Prebuy

[Chris]

So I found a company that will perform a pre buy on an aircraft anywhere through out the country. From their website they seem very professional and well organized. I haven't found a Taylorcaft that Im serious enough to get a pre buy as of yet but wanted to talk with them just to be sure that they would be able to help me when I do find one. I filled out their online questionnaire about who you are and what type of aircraft you are looking for. A few days later I received the following email….

Chris,

I want to share some personal thoughts from Mike on this aircraft.

"I personally can't figure out why anyone would want to buy an airplane like this. It has a recurrent AD on its lift struts, and I believe there's no manufacturer support (according to Wikipedia the owners of the type design have it up for sale). The BC12D was manufactured during the late 1930s and early 1940s, and is powered by a Continental A-65-8 engine which I believe is no longer supported by CMI. I can't imagine anyone buying such an airplane unless he's an A&P with a lot of spare time."

As you can see, there are some considerations to think about. Of course we have no clue what you goal is with this plane. But for a travel around plane, this one may be tough. If you have other thoughts, I'd be happy to listen.

Jeff

Man I felt like someone was talking about my MOMMA!!!!! I emailed back and tried to explain to him about what a wonderful airplane it is in so many words. Wikipedia??! Really? You do your research on Wikipedia?!!!

[Hank Jarrett]

Re: Prebuy

Gee, knowing what you know about the type and what they "KNOW" about the type, they should be able to get it for peanuts, after all, who would want such a useless piece of machinery? ;-)

You might want to find someone close from the Tribe to look at any plane you are interested in. I did aircraft appraisals for a while and I can tell you most appraisers think they know a lot more than they do.

I DO know an IA at the airport where I am at who would make a GREAT employee for those guys. He "thinks" he knows EVERYTHING. Most of us just throw him out of our hangars. He is a dope brained idiot (not drugs dope, too many wings covered in enclosed spaces dope).

Hank

[Bigdog]

Re: Prebuy

Wow! I can't imagine any business making that kind of response disparaging a potential customer's choice. It would have been far better to just politely defer or say they don't work with vintage aircraft. What is the name of these jerks so we can warn others to stay away?

[Joe cooper]

Re: Prebuy

Wow! I can't imagine any business making that kind of response disparaging a potential customer's choice. It would have been far better to just politely defer or say they don't work with vintage aircraft. What is the name of these jerks so we can warn others to stay away?

Looks like they'll do themselves in. Not to worry. I bought two nice Taylorcrafts thru word of mouth and reputation ( builders with excellent backgrounds.) both were very nice. I am familiar with Dunkirk aviation and lou nalbone who owns it. They have a very clean , well run FBO , and also run jamestown NY airport FBO. They have a full repair shop. I know nothing about the taylorcraft they have for sale other than it looks nice and their shop overhauled the engine recently. It should be ok as far as weight as the radio, etc. weigh very little. The price seems very reasonable. If I were reallylooking for a 65 hp t craft, it's one I'd sure look over carefully. Personally I think any decent t craft will be from 22 grand to about 27 grand. One that's flys instead of one you have to constantly talk about and work on. Mho.

[vetdrem]

Re: Prebuy

I think that the comments sound like something that Mike Busch from "Savvy Aviator" would say. (was it Mike Busch?)

I truly enjoy all the articles he writes, the webinars that he hosts, and training sessions that he gives at Oshkosh. I have always thought that he had NO time for anything that I can afford to own and fly, but I still learned a lot from him. Mentioning his name to some of the A&P's and IA's hanging out at my hanger is sure to start a lively conversation about how he belittles other mechanics. His arrogance is legendary.

I think that we all need to lean on others in the group that know t-crafts inside and out to help us learn about our planes and to help us train our own mechanics. I "teach" my A&P and IA something about my plane every time we do an annual from the things that I have read on this forum. We are dealing with a brand that has limited support, fewer and fewer mechanics that have experience on it and a dwindling supply of spare parts, so I for one, am using this group to help me stay in the air.

I echo Hank's thoughts on seeking someone in the tribe to help checking out a new find.

Louie

[Joe cooper]

Re: Prebuy

I think that the comments sound like something that Mike Busch from "Savvy Aviator" would say. (was it Mike Busch?)

