A harebrained scheme.

AlexP · Post by **AlexP** » 10 Nov 2006, 19:17

Whilst idly scanning the aircraft for sale section of ebay I came across this:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1946-BRI ... enameZWDVW

A 1946 Auster 6a a true classic British aircraft and with a current CofA!!!

I was then even more astounded with see that itâ€™s for sale for just $29,000 (with no apparent reserve). At the current rate of exchange thatâ€™s Â£15209.52 . . . for an airworthy aeroplane!!!

Now hereâ€™s where the harebrained scheme comes in.

Often when ebay throws up a classic Brit some wag will suggest â€˜why donâ€™t we club together and buy it for the forum!â€™.

But on this occasion, that suggestion isnâ€™t quite so easy to dismiss. A quick look at the member list sees our number at 1136 strong. Â£15209.52 divided by 1136 is a mere 13.38 each. Thatâ€™s not even as much as some payware aircraft!!!.

OK so itâ€™s not really a problem to buy the aircraft but then we come to the reality checks that are Transport, Storage, Running costs and Maintance.

Firstly, Transport: this isnâ€™t actually a problem because unlike most classic Brits which turn up on ebay this one isnâ€™t a huge, long dead, slowly rotting hulk. Itâ€™s a small aircraft which still has a CofA and as such is able to transport itself.

Storage: This also shouldnâ€™t pose a problem indeed the answer may well be hidden among our number. For example whoâ€™s going to notice, or indeed complain if another classic Brit should â€œmysteriouslyâ€

petermcleland · Post by **petermcleland** » 10 Nov 2006, 19:25

Well it's a jolly nice dream and I would certainly want to contribute but you would probably need to get a list of members who really would want to contribute...If you could get half the members to pledge support to the tune of about Â£50 then you might have a viable project

jonesey2k · Post by **jonesey2k** » 10 Nov 2006, 20:06

The only problem is that allthough this site has 1136, I doubt that even half of that number are active posters.

Would be fun it it really got off the ground though.

Post by **Garry Russell** » 10 Nov 2006, 20:17

Hundreds have never even made a post

There are relitively few active posters

Garry

ianhind · Post by **ianhind** » 10 Nov 2006, 20:33

So maybe the contributions should be according to the number of posts, Garry?

Edit: I've figured out that it is G-ARIH. The CAA site says that minimum insurance is about Â£1300, so that's a running cost.

I wonder where it is based - Grantham is about 10 miles from here.

Better photo:

http://www.solent-aviation-society.co.u ... edited.jpg

Tweek · Post by **Tweek** » 10 Nov 2006, 21:01

ianhind wrote:So maybe the contributions should be according to the number of posts, Garry?

I'll agree to that.

Post by **Garry Russell** » 10 Nov 2006, 21:34

Ah

But I get a 100% discount

Garry

cstorey · Post by **cstorey** » 10 Nov 2006, 22:26

I do not want to pour cold water on this , but no one with a genuine aeroplane sells it with " average hours", and with no information about the time left on the engine, etc not to mention with no details of registration etc. There is something rather odd about this I'm afraid, and I think a great deal more information is required . It's not all that cheap either!

ianhind · Post by **ianhind** » 10 Nov 2006, 23:03

Well if it's a stunt, he also has G-ALBK registered to his wife (?) up for sale on Ebay for $25000.

Maybe he just wants to get rid of them

Post by **Garry Russell** » 10 Nov 2006, 23:37

ianhind wrote:Well if it's a stunt, he also has G-ALBK registered to his wife (?) up for sale on Ebay for $25000.

Maybe he just wants to get rid of them

What G-ALBK and the wife :roll:

Garry