes are meant to fly and i would only transport wrecks if i were you

[VictorBravo]

Re: Shipping vs. flying

There USED to be a guy that specialized in moving airplanes, he had a truck and trailer set up for it. He used to advertise on Barnstormers a lot.

This was 5 years ago... check Barnstormers they used to have a classified category for aircraft transport.

If you cannot find his ad, contact the owner of the website and ask her if she can remember the guy who used to offer airplane transport. He was an aircraft owner himself and had a good reputation for not damaging airplanes.

DO NOT mention my name to the owner of the Barnstormers website, she definitely does not like me

[Ragwing nut]

Re: Shipping vs. flying

That is a tough one. I have flown a Taylorcraft A-65 from OKC, OK to Jacksonville, FL. Suppose to have taken 13 hours and and one very long day. It ended up taking 18 hours and 4 days due to weather and breakage. Weather is something I can deal with traveling. Being broke at a foreign airport with no tools or parts SUCKS. I would probably haul it.

Mike

[Vasey fan]

Re: Shipping vs. flying

Bill, I believe you're thinking of Andy Haddan/Ultrasport Aviation. It can take a while to get his route worked out, as he tries to transport multiple aircraft each trip (keeps the cost & driving down). Good guy, I'd use him again.

http://www.ultrasportaviation.com/haul.htm

[Brady]

Re: Shipping vs. flying

If the plane is in good working condition and in annual, I'd fly it home. I've got great memories of flying each plane home that I've bought.

I just picked up a 1956 Cessna 182 (I'm half owner) in Boulder, Colorado and flew it back to Shreveport in January. It was a neat trip. To activate the insurance, I had to fly with a local CFI and get cleared for solo. It took me about an hour of flying to satisfy the guy. I just build a little extra time into the trip to deal with contingencies.

There's nothing better than launching out cross-country at sunrise in a Taylorcraft. Don't miss that opportunity if you can help it.

[MNJoe]

Re: Shipping vs. flying

No matter what type of airplane it is they are meant to fly!!! When I bought T-rex in Eastern Kentucky and flew it home to Minnesota last November, Yeah it took two days because of weather, but hey including the flight home I have not flown it in anything warmer then 36 degree weather if you have the time fly it home do it or get an airline pilot that can catch the airlines home for free to fly it for you.

Joe

[N74DV]

Re: Shipping vs. flying

Jason Gerard flew mine last October from South Bend, IN to Mesa, AZ. Took him 4 days and about 25 flying hours. Total cost ended up being about $1800.

[flylo]

Re: Shipping vs. flying

Fly it! Another adventure awaits.

[DanBrown]

Re: Shipping vs. flying

Since you have owned a T-Cart before, I would fly it home -- especially if I had a lot of time and could make it a fun, no rush trip. However, I'd make my first stop at Alliance and wring it out well there with the help of the local experts, fix any issues, etc..

I made the mistake once of flying home an airplane I just bought that I didn't know well with an instrument panel and radios I was only partially familiar with from Mass. to Teterboro at night. The weather moved in much faster than forecast, and I filed IFR from the air. I got put into a holding pattern west of the NYC area for an hour and a half in the clouds, 25kt wind across the pattern, heavy rain and moderate turblance. My holding pattern entry and first lap was so bad, approach had to ask me "What are your intentions?" I settled down after that, but it was definately not a "no sweat" flight.

These days I fly under LSA rules. SO last fall whan I took delivery of my Taylorcraft on a marginal VFR day, I left it for a week until it was a beutiful day with modest winds, scattered clouds at 4000, and 10 miles visibility for the hour and a half flight to it's new home.

[d.grimm]

Re: Shipping vs. flying

I used Andy to pick up a damaged Vagabond in Washington and had him bring it to Ohio. He did an excellent job (A&P IA). Hard to beat flying a classic across the country if you have the time.

[DannyDot]

Re: Shipping vs. flying

Since you have owned a T-Cart before, I would fly it home -- especially if I had a lot of time and could make it a fun, no rush trip. However, I'd make my first stop at Alliance and wring it out well there with the help of the local experts, fix any issues, etc..

I made the mistake once of flying home an airplane I just bought that I didn't know well with an instrument panel and radios I was only partially familiar with from Mass. to Teterboro at night. The weather moved in much faster than forecast, and I filed IFR from the air. I got put into a holding pattern west of the NYC area for an hour and a half in the clouds, 25kt wind across the pattern, heavy rain and moderate turblance. My holding pattern entry and first lap was so bad, approach had to ask me "What are your intentions?" I settled down after that, but it was definately not a "no sweat" flight.

These days I fly under LSA rules. SO last fall whan I took delivery of my Taylorcraft on a marginal VFR day, I left it for a week until it was a beutiful day with modest winds, scattered clouds at 4000, and 10 miles visibility for the hour and a half flight to it's new home.

Did you say your intentions were to see if you could get the darned airplane to stay in the holding pattern

I think I will fly the plane if I buy it. I loved my other T-craft and its 24 gallon tanks. Who needs a stinking radio!!! A mag compass, a clock, and a map are all you need to find your way home!!!

I didn't have one then. It was before the day of the little handheld jobs you can get today.

Danny Deger

[wlas]

Re: Shipping vs. flying

I have flown my T-craft from Alaska to Oshkosh to Michigan to seattle and back to Alaska all in one trip, It took me 5 weeks and I think I must have given rides to a hundred people along the way, One of the best times ever. I would do it again in a second and hopefully will someday, Its hard to get that much time off now days.

[Acroeric]

Re: Shipping vs. flying

Danny- I think the 11th commandment says not to take apart a perfectly good airplane. . . .Fly it! Some of my fondest memories are from adventures like that! NY to TX is not that bad. I went from Colorado to NC in January. Tons of fun and never paid for a hotel room. I still stay in touch with folks I met along the way.

[DannyDot]

Re: Shipping vs. flying

Danny- I think the 11th commandment says not to take apart a perfectly good airplane. . . .Fly it! Some of my fondest memories are from adventures like that! NY to TX is not that bad. I went from Colorado to NC in January. Tons of fun and never paid for a hotel room. I still stay in touch with folks I met along the way.

My brother lives in Southern Penn so that is one stop without a hotel on my way back from NY. I may post here and see if anyone would put up a T-craft traveller for a night. One of the problems is lack of rental cars at the small airports I like to land at. I have a cousin in Little Rock and a friend in Atlanta. Atlanta is too far south, but what the heck.

Danny Deger