I truly enjoy all the articles he writes, the webinars that he hosts, and training sessions that he gives at Oshkosh. I have always thought that he had NO time for anything that I can afford to own and fly, but I still learned a lot from him. Mentioning his name to some of the A&P's and IA's hanging out at my hanger is sure to start a lively conversation about how he belittles other mechanics. His arrogance is legendary.

I think that we all need to lean on others in the group that know t-crafts inside and out to help us learn about our planes and to help us train our own mechanics. I "teach" my A&P and IA something about my plane every time we do an annual from the things that I have read on this forum. We are dealing with a brand that has limited support, fewer and fewer mechanics that have experience on it and a dwindling supply of spare parts, so I for one, am using this group to help me stay in the air.

I echo Hank's thoughts on seeking someone in the tribe to help checking out a new find.

Louie

I mentioned the t craft at Dunkirk ny. As lou nalbone and his brother own the FBO and also own two magnificent Waco bi planes. Their dad was a civilian instructor during WW 2 in Stearmans and t6s. They have owned Dunkirk aviation for low these many years( 50?) Lou's son runs jamestown ny FBO and are very familiar with tube and cloth, probably as much as anyone on this site. I have mentioned this airplane only as a heads up. I have never seen it, only know their reputation which is good. The engine was recently overhauled at their facility which seemed a plus. Any of these old trainers is a gamble. This one seemed like a better gamble. The weight would be a concern with the 65 hp. If I buy another one it will have to be an 85 hp or an 0200. I'm watching for one.

[Chris]

Re: Prebuy

Louie, You hit the nail on the head!! The email came from Jeff Iskierka who had quoted Mike Busch. I'm not on here to bash anyone or anybody's business. That's not my style. However, I do think that it is worth while to forewarn anyone that may be considering their services to be aware of their knowledge limits of Taylorcrafts.

Hank is right on the money. It's probably best to stick with someone within the group or at least someone that you know has decent tube and fabric knowledge with a side order of taylorcraft experience.

Joe, I spoke with Lou about the Taylorcraft he has for sale. He took it in on a trade for a new Cessna after an older gentleman had a prop strike with it. The engine was rebuilt and he is now selling it. I was getting ready to go up and look at it but after looking closely at some pictures he provided I decided it wasn't the right plane for me. 30 year old fabric, sheet metal beat up a bit and the paint color doesn't match. Some paint is coming off of the cowling. It would be a good airplane for someone that wouldn't mind recovering it in the next few years. Just my opinion!!!

[Joe cooper]

Re: Prebuy

Louie, You hit the nail on the head!! The email came from Jeff Iskierka who had quoted Mike Busch. I'm not on here to bash anyone or anybody's business. That's not my style. However, I do think that it is worth while to forewarn anyone that may be considering their services to be aware of their knowledge limits of Taylorcrafts.

Hank is right on the money. It's probably best to stick with someone within the group or at least someone that you know has decent tube and fabric knowledge with a side order of taylorcraft experience.

Joe, I spoke with Lou about the Taylorcraft he has for sale. He took it in on a trade for a new Cessna after an older gentleman had a prop strike with it. The engine was rebuilt and he is now selling it. I was getting ready to go up and look at it but after looking closely at some pictures he provided I decided it wasn't the right plane for me. 30 year old fabric, sheet metal beat up a bit and the paint color doesn't match. Some paint is coming off of the cowling. It would be a good airplane for someone that wouldn't mind recovering it in the next few years. Just my opinion!!!

Everything's a trade off. The engine is redone. That's a biggie. It has not sold but the weather has been terrible. I have only seen the picture of it and don't know the history which is important. If it could be bought for say 19 grand and slowly be touched up it might be a good buy. If it's always been hangared it might just be ok. Check on a 65 overhaul, see how much it costs. I'd want to speak with the former owner for sure. It could need recovering soon, or it could fly ten more years, who knows. Depends on how it was cared for. It's impossible to tell unless you are standing there with it.

[vetdrem]

Re: Prebuy

Chris, I sent you pm

Louie

[Joe cooper]

Re: Prebuy

The fellow who just posted, lives near Rochester, is very close to Dunkirk. He now flys the sister ship to the one I used to own built by Russ Hardy. His is an 85 hp I think and is very very nice. He MIGHT go over and look at Lou's airplane and give you a heads up. I was very fortunate to have found that airplane, looked a long time. I think it's getting harder and harder to find a real nice one. Good luck.