Would you buy an aircraft off eBay?

[DarkSarcasm]

On eBay at the moment is a partially built Zodiac 601 HDS. Apparantly the airframe is done, just needs engine and instruments (and presumably paint and interior upholstory etc).

 

Assuming I had $24,000 to spend (well, I could spend that and just be broke, but that's not really my goal. Interestingly, my Dad found it, looking at aircraft on eBay, maybe I should try to exploit this? ), it doesn't look too bad a deal - all the initial construction etc is done.

 

Would you buy an aircraft off eBay? i_dunno

 

How would it work with buying a partially (or nearly?) constructed kit with regard to the 65% (?) personal construction that is required for homebuilts? (is 65% right?)

 

How much would it (roughly) cost for an engine and instruments and paint? Any idea?

 

And, lastly, although this should perhaps go in the Zenith part of the forum, anyone know what a Zodiac 601 HDS is like to fly?

 

ADDITION: I saw a thread on the Zenith forum about the wings falling off 601XL, would that relate to this model, 601 HDS, at all?

 

Not sure if this is the right part of the forum for this question Ian, so you're welcome to move it...

 

 

[leestanley]

Well, it is in Melbourne so having it thoroughly checked out will be easy. I would have no qualms about buying from eBay... standard precautions apply in terms of inspection, seller motivation, etc and further investment to have her airworthy - but yr asking all the right questions. you'll need a decent shed though!

 

cheers

 

 

[DarkSarcasm]

According to the seller, it's probably going to cost another $13,000-$15,000 to get it into the air....I wish I wish I wish I were wealthy (unfortunately, I don't think I can convince my Dad into going halves of a $40,000 aircraft...)

 

 

[winsor68]

I saw that aircraft... Looks like a really good opportunity for someone to get a good solid aircraft at what seems to me a very reasonable price. You need daddy and a partner and you can do it darky.

 

 

[Bill Hamilton]

Folks,

 

This sounds like 90% complete, with 90% to do.

 

Chap I know bought a SA 227 Metro 11 on eBay, worked out to be a very good deal, but I guess that's a bit different to a home built.

 

Regards,

 

 

[Guest Baphomet]

Probably very good value, the starting price is about the same price as a new XL kit (dealer has a special on at the moment) This is the ver, that doesn't shed its wings, and its been put together by someone who has already built 3 Zodiacs (he says) If I hadn't just bought a plane, I'd go for it myself. Most of the tedious stuff has been done, find a used Rotax 912, get it o'hauled, buy a six pack of basic instruments, and you could be flying it in under 12 months.

 

I'm assuming everything he says in the ad is true :-)

 

Baph

 

 

[Guest basscheffers]

How long is a piece of string?

 

Engine and instruments can be as cheap or expensive as you want. You could spend $25K(?) on a brand new 912ULS, or an auto conversion for a few thousand. And anything in between.

 

Second hand tacho, few temp/psi guages, ASI, altimiter, compas and you are done and legal for a few hundred bucks. And from there up to tens of thousands, whatever you want!

 

 

[facthunter]

from Ebay.

 

Nothing wrong with finding it there. Buying any aircraft especially a partly built one the standard advice is to have an (expert/experts) preferably on the type, go over it. You MUST do this., even if you have to pay for it Talk of price, value suitability are fine and necessary but must not override the essential of getting the work done inspected.. Usually a part built kit sells for less than the cost of the kit because of the unknowns, so that tells you something. Nev

 

 

[DarkSarcasm]

I would definitely get it inspected before I looked at buying it. Right now I'm just curious as to whether it's even worth considering getting it inspected!

 

Even if I could afford it, I honestly don't know how I'd finish it. I don't really know much about DIY and just looking at instruments and wondering how to install them gets me freaking out.

 

I guess anyone who builts an aircraft generally has no idea what they're doing at the start though...

 

Any ideas how much the finished aircraft might be worth?

 

 

[sseeker]

Hi Darky,

 

I'd have no problem buying off eBay if it's all inspected & what you want.

 

Remember you can always restore it over time ;)

 

-Andrew

 

 

[Guest rocketdriver]

Hi Darky ...

 

My limited experience (building a car from a basic "kit") is that it costs at least twice as much and takes at least twice as long to complete as your worst case first estimate!!

 

But.

 

Its at least twice as much fun as you first thought it would be and you have a much more intense feeling of ownership and a much better understanding of the finished project ..... Go for it!!

 

Seriously though you can control costs by fossicking about for the right bits at the right price, but at the expense of an extended build time .....

 

 

[djpacro]

DarkSarcasm, it seems to me that you are a lawyer and a pilot not an aeroplane builder. Consider how much effort (convert that to $ at whatever rate you think it is worth - nothing if you like building or the cost of getting some-one to help you, for example) and expense (you would be surprised how much expensive bits an aeroplane can absorb) might be required to get it going then compare it with the price of a second hand aeroplane.

 

Good subject for the chat room sometime.

 

 

[Guest rocketdriver]

DJP, you make a good point ... I enjoyed building the car, but then I like that sort of stuff ... and needed to as I put in 5 evenings and one full day every week to finish the project in about 15 months .....

 

 

[DarkSarcasm]

DarkSarcasm, it seems to me that you are a lawyer and a pilot not an aeroplane builder.

Yes, DJ, I think you're right, that's one of the things I've been wondering about. I'm not sure if I'd dislike doing it, since I've never really tried, but I don't think I'd have enough of the required skills so I'd definitely need some help.

 

Overall I don't think it's worth it. Plus I'm wondering if it's a little premature to decide on an aircraft this early in my flying adventures, in case I decide I'd like a taildragger or go to GA and get into aeros and want a little aeros machine or something. :)