Some Rotting Planes

SixPapaCharlie

SixPapaCharlie

May the force be with you
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So my new to me home field is undergoing construction of a new runway.
The place is a ghost town. I decided to go up and check it out.

New Runway:
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There are a lot of planes there that are in great condition. The people probably couldn't find hangars or were willing to wait it out.

But these.... Amazes me that people will pay for hangar space for years and years for a plane that is destined to rot.

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But you know they're going to get those planes flying Real Soon Now...
 
I find this sort of thing depressing.

And, unfortunately, repeated at airports all across the continent.
 
The Navion is probably worth the effort. And maybe the Mooney. Not sure about the Aztec. I think it's an Aztec.
 
Greg Bockelman said:
The Navion is probably worth the effort. And maybe the Mooney. Not sure about the Aztec. I think it's an Aztec.
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Looks like an older Baron to me.
Those nav lights on the top of the wings and the shape of the gear doors give it away. Maybe an old A55 model?
 
GRG55 said:
Looks like an older Baron to me.
Those nav lights on the top of the wings and the shape of the gear doors give it away. Maybe an old A55 model?
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You're probably right. Aircraft identification is not my strong suit.
 
Travel Air. And it is probably salvageable, depending upon what's under the cover. Engines are Lycs, 360s.
 
Can never explain how you can just let an aircraft,that was probably your prized possession,die. It's not even good for sentimental value .sell it or give it away.
 
Always sad... I think about how, one day, the plane was taxied over after a flight, put away, likely not known by pilot or plane that it would never fly again...
 
We have ghost planes on my field (all enclosed hangars, no outside storage) and on most airports I have been to. The owners of our ghost planes, to a man, refuse to sell. They are going to get them flying again. Someday.
How long will your new runway project last?
They are repaving the 9-27 at HYX. It is going to be done in three stages to avoid shutting the runway down for more than 30 days at a time. The current pavement (tarvy) is 20 years old and was guaranteed for 15 years. It has gotten a bit rough in recent years. They will install the same pavement as the previous. I won't be around in 20 years to see if it lasts.
 
They had said 60 days. When I was up there they said they were ahead of schedule and looking more like 45. I hope so.
 
I know that Mooney was there in that same spot and condition 5 years ago. The guy renting him the hangar said it has been there for 15 years. $150/ mo x 15 yrs is 27k
 
If that's the Navion I think it is, it hasn't likely flown since before 1995. It was "up for sale" when I was shopping for mine about that time. The owner had an ad in the magazines for it, but when we called we found he wasn't really interested in selling it. I think he put the ad in to appease his wife.
 
There's a Belanca Viking at my old airport that I would love to "rescue." Unfortunately I don't have the time or the money. At best, it will need engine overhaul, new muffler, new panel, new paint, new tires...

:sigh:
 
flyingron said:
If that's the Navion I think it is, it hasn't likely flown since before 1995. It was "up for sale" when I was shopping for mine about that time. The owner had an ad in the magazines for it, but when we called we found he wasn't really interested in selling it. I think he put the ad in to appease his wife.
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N91148
1946 Constructed as a NA-145.
22 May 2013 Civil registration, N91148, cancelled.
 
SixPapaCharlie said:
I know that Mooney was there in that same spot and condition 5 years ago. The guy renting him the hangar said it has been there for 15 years. $150/ mo x 15 yrs is 27k
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and the airport manager isn't going to do anything about it because, well, because $150/ mo x 15 yrs is 27k.
 
52F is privately owned as are the hangars. Management doesn't care.
 
There is a Bellanca Super Viking at KSIF covered in bird droppings rotting away. I sent the owner a letter looking to buy it, his response was "If I sell it I have to give my ex wife half, I would rather it rot away". I was going to offer him a dollar for it so she only got .50 but figured I better leave that one alone.
 
We've got an Aero Commander 100 that's been sitting in the same spot on the ramp for at least 10 years. At best it's nothing but a scrap candidate now.
 
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Unfortunately this exists at most sleepy airports, and even some non-sleepy ones. Walk around and you'll see planes that are deregistered and will never fly again. It's sad. In most cases the airplanes could fly again and there's nothing wrong with them, it's just a case of economics.

In a few cases, there probably are some people who will refurbish them. Some friends of mine have a 182 they've owned for about 35 years. The plane looked pretty rotten, although did fly (but ~10 hours/year, so not enough). They're now getting it back up to snuff some more with a new paint and interior on it. It'll look very nice when done.

But most of the time, these things should be going to junkyards to support the fleet that's actually flying.
 
This whole thread makes me weep. I'd love to be able to afford a decent used airplane. And here we have these poor saps just rotting away. Incredible.
 
I had the opportunity to nose around 52F last year when in Dallas for some training. Being an RV guy, and with 52F being something of note within that community, I was surprised to see the condition of the airport, the hangars, and all the ghost aircraft there. Sad.
 
eman1200 said:
and the airport manager isn't going to do anything about it because, well, because $150/ mo x 15 yrs is 27k.
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Not unless he can get that same 27K from someone who will also buy fuel and use other airport services. It depends on how much business sense the manager has.
 
frfly172 said:
Can never explain how you can just let an aircraft,that was probably your prized possession,die. It's not even good for sentimental value .sell it or give it away.
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It's probably about accepting reality vs letting your dreams die/fade. What would I do if I had health or family problems? I don't know. But if I sold my plane, maybe it would be a little like giving up, like no hope for a turnaround? I don't know. The odds have it that a few of us on POA today may be "that guy" with the dusty, waspy, deflated tire plane in 10-50 years. Hopefully not me (can't see it, but I'm sure neither could they).
 
SixPapaCharlie said:
The Cherokee 140 in the photo has wasps in the cabin. I tried to get a photo but there were just a lot of wasps everywhere and I can be a little girl about that sort of stuff so I just ran away squealing instead
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Interior pictures of an old 140 are not worth getting stung over.
 
455 Bravo Uniform said:
It's probably about accepting reality vs letting your dreams die/fade. What would I do if I had health or family problems? I don't know. But if I sold my plane, maybe it would be a little like giving up, like no hope for a turnaround? I don't know. The odds have it that a few of us on POA today may be "that guy" with the dusty, waspy, deflated tire plane in 10-50 years. Hopefully not me (can't see it, but I'm sure neither could they).
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We bought the 414 from someone who was more or less such a man. He had 6 airplanes (including the 414). Over 90, had cancer, no medical, and really shouldn't fly anyway. He knew he had to sell them and he started the process of doing so, but it took a while and he wasn't in a huge hurry, despite having not much time left. In the end, he sold two - the 414 and a Baron - but the remaining (3 V-tail Bonanzas and a 421) did not sell prior to his death.

I think in most cases you're absolutely right - they feel that selling the plane would be like giving up on life. They want the hope that one day they'll fly it again, even though deep down they probably know otherwise. In the case of the 414, I think Mr. Rule (the gentleman who we purchased the plane from) died a happier man for having watched the 414 fly away to its new home, and knowing that it would fly again. He died a month or so after we took delivery.
 
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