Author Topic: Is this a good deal for a Cessna O2-A? (Read 772 times)

Habu · « **Reply #15 on:** September 08, 2003, 05:25:50 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by Bodhi
I think it is a bit pricey. No mention on the fuel tank age, a major issue with O-2's. Also, how are the wing attach points and is there much corrosion? Those are things I would look into before I bought an 02. Also, are you gonna fly it in US or Canada? Make sure it can be US registered before you consider it as well.

Bohdi according to the vendor:

With reference to your questions. The fuel tanks are the original ones that came with the aircraft. All O2 fuel tanks were filled with a foam material that was for bullet proofing them. For civilian registration it was mandatory that the foam be removed and at that time the tanks were inspected and re-installed. The wing and spar on the aircraft were x-rayed and inspected as per the USAF maintenance manual and to meet with the required inspection stated by Cessna. The spar and wing skins are overbuilt and heavier then a standard civilian 337 to meet with the USAF requirements for wing mounted armament. The restoration was very simple for this aircraft since it was essentially under US government control since leaving Viet Nam. The aircraft was imported into the US from Honduras and all restoration records are available from the former owners. All maintenance and logbook records are here for inspection but please understand that there is a lot of stuff. Volumes and volumes. My suggestion is that you come and visit with me and we can sit down with a beverage and go through the aircrafts history. There is just too much material to e-mail.

SFRT - Frenchy · « **Reply #16 on:** September 08, 2003, 06:10:52 PM »

Fly easily on 1 engine? I have a little voice in the back of my head that tells me it will "not fly" if the front engine quits. You will be fine if it's the rear engine that quits. But it's just a voice in my head, I have no clue how it went there.

you know the saying for the Skymaster: "If you can load it, you can fly it".

Dago · « **Reply #17 on:** September 08, 2003, 08:49:59 PM »

Habu,

I suggest you have a complete pre-buy inspection done by a shop and or a mechanic who is experienced with the aircraft type.
Every aircraft has areas and issues that might not be apparent to someone who hasn't had experience with it. Get a written evaluation from them at the completion of the inspection.

Have a title search done by a professional search firm.

Consider a brief chat with a representative of the Canadien equivalent of the US FAA to make sure all registration and certification issues are clear to you and you can verify it is legal to operate.

Learn about any recent or reoccuring AD notes to the airframe, engines, props and accessories. Your shop should be able to help you with that. These can make very expensive surprises if you dont do your homework.

Corrosion is always a concern, and an aircraft can become economically unrepairable faster than you can believe if corrosion is not detected early and properly removed/treated.

Check on hangar, insurance and projected maintenance costs prior to purchase to know what you can expect the annual expenditure to be.

If you are purchasing with the thought of taking it to airshows, I might recommend checking with a few airshow organizers to verify that they would be interested in having your aircraft appear enough to cover costs. Many may just offer you fuel.

Good luck if you choose to buy it, I think it would be a blast to fly, and you could have many good times with it. Just do your homework well first to avoid any surprises. Many have learned that lesson the very hard way.

BTW, never trust an airline pilot. There are good ones, but there are those who's ego is only surpassed by their greed.

dago

Habu · « **Reply #18 on:** September 09, 2003, 04:06:32 PM »

Thanks for all the suggestions. I visited a shop today that has experience on Skymasters. They said a pre buy inspection would cost about 1,500 dollars and take about 2 days.

An annual will cost about 5,000 per year. With insurance and hanger fees and with a reserve for engines and props I am getting a pretty good idea what it will cost each year to have such plane. So far nothing is out of my budget.

Otto · « **Reply #19 on:** September 09, 2003, 05:53:46 PM »

That's a real nice looking A/C. You only have one life and you can't live it twice. If no one's going to be eating beans I say get it inspected and bargin for the best price you can . Good luck....

Habu · « **Reply #20 on:** September 19, 2003, 06:57:13 AM »

The price is a high but the main problem is he has sold the radios in the back. If you are going to buy a warbird you want it as authentic as possible for the future value.

There is a very complete one for sale at http://www.courtesyaircraft.com that is much less but needs an engine overhauled, new paint, and an annual at least and is only $65,000. But it is very complete. Even the gunsite is still in it.

Dago · « **Reply #21 on:** September 19, 2003, 04:03:37 PM »

Mark "Mark'em'up" Clark at Courtesy can find you a good plane, but his prices are always way too high.

dago

Otto · « **Reply #22 on:** September 19, 2003, 05:31:42 PM »

Wow!! I'm in love with that FM-2!!!