My club bought a really nice 182 6 months ago. I flew in it to do the GAMI testing.

My club bought a really nice 182 6 months ago. I flew in it to do the GAMI testing.

Is that one with a upgraded fuel injected engine or a post-restart model ?

Do you have to own a pocket protector to become a member in your club

Do you have to own a pocket protector to become a member in your club

Actually, the club started 46 years ago with a few "engineers" who worked for the FAA. We've talked about renaming it but nostalgia prevails.

Here's my story:
My daughter is 15 and will be 16 in September (hope to solo here on her 16th). She wants to be a Fed Ex pilot and has already taken her private pilot ground school. I'm a CFI so I can do most of her teaching (if we own the airplane).

We have very few options nearby. We have a flight school (with a 172 for $135/hr) at MTJ but the guy that runs it was out of town over the last year so it has mostly been shut down. The next nearest airplane is a 1:10 drive and its a 182 for $165/hr.

I have a friend that wants to partner on a Cardinal. Here's the listing:
http://www.trade-a-plane.com/detail/air ... 49297.html

It seems like a pretty good bird. 400 hours on the motor, NDH, talked to the owners and their shop and it sounds well cared for. Owners had it for 5 years and lost their medical. Paint, interior & radio stack are nothing to get excited about but mechanically its a nice plane. Its a 180hp and that's important around here (5200' elevation)

Here's my rough math:
Fixed
Payment $270
Insurance $1200 ($100/mo) ($40K hull)
Annual $1200 ($100/mo)
Tie down $25

Variable
Fuel (9gal/hr) $50
Oil changes ($100/50hrs) $5
Wear items ($200/50hrs) $10
Engine reserve (25K/2000) ($12.50)

If I'm correct on this stuff, the plane cost me $250/mo for fixed costs (my half) and $78/hr. I figure we will fly 10-20 hours/mo. I also assume I won't lose more than 10% of my investment if I sell it.

Here's my questions:
Is a Cardinal a decent trainer?
Anything to watch out for in these airplanes?
Can I get into any other airplane for a better price (I'm 6'5" so a 150 or 152 won't work - daughter is 6')
How does this plane look (seems like a great value to me)?
Anybody know a good shop up there for a prebuy?
Did I miss anything on the math?

This looks like a really good deal and under the market by maybe $5k. They already have a couple of other lookers. It seems we need to move quickly but that usually drives mistakes so I'd appreciate any and all input.

Lastly - I would keep the P baron, I don't see doing much traveling in a C177.

Thanks!

>> The 177 and 177A had a thin wing that has poor lift and high drag at low speed.

Actually, Byron, ALL Cardinals have the same airfoil. The only difference is that the '68 and '69 have a sharper profile to the leading edge. Beginning with the 177B (and all the RGs) that leading edge was made blunter for more docile stall characteristics... but the wing airfoil is the same.

What you may be thinking of is that the '68's with 150 HP could easily get behind the power curve, and with a high angle of attack, be fairly draggy. But there are good fixes for the '68's, either the 180 horse conversions discussed earlier, or high compression pistons, delivering 160 HP, plus PowerFlow exhaust. And, importantly, an aftermarket fixed cowl flap really improves climb performance.

>> the 180HP Cardinals from the factory had that (constant speed prop)

Starting with the 1970 model year, that is true. The 1969 model year had 180 HP and a fixed pitch prop. There's an STC to convert the '69, and the STC's to add 180 HP to the '68's come both ways, FP or CS.

Paul