Jonathan -

Happy to answer any questions or share my experience as a former aerostar J2BD owner... Short story is posted above in my comm's with Iain..

Mike

With all due respect, are you sure you know what you're getting into?

Scroll up a bit and read Iain's post.

Jonathan,

The answer to you question really depends on what you want to do with this airplane, especially if you already know what is involved in the care and feeding of a -J2BD powered A*. If you plan on keeping it forever so resale doesn't matter it might be a good deal; at lease as far as speed per dollar. Different story if you ever try to sell it.

As anyone who has looked at twin prices in the past decade will tell you a lot of these planes are rapidly becoming close to being free to a good home... A quick look will find a nice Duke selling for the same dollars as a tricked-out Piper Cub... Strange days indeed. So the majority of dollars spent on any twin better be looked at as a sunk cost, but especially so with a A* with 'Ho engines. A sweet -J2BD powered Star will fetch 1/2 what the same plane would bring wit U2A's, and probably sit on the market for a long time to boot.

Up here in AK I see the same thing with guys the want to know what I think of buying a "bargain" Piper Pacer, Stinson, Champ and so on. 5K for a complete airplane with a mid-time engine, what a steal!!! Not so fast; 25K for a re-cover, 10K to fix the rusty engine after it sat for years, new tires, wheels, exhaust, a few radios and so on and soon you are the proud owner of a 50-70K plane, not counting all your labor that will never sell for more than 35K, and only then if you spring for a few "Alaska" mods.

Love the plane? Go for it, just remember to look at any money you spend the same as you would a vacation to Las Vegas.

Jeff

The ad on BT list 20 hours since overhaul...same bird?

If sitting for a while I would subtract at LEAST 60K from a regularly flown airplane.
If mid time J2BD engines plus sitting for a while plus your adventuresome spirit I might Pay $100AMU's for it AFTER I made a copy of Forrest Wards new bird prebuy tips posted back on this thread in about 2017 and then flew this bird for 4-5 hours to see how many pages the squawk list becomes.

Good luck

I have a 602P-702P with all mods including 5.5Pressurization, GW increase, wingtips, new paint and interior, old panel, low time airframe, 1450 hrs on U2A engines.

While getting recurrent training with Lester Kyle a couple months ago we flew into Jimmy Mullins airport for gas. I asked Jimmy what my bird was worth. His answer took my Aerostar smile away...for about 2 min

For me...worth every penny that I have put into my Aerostar

Yep. Bought my 601P for $89K. Overhauled engines and did upgrades for $140K. Got $120K for it when I sold it with 50hrs on engines...

The above reasons seem to be why the 600s are selling for the same OR MORE than the rest of them. Wouldn't you know that the one that I would be after is still somewhat holding it's value (for a light twin)



Ron

perspective attitude expectations

If you bought a 1.6 Million dollar airplane and sold it in two years for 1.45Mil would you be upset?
You shouldn't be

An Aerostar that is purchased then lovingly taken care of and often flown for two years will become reliable...turbine reliable....sure

Fair enough. How's it been then?

After much agonizing, my Aerostar is formally for sale.
Just not using it enough only flew 80 some hours last year.
And way less than that for the first half of this year.

Please don't contact me, I'm selling it through Kent Larson.
You can find the ad on Trade A Plane.

I've put at least 400 AMU into the bird . Asking 199 AMU.
Fresh (1 mo old flightshop annual)


Paul

Paul GLWS - your Aerostar looks well cared for and updated nicely.

Hey Brad, if you ever need to "step up" to something more capable let me know. I'm sure your bird isn't worth much with those high time engines, but maybe I could take it off your hands for a disappointingly low sum. At least the loss would be tax deductable if you have it in a business?

While getting recurrent training with Lester Kyle a couple months ago we flew into Jimmy Mullins airport for gas. I asked Jimmy what my bird was worth. His answer took my Aerostar smile away...for about 2 min[/quote]
Hey Brad, if you ever need to "step up" to something more capable let me know. I'm sure your bird isn't worth much with those high time engines, but maybe I could take it off your hands for a disappointingly low sum. At least the loss would be tax deductable if you have it in a business? [/quote]

That's what friends are for!

Jg

...

Anyone have recommendations on center console overlays?? I desperately need mine replaced.

I would call the Flight Shop in Brigham City - I think they were making pilots and co-pilots sub-panels and pedestals.

You may just have to have those fabricated or buy used to do it on the cheap.