Buying a Micro Light
Posted: Thu Oct 23, 2008 4:26 pm
Buying a micro light aircraft (trike in my case) is a uniqe experience. You have a budget for a R 50,000-00 plane but start looking at R 100,000-00 planes. Eventually you realise that it is not yet Christmas and you need to lower your expectations. Now you looking at R60,000-00 planes and harass the owners to lower the price. After kicking tyres, pulling and pushing bars, starting up engines, watching it fly and seriously looking for "defects" that will save a few thousand bucks on the price you find that plane that speaks to you, just to realise that it is R 5,000-00 over your budget. There is no extra funds as the wife, bank, employer and whole family think that you are mad and looking for a way to hasten your expiring date.
Eventualy after kicking the owner in the nuts and in the face while he is down you get YOUR price, albeit R 3,000-00 more than budgetted.
At last the plane belongs to you and suddenly you realise that the colour scheme and a few thousand other things are not entirely to your liking (The plane was perfectly flying and maintained when you bought it)
So,
A new paint job,
New GPS,
A newer GPS,
New seats,
New tyres,
New comms,
New instruments.
And ?
You HAVE the money to do this, and most of this "upgrading" are considered bargains as it was barterred via Microlighters or services rendered by forum members. Your R 53,000-00 plane end up costing R 65,000-00 and it was the best buy of your life, till you start all over again.
Can`t wait to purchase my second plane.
My N$ 36,000-00 Windlass end up as N$ 44,000-00 plane. Added GPS 12 and later GPS 196, Boom extension, New tyres, Two helmets, Saddle bags (Donated free of charge - Forum member), Paint job and about a thousand other things I can`t remember.
Enjoy being a Micolighter, and remember that Micro Lights do not really age, but rather are in a state of continious upgrading.
Eventualy after kicking the owner in the nuts and in the face while he is down you get YOUR price, albeit R 3,000-00 more than budgetted.
At last the plane belongs to you and suddenly you realise that the colour scheme and a few thousand other things are not entirely to your liking (The plane was perfectly flying and maintained when you bought it)
So,
A new paint job,
New GPS,
A newer GPS,
New seats,
New tyres,
New comms,
New instruments.
And ?
You HAVE the money to do this, and most of this "upgrading" are considered bargains as it was barterred via Microlighters or services rendered by forum members. Your R 53,000-00 plane end up costing R 65,000-00 and it was the best buy of your life, till you start all over again.
Can`t wait to purchase my second plane.
My N$ 36,000-00 Windlass end up as N$ 44,000-00 plane. Added GPS 12 and later GPS 196, Boom extension, New tyres, Two helmets, Saddle bags (Donated free of charge - Forum member), Paint job and about a thousand other things I can`t remember.
Enjoy being a Micolighter, and remember that Micro Lights do not really age, but rather are in a state of continious upgrading.
