Excellent investment opportunity.
Cheapest IFR aircraft to operate in the country - when I advertised for a very short period for private hiring I would get bombarded with requests which never were less than 20 block hours.. even upto 125 hours (at $235/hr that is nearly $30,000 from one hirer)... This is the aircraft for building hours on... Take it out and do laps in the air for 5-5.5 hours then return.. one take-off / landing fee... For night hours this aircraft is amazing, hirers can build IFR command time at the same time as their night hours in comfort and at an extremely competitive price.
Just explain to people building hours - that QANTAS do NOT care if it is a Cessna 210.. or a Cessna 150... It is still single engine piston to them.. all they care about is your multi, turbine and total time.
For an extra fee - the company name Shrike Aviation Pty Ltd and logos can be included in the sale - the aircraft already has Shrike Aviation as a wrap on the tail.
If you do not know what a Shrike is, it is a small bird that breaks the necks of it's prey, and impales it on spikes such as barb wire fences where it then feeds on them.. it is well known for taking down prey twice it's size.
This is THE BEST single engine trainer - in the country, if not.. the world... There is no substitute for the C150/C152 except for the C172 which has a higher operating cost and insurance cost... Pilots (especially students) think with their wallets.. if you can offer training or hour building cheaper, they will go with you.. AVGAS is going up in price, this can also run on MOGAS if needed..
If you are hesitant with the price, look at a comparable LSA or aircraft such as a Sling for training.. and in an LSA you cannot fly at night, you cannot do IFR, you have extremely light control loading so students have more accidents from touchy controls, the undercarriage of the C150 is solid spring steel, the nose wheel is over engineered.. it is designed for ham fisted student pilots... The O200A engine may burn 3-4lph more than a Rotax 912... However the cost saving from maintenance and mishaps far outweigh this... Also the 912 Rotax has a 2000 hour TBO that is engine running time (even on the ground)... The TBO for the O200A in the C150 is air switch time... Also the TBO does not apply for PVT and AIR WORK (training) so you can exceed TBO before needing overhaul - even reading some cases of O200A reaching 3000+ hours before needing overhaul... Compared to the O235 Lycoming in the C152 which I read rarely makes TBO..
This C150 is the M model, the last model of the C150, it is essentially a C152 airframe with an O200A engine.. which includes an extra 6 inches on the vertical tail to make handling crosswind landings far easier.
If you want to cut costs on face value, go get a Foxbat for the same price... And look at how many have had nose wheel collapses on the runway from students - which results in prop strike and engine overhaul.. all for what.. to save 4 litres per hour in operating cost?
Why not get an aircraft, that was designed around the same time as other legendary aircraft like the SR71.. where engineers would sit back and design the thing smoking cigars and drinking cognac and would say to each other - sure this size could do the job.. but let's double it so there will never be any issues - ever.
Also - there are at least 30,000+ airframes out there of this type.. parts are cheap.. easy to acquire... Instead of being carbon fibre or fibreglass.... Aluminium parts can easy be repaired and replaced quickly.
Currently with 2 x 85kg pilots it has a 1.5 hour endurance.
If you put an EarthX (lithium) battery in it.. that saves 8kg.. that means 2 x 85kg pilots with 2 hrs endurance... For solo pilots, it has 6 hours endurance with its long range tanks... Perfect for solo PPL or CPL Navs, or hour building where the student can get more hours at a cheaper price than using a C172.
To get an engineering order for an EarthX battery, (which is already FAA TSO approved).. you can speak to Wally Thompson at Thompson Aerospace at Jandakot airport.. and from memory I think it could be around $800 for that engineering order... By the way, all modifications on this aircraft have engineering orders so all are CASA approved.
This aircraft, is FULL IFR... RNAV, ILS, VOR..even NDB... It also has a coupled STEC-40 (roll-only) autopilot... But to teach IFR to students... They don't have to be overwhelmed with a high performance or complex aircraft and can just concentrate on the IFR procedures ONLY.. the C150 is so simple you can offer the cheapest and easiest PIFR or Single Engine IFR rating IN THE COUNTRY.. PIFR is becoming far more popular with your cirrus pilots etc now.. and having them able to train in a glass cockpit aircraft similar to theirs is a bonus.
