Old trikes/high hours - why against them?

[GregH]

Hi folks,

Reading some of the forum posts here I get the impression that many frown on older trikes or those with high hours? I'm just curious to find out why this is so?

Let me explain, I bought an old (1987) Mainair Flash 2 Alpha with 562 hours on the airframe in the UK which I have not actually flown yet (you are not allowed to fly your own aerie in sweden until you have your license, I should have mine by March this year). The first thing I did was send the wing back to P&M Aviation for a strip down and rebuild where some parts were replaced. The wing sail is 5 years old (young) and it has always been hangared. It was however, in permit and current when I bought it in August and having checked over the engine and airframe it is in fantastic condition. Surely this kind of aircraft is safe????

Have there been a spate of accidents in SA which were attributed to old/high hours machines. I suspect that it is not the hours that is the problem, but the maintenance of said aerie. Or am I wrong?

[Morph]

If the aircraft has been well maintained there is no reason for it to be unsafe.

What you do get here is old trikes, standing in a hangar sometimes for up to 5 years, not started, wing fabric deteriorating, engine corroded, stainless steel cables rusting. This is very common. These get sold and the buyer just expects tojump in and fly. These are the planes people frown upon.

[GregH]

aaah, I get you Morph, thanks for that. Fortunately the UK is just 1300km away from here and there is an enormous supply of good, well maintained oldies like mine there.