Any Aztec owners/flyers in the group?

[Jim Burns]

Currently looking at a mid 60's Aztec C that is low time and in beautiful
shape. I'm wondering if anybody has experience with the maintenance and
problem areas of an Aztec. I already know to plan on 4 times the $$ for
maintenance of a single, I'm looking for real life experiences both good and
bad.

Thanks,

Jim Burns


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[Kyler Laird]

"Jim Burns" > writes:

>Currently looking at a mid 60's Aztec C that is low time and in beautiful
>shape. I'm wondering if anybody has experience with the maintenance and
>problem areas of an Aztec. I already know to plan on 4 times the $$ for
>maintenance of a single, I'm looking for real life experiences both good and
>bad.

I suggest that you be more specific - especially about what it is that you
want that hasn't already been discussed here.
http://groups.google.com/groups?q=group%3Arec.aviation.owning+aztec

--kyler

[Jim Burns]

Ok, let's start with average annual maintenance and insurance costs,
unforeseen "gotchyas" that ended up costing more than 10% of the purchase
price to fix, hydraulic power pack failures or rebuilds, cost of heater
rebuilds, cost of flap torque tube inspection or replacement, cost of
hydraulic hose replacement due to AD.

A lot of those things I can get estimates from shops on, but I'm looking for
some real world experiences such as "We had our Aztec in the shop to have
the torque tube inspected and they found this or that and we about died at
the cost of having it repaired."

Jim


"Kyler Laird" > wrote in message
...
> "Jim Burns" > writes:
>
> >Currently looking at a mid 60's Aztec C that is low time and in beautiful
> >shape. I'm wondering if anybody has experience with the maintenance and
> >problem areas of an Aztec. I already know to plan on 4 times the $$ for
> >maintenance of a single, I'm looking for real life experiences both good
and
> >bad.
>
> I suggest that you be more specific - especially about what it is that you
> want that hasn't already been discussed here.
> http://groups.google.com/groups?q=group%3Arec.aviation.owning+aztec
>
> --kyler


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[Kyler Laird]

"Jim Burns" > writes:

>Ok, let's start with average annual maintenance and insurance costs,
>unforeseen "gotchyas" that ended up costing more than 10% of the purchase
>price to fix, hydraulic power pack failures or rebuilds, cost of heater
>rebuilds, cost of flap torque tube inspection or replacement, cost of
>hydraulic hose replacement due to AD.

I replaced my heater with one of the new ceramic core electronic
thermometer versions a couple years ago. It still doesn't work.
Hose replacement has been ongoing during our restoration.

I've overhauled the power pack but that was awhile ago. I also
had the torque tubes replaced (with steel) a couple years ago when
it was a service bulletin. I looked for the bill but haven't found
it. It was part of a bunch of other upgrades and repairs so I don't
recall the cost.

Considering that I paid "only" $25K for my C model (as "scrap"), yes,
most of these things cost more than 10% of the purchase price. I'll
look for some bills but mostly I try to forget them!

>A lot of those things I can get estimates from shops on, but I'm looking for
>some real world experiences such as "We had our Aztec in the shop to have
>the torque tube inspected and they found this or that and we about died at
>the cost of having it repaired."

Learning that our props and hubs were worthless was quite a setback.
Any *decent* inspection should uncover that though.

A C model shouldn't have corrosion thanks to the zinc chromate. I'm
not thinking of any single things that should be real killers.

--kyler

[Jim Burns]

I noticed that one time you and your partner had a website about the
restoration. Any chance of that site still existing somewhere? Are you
planning on flying up to OSH?
Thanks,
Jim

"Kyler Laird" > wrote in message
...
> "Jim Burns" > writes:
>
> >Ok, let's start with average annual maintenance and insurance costs,
> >unforeseen "gotchyas" that ended up costing more than 10% of the purchase
> >price to fix, hydraulic power pack failures or rebuilds, cost of heater
> >rebuilds, cost of flap torque tube inspection or replacement, cost of
> >hydraulic hose replacement due to AD.
>
> I replaced my heater with one of the new ceramic core electronic
> thermometer versions a couple years ago. It still doesn't work.
> Hose replacement has been ongoing during our restoration.
>
> I've overhauled the power pack but that was awhile ago. I also
> had the torque tubes replaced (with steel) a couple years ago when
> it was a service bulletin. I looked for the bill but haven't found
> it. It was part of a bunch of other upgrades and repairs so I don't
> recall the cost.
>
> Considering that I paid "only" $25K for my C model (as "scrap"), yes,
> most of these things cost more than 10% of the purchase price. I'll
> look for some bills but mostly I try to forget them!
>
> >A lot of those things I can get estimates from shops on, but I'm looking
for
> >some real world experiences such as "We had our Aztec in the shop to have
> >the torque tube inspected and they found this or that and we about died
at
> >the cost of having it repaired."
>
> Learning that our props and hubs were worthless was quite a setback.
> Any *decent* inspection should uncover that though.
>
> A C model shouldn't have corrosion thanks to the zinc chromate. I'm
> not thinking of any single things that should be real killers.
>
> --kyler


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[Kyler Laird]

"Jim Burns" > writes:

>I noticed that one time you and your partner had a website about the
>restoration. Any chance of that site still existing somewhere?

http://www.ecn.purdue.edu/~laird/flying/Aztec/ScottM/

>Are you
>planning on flying up to OSH?

Oh, I've been thinking about it. I have to be in Pennsylvania for a
(Python robotics) workshop on Aug. 2 so I'd need to try for one of
the earlier days.

Are Aztec people congregating at any special times? I don't see any
type club meeting.