AFlyer

Due to my schedule, I planned to check out the airplane in January. But when I contacted the seller a week ago, he told me that the Avid is sell pending now. So I guess I will miss this one.

I have done some other study. For insurance (experimental airplane + 0hr student), that would be over $2K/year. Add on top the $1K/year tiedown and $1K annual conditional, this is $4K/year fixed cost. For my schedule, I think I can realistically fly maybe 50hrs per year. So the fixed cost alone would be $80/hr. Assuming $20/hr fuel cost, that puts my flying cost at $100/hr. I can probably rent wet at that rate. Maybe buying an airplane before license does not make financial sense in my situation? What do you guys suggest?

Thanks, Akflyer. Jim had a similar comment and wonder if it is really a full MK IV. I will check it out and get more pictures. Is there any specific areas that I should photo? Thanks a lot.

Thanks. Have you seen my PM? Any feedback?

Good point about the insurance! I need to check that out to see if it makes that much sense financially. 

Thanks a lot, Jim. I guess I will have to hold on to it for a while before I can get that price.  I will check on the serial number with the seller.

Edmo,

Marverick? Do you mean Murphy Marverick? That's a cool airplane too. Much respect. Maybe you can at least spare a few minutes to take a peek and help me with some ideas.

Thanks,

Adam

Thanks, Edmo.

I am not concerned about competition. Indeed, if it is on Barnstomer, it is probably seen by everyone who wants to buy anyway.

What I was concerned is that those pictures were sent to me by the seller through private communication. So I take those pictures are private for my personal consideration only. I feel comfortable to share with my friends who help me with my decision, but not sure if it is fair to the seller to post this on a public forum for everyone (including those who has not registered) to see. I am just respecting the seller's privacy.

Sort like a dating game, we can talk and share pictures. I may show those to my friends. But to post it on a public forum is different, which I felt a bit uncomfortable to do though we are not talking about a person here.

Adam

I have some pictures that the seller sent me, including one with weight and balance sheet. I am not sure if it is fair to share it in public here. But I can send those in private message to people here who can help me checking if there is something of concern.

Thanks,

Adam

Hi Jim, Joey, Vance,

Thanks so much for the feedback. This forum is so helpful.

A bit about myself, I am new to flying. I have taken about 8 hours of flight lesson on a Champ so far. I liked low and slow kind of flying, and the idea of being able to land off-field really appeals to me. So I have set my eyes on Avid and Kitfox, and planned to buy one after I got my light sport license on the Champ. Things does not quite go as planned. The champ I am taking lesson on had an accident and is totaled (on ground accident, and luckily nobody is hurt). So I am facing a choice of continuing my lesson on C172 or I am thinking moving my purchase plan forward.

So here are the aircraft I am considering,

https://www.barnstormers.com/classified_1259058_Avid+MK+IV+Speedwing%2C2008+ELSA.html

Since it is in Southern Cal that's fairly close to San Diego, so I have contacted the seller and got some pictures. I am thinking about come up to take a look. I'd love to get some help from you guys. Am I crazy buying an airplane at this stage of learning to fly, or should I go with the C172 to get my license first (it will have to be a private license on C172 and takes longer)? I am mechanically inclined and consider myself pretty handy (being fixing my car for many years, playing around with lathe, mill, etc., built my own CNC router, 3D printers). But for my work schedule, I probably don't have much time to work on the airplane at this time, so I am definitely looking for something ready to fly.

What I like about this Avid is that it has 4-stroke Jabiru engine, and seems to be in good condition. It is built in 2008, and the seller told me that he is the 3rd owner. 145 hrs is a bit low, but the seller told me that he has another airplane and is looking at getting rid of one. Also, it is close enough that I can trailer it home since I don't have a license to fly it. Your ideas and thoughts are very much appreciated.

Adam

Hi there,

I am interested in an Avid which I found on Internet. I plan to check it out sometime soon. I am mechanically inclined, but I have never built an aircraft, and have never flown an Avid. I plan to bring a pilot friend with me, but he hasn't flown an Avid either, nor is he a builder. The aircraft looks good on photo, and is flying. Is there any particular areas we should pay attention to?

Thanks a lot for your suggestions.

Adam

That's a great deal. I am seriously interested. Originally I was planning to buy next year when I get my license, but this is almost too good a deal to pass by. I just send you a message.

Having fun reading this thread. Really cool.

I am a fellow Californian down south in San Diego. Still new to flying, learning my light sport license now. I have my eyes on Avid, and hope I will get out there. Thanks for the interesting thread.

That's great. I will definitely come here to ask for introductions once I have an airplane to fly.

Hi Mike, thanks a lot for the ideas. I'd love to explore these place once I get my license and a nice little airplane. A lot of great ideas you have mentioned. By the way, I have lived in Wisconsin for a few years. So flying to Oshkosh is definitely one thing on my todo list.

I have also been looking around and found a nice site called "shortfield". It has a map that has many out of nowhere airports. Unfortunately, almost all of those in California are blank with no information or pilot reports. I hope some one has done something like that for California. There must a lot of guys here who want to explore these places and exchange ideas.

Adam

That's cool. I will for sure ask him and everyone here for ideas once I have my airplane to play with. Thanks.

Thanks, Brett. I hope there will still be people who likes "old school" in the future. Other friends I talked to are dreaming about the turboprop bullets. :-)

I like going to places and have some good time. I read that you can land any place that BLM owns. There are some websites about various wild places one can land, but nothing about California. Maybe we are too crowded/developed here.

Adam

That kitfox looks cool, and the sound of the engine is sweet. 

I know a lot of good airplanes are far away from San Diego, which is in the corner of the map (I need to be careful not to invade Mexico accidentally). That's why I have decided to work for a certificate first. With a certificate in hand, my range of choices would be a lot wider, because I can fly an airplane home myself after I get it. I know that is not a great idea to fly a real long distance on an airplane that I barely know. But with some good planning no rush in schedule, I can manage the calculated risk. I could also drag along some older pilot friends for the trip.

Anyway, at the rate I am doing it, my LSA certificate is probably a year away from now. Let's worry about it when time comes, and I am sure things will go alright. 

Hi there,

I am from San Diego, and I am new to flying.

For some strange reason, I am always fascinated by the taildraggers for a longest time. So when I started to learn flying recently, I took a path less taken. I wanted a place where I can have my lessons on a taildragger (instead of a Cessna 152). After some research, I found one that is less than one hour from where I live, and now I am starting my lessons on a Champ (with no electricity). That's really cool! And my instructor is an wonderful gentleman who is in his late 80s (!!!) and he is as sharp as ever. Talking about classic old school!

My plan is to get to my light sports certificate in the next year. And I am looking at getting a Avid / Kitfox to fly around. I have been reading about airplanes for years. It took a lot of time for me to analyze the mission I want to do, I am fairly convinced that it needs to be a taildragger. Avid / Kitfox seems to fit that perfectly.

That's it for now. I will see you guys from time to time. If you happen to know anyone who has an Avid / Kitfox for sell, I would definitely love to know about it.

Thanks,

Adam