Velocity26

I am just saying that, when you start into a very comprehensive pre-buy inspection, the lines blur with an annual.  If the annual is getting close, you might have well have just have the annual done for the pre-buy.   

Skipper, 

Where do you look?   You would have to literally take the airplane apart to check everything.  I think that the first thing would be to check the nose gear and firewall attachments.  If the broke the nose gear and replaced it, good enough.  If they neglected to see that it cracked stuff on the firewall, you could be in big trouble.  There are too many places that you need to check and Sellers are not happy about someone taking their airplane apart searching for stuff.   It gets expensive to do a comprehensive inspection ... not much different form an annual.

I have 2 airplanes that come to mind.  They were both listed as "No known damage history". 

I was searching the N number and found pictures of the Glasair just below the surface of a lake/river where the pilot landed it after losing power just after take-off.  90% of the airplane was submerged, including the engine and cabin, only the top of the tail was not dunked. 

The second was a Piper with "no known damage history" although there were a half dozen pictures of the airplane where it had been tied down during a hurricane, torn loose by the winds , gear collapsed, and wing damaged after being tossed around like a toy.  

3 hours ago, atrosa said:

Here is a stunning plane to consider:

https://www.controller.com/listings/aircraft/for-sale/25417471/2014-tecnam-astore

I think it will carry 511# so that is 210 (Funny that is my weigh too) + the misses 110 + 120 fuel (20 gallons)= leaves about 70 pounds whatever else you need.  CG permitting of course.

My "all in" budget for my airplane is about 90K (depending on the stock market) plus $ 700 per month.  I'm not saying I will go out and buy a 90K airplane, that is very short sighted..   I want to buy a 50K airplane and have 40K in reserve in case (when) I run into issues.

The day my lovely wife will get in a plane with me I'm going out to buy a used Cirrus.

  

Maybe not be as "Stunning" as those pictures might imply ... A lot has happened since those photos were taken.  

This is a perfect case of "Buyer Beware", so do your homework.

1 hour ago, Coffee said:

Hello Velocity26,

I am located in the Midwest and have no experience in a Sports Cruiser. I have only read how well the Sports Cruiser and the Bristell fly. I have been in an ancient Cessna 152 and a Piper 140. The 152 was more prone to bouncing around then the Piper. Perhaps it is a weight thing. Does the Sports Cruiser fly better than a 152/

The speeds are likely similar, but the SportsCruiser is like a sports car, handling wise, compared to the Cessna being an econo-box.  I have no experience with the Piper, although I would expect it to handle better than the 152 also.  

Coffee,

We have a lot in common!   I am also preparing to retire and have 30+ hours towards my PPL.   

I had wanted to wait until I had my license in-hand to get an airplane, but feel that I am close enough to make an educated decision, with the help of my friends here.

What part of the country are you in?  Have you flown much in a SportCruiser?

Leo

1 hour ago, Deltafox said:

I may have mentioned it here but didn't change it out. I was hoping a LOA would allow me to upgrade.  I'm averaging just under 200 hours per unit. I agree with the heat/cooling issue. 

Dave,  forgive me for not identifying myself, this is Leo ... a/k/a "the student from Hell".  

The rectifier may get hot in flight, but I have not noticed a warning light in flight.  I usually see the warning while on the taxiway,  after a long flight. 

2 hours ago, Deltafox said:

As I announced my exit from the runway, I was alerted to low voltage. I ordered a new Ducati voltage rectifier from Certus. It would be my 5th replacement since new. 

Didn't you change it out 3 weeks ago?