Also... If you were a student, and you came and saw this aircraft... Then went and looked at another flight schools aircraft down the road with analogue instruments, worn out plastics, tatty carpet, shit paint etc ... And this was the same price.. which school would you go with?
So.. the Continental O200A (Rolls Royce - who by the way make THE BEST engines for airliners in the world....)... Has a 1800 TBO... And puts out an astonishing 100 horsepower... Now.. if you have any doubts about this engine.. just look at this quote:
"Sharp Nemesis (Formula One Air Racer): Powered by a "stock" Continental O-200, this aircraft dominated Formula One air racing in the 1990s and set 16 class speed records, famously clocking a top speed of over 290 mph (467 km/h)"
Yes.. that is not a typo... Yes you read that correctly... Now quick.. talk to your bank or your wife before this aircraft gets snapped up !!
As a side note.. if you do REALLY want to save that 4lph using a 912 over the O200A in the C150... And have a 2000hr TBO (running time) with a Rotax 912ULS.. there is an STC available to put the Rotax 912 engine in the C150.. which will then give this one a 7 hour endurance.. 18-19lph fuel burn.. 20-25% better take-off and climb performance.... Gain an extra 20-25kg in useful load... A CSU propeller... And about 100 knots cruise speed.
However, I think with the stock O200A engine this aircraft is perfectly fine... Especially for simplicity for students.
Sure you could buy another C150 / C152 for a bit cheaper.. but.. what is the engine like? What is the airframe like? How many hours? ...this one spent some of it's life with REX, and then was in private hands... Don't buy a liability, buy something that is solid, reliable and will not give you any issues... Ready to go to work and earn your business money !
Or buy the company name and start an aviation business without needing an AOC hiring the aircraft out privately.
This aircraft is ideal as an IFR and Night recency aircraft for all charter operators to use on the airfield.
22 LPH x $3.41 (AVGAS) = $75 / hr.
100 hrly = $2500 = $25 / hr.
Running cost = $100 / hr.
If you look at other C150 / C152 internationally.... They don't even have anywhere near as much avionics, finish, etc as this.. or long range tanks or anything.. and they are going for $180,000+ AUD.
85kt cruise
100 hourly costs around $2000-$2500
Long range tanks - 6 hours endurance
Full IFR Garmin glass cockpit
Autopilot
LED lights
Refurbished - presents as new.
22 LPH fuel burn
Patroller windows in doors
Engineered modificstions - all CASA compliant including the interior and exterior GoPro mounts.
Exterior
Exterior
GoPro mounts
Paint is 8/10
Interior
Interior
Cygnet leather wrapped yokes.
Leather seats
New carpet and plastics
Overhead headset plugs (cables don't get in way)
Overhead headset holders
Overhead GoPro mount
This monthly repayment estimate is provided by Overdrive Commercial Funding Pty Ltd (Australian Credit License: 389328) This estimate is based on a Chattel Mortgage, which is only available where the purchaser of the item intends to use the item for primarily commercial use. The term of this loan is based 60 months with 30% residual & subject to qualifying commercial assets and credit criteria. Fees and charges are not included in this estimate and may apply. If the item is a vehicle and is not listed with a drive away price, any repayment estimate does not include additional costs, such as stamp duty and other government charges. The term of this loan is 60 months. This estimate should be used for information purposes only and is not an offer of finance on particular terms. This repayment estimate is the estimated lowest repayment available from Overdrive Commercial Funding Pty Ltd’s panel of lenders and products for this specific item each day, and includes several assumptions about the item, purchaser, and loan specifics. All loans are subject to eligibility criteria and Overdrive Commercial Funding Pty Ltd loan approval process. A specific quote including details of all fees and charges, or loans for items with primarily or wholly personal use can be obtained via overdrivefunding.com.au or by calling 1800 954 124.
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