Re: What would you buy with a 50k budget?

Kirk Ellis wrote:

> Are half century old airplanes still  viable machines? It sounds scary
> buying something that is almost as old as I am. 

Mines 55. '53 Pacer that starts getting all new skin this week. Thats 
not a pricey as a new engine, but it sure ain't cheap either. New sealed 
struts (kills a repetative AD), new wind****eld, avionics upgrades, also 
new wheels, brakes, tires and a paint job when its all done. Then I'll 
consider a topend (135hp Lycosaurus)... 

My wing internals look brand new, as does the airframe. Geauxing through 
the logbooks, lots of stuff (tailwheels, pulleys, cables, wiring, 
instruments, never a complete fabric job though) has been replaced 
during those 55 years thats kept it in the good shape its still in. 
Course its easy to see everything when its ****d. Pretty tough to do 
with the average spamcan...
 
> The point about the cash is well taken. I may be able to work that
> out....of course the "partner" I share the boat with will have
> something to say about the equity line of credit.

If I had to rethink it, probably a partner****p in a decent retractable 
single engined Beech spamcan (just like Newps) or a flying club (ours 
had shutdown, had an old Cardinal). I've been in the Lancair's and 
flying faster than 240 mph (on 17 gph @[EMAIL PROTECTED]
 18k') sure is nice when from 
here to there is a far piece (crossing 4 or more states, especially one 
like Texas)...