Officially joined the club with a 1964 Cherokee 180
Pre-buy came back with minor gripes. Needed new tires and nose strut serviced, so seller knocked off $1500 but was sold with fresh annual and IFR certification. Also turned up some interesting avionics history. It has the servos for autopilot, it had a 430 at one time and then a KLN90 which prior owner reported smelling smoke coming from it so pulled the breaker and had it removed. Plan to use for CPL training and for my wife to get her PPL and do some cross country flying especially after she retires as well. Since it has fresh IFR cert I'm not going to do anything with the panel for a couple years. Want to get a good idea of what exactly I want and where.
Unfortunately it will be next week before I'll be able to take her up until next week because of weather.
Comments
FickertFarms;
Welcome to the group! That's a beautiful bird, and a very capable platform.
If you have questions, post them here on the forum. There is a lot of knowledge, and the members are happy to share their expertise! Enjoy!
Jim "Doc Griff" Griffin
PA28 - 161
Chicago area
Ff,,,
Great starter bird. That should last u a long time with many possible upgrades. Carl
48 yrs A/P IA DAL aircraft inspector. 172N
Nice bird 🙂
Hang on to the wallet, the upgrade bug is very tough to tame.
While on the topic of upgrades, unless there is a reason to keep the plane pant-less, consider looking for a set. Despite the additional weight, this will pay for itself with either 5 - 7 knots faster cruise speed, or less fuel for the same current cruise speed.
Oh, and a tip from experience. Consider adding carb heat for a little bit while in the pattern, and then make sure to turn it Off by the time of turning Final. Chances are good that the POH will indicate to leave the heat in the Off position for most / all of the RPM range (or, alternatively, is silent). Reasoning is that I have actually encountered carb ice on a regular basis in conditions when it should not have existed (per the POH) and a hangar neighbor encountered carb ice while on Final during the Summer. Two different engines, but both were PA-28s with carburetors. At worst, this simple task will prove worthless and add one routine to the workload, and at best it will prevent an underwear changing experience due to something that is not supposed to happen.
The carb heat on is actually in the typed out checklist the prior owner made, he owned it for 22 years. I'm going through the POH now and making notes as the air speed indicator is in classic MPH with knots on the inner ring.
It has all the mounting hardware for pants and must have at one time. No idea what's happened to them in the last 60 years as plane came pantless to prior owner in 2003.
The IA that has worked on it the past 15 years said if I don't care about paint the flight school he works for has a set they are willing to sell for $400.
Wife is going to be working on her PPL as well since we have planes would be a good idea to know how to land it in case of in-flight emergency. We're in good health, but ain't getting any younger. Although I also have an Ercoupe that she could learn to fly on...