BeechTalk - BT

Username Protected · **Posted:** 08 Jun 2010, 17:56

When I first started in aviation, there was one sitting on the field, never moved for years, then one day it was gone. Red leather interior...neat, muscular looking airplane.

I bring this up because you rarely hear about these, and now I see there are two of them on the 'bay.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1964-Pip ... 19bcec184c

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Piper-PA ... 27b2659a2f

Just out of curiosity, wouldn't you like to fly one?...eight cylinders/720cubes/400hp :cheers:

that old girl just has to push you back in the seat. :thumbup:

Username Protected · **Posted:** 08 Jun 2010, 18:25

I just love that they built 'em at all.

The seller in the first listing is in dreamland on starting bid. Plus, what crackhead came up with that paint scheme? The factory original 400 scheme is a classic.

Username Protected · **Posted:** 08 Jun 2010, 21:21

He obviously just wants to have fun listing it and has no intentions of selling it. Junk radios, ugly paint, old interior, timed out $35k engine, and just an old airplane with doors that fit worse than particle board cabinets from Home Depot. I would not pay $50k for the plane.

Username Protected · **Posted:** 08 Jun 2010, 22:31

Username Protected wrote:

When I first started in aviation, there was one sitting on the field, never moved for years, then one day it was gone. Red leather interior...neat, muscular looking airplane.

......

Just out of curiosity, wouldn't you like to fly one?...eight cylinders/720cubes/400hp :cheers:

that old girl just has to push you back in the seat. :thumbup:

I have no desire to fly one... I'll take a Beech anytime.

Username Protected · **Posted:** 09 Jun 2010, 23:43

Believe it or not.. look it up.
List price for a new IO-720 crankshaft is over $100K

Username Protected · **Posted:** 10 Jun 2010, 00:05

Username Protected wrote:

Believe it or not.. look it up.
List price for a new IO-720 crankshaft is over $100K

Interesting. The entire engine (new, no core) retails for 140k.

Username Protected · **Posted:** 13 Jun 2010, 03:07

Username Protected wrote:

Believe it or not.. look it up.
List price for a new IO-720 crankshaft is over $100K

Interesting. The entire engine (new, no core) retails for 140k.

Username Protected · **Posted:** 13 Jun 2010, 08:07

I am not a big Piper fan at all, but they built several good airplanes. The Navahos and Aztecs are great airplanes. All the ragwing airplanes are great.... They built some poor airplanes too. All the Senecas are junk IMHO.. But none of these are great handling/fun to fly, airplanes.

The exception is the Commanches. All of them fly nice, All have a very nice wide comfortable cabin (for 4, not 6). They are relatively efficient and make good speed for the power they have. I only have one gripe about the Commanches, All three tires are the same size.... Piper knew they were going to be landed on the nose gear and so they put a big tire up there. Too bad they could not have added 2 or 3 inches to the main gear leg so you could dependably land on the mains, and then put a 5.00x5 up front.... I have not flown the 400, but my guess is that it is as bad or worse than the rest of them....

When I bought my Baron, I was looking for a Twinkie. It would have made more sense for my mission, but I found a Baron for sale, flew it, and just could not bring myself to settle for a Twinkie...

If I was forced to downsize, it would be to a twinkie, not a Bo.

Comanche 400