Is this plane worth it?
 

Hi guys, I saw this listing on cl and was thinking about buying it, just wanted to see what some more experienced guys thought, anything I should ask?
1960 Cessna175-A Airplane

Depends why you are buying it. Sounds like its been sitting awhile and if that engine has never been overhauled its 50+ years old. The G.O. 300 is a geared engine with a fairly low TBO. There was an STC to replace it with a Lycoming O360. So for starters your looking at $30000 or more just for the engine. You can find decent older C172 currently flying for around that. It's is a little larger than a C172 and could be a nice project but probable not worth it if your just looking for something cheap. Get the story on the engine.

I think so. Make sure it's thoroughly checked out. If it's in sound shape, and you have a full health check on the engine, including an oil analysis, buy it and fly the pants off of it.

If you can't afford to drop 10K into it at the drop of a hat, don't ever buy any plane, cheap or expensive.

Is this plane worth it?
 

If it flies, floats, or you know what, it's cheaper to rent it than buy it.

As Toast said -- depends on what you want to use it for.

Some red flags
Out of Annual
Craigslist
5K OBO
Don't know much about that engine - are parts readily available?

About what to ask:
Do they have the full logbooks? All ADs complied with?
Any Damage history? NTSB Aviation Database Query Page
Clean title?
Are the radios compliant (the 25/8khz spacing thingy)?

I have only gotten one email response from the selller so far, they said no damage history, but it has been sitting for the last 10 years, still waiting to get some more info

Plan on a new motor.

he said he would take 4000, I just dont know how much I could afford to put a new engine in it. Seems like the airframe alone has to be worth something

The worst thing for an engine is to "sit". Now if they knew it was going to sit and did the "mothball" maintenance - maybe.

I don't know if it's Lycoming, Continential, or a general rule of thumb, but I've heard the engine is to be reman'd/replaced at TBO OR after 10 years. I am aware TBO is only a recommendation, and that there are well cared for and routinely used motors that are well past TBO.

Another flag - "new custom interior". From my flying club days, some members were more concerned about appearance than avionics upgrades, etc. How "new" is the interior? I also notice there is no mention of the prop in the ad. It might need a new one.

Can you tell us what you want the plane for?

The Skylark Association

Cessna Owner Organization


Just look at the cost of an overhauled GO300 (that's a geared engine, btw), add it to $4000.00, and compare it to the cost of a barely airworthy 172 of similar vintage. Then think of everything else that you'll have to do to get this thing flying (ten years, outside, corroding :eek:). Then think how long it's going to take. Add a fudge factor, since there's always stuff you never thought of. Doesn't look good, does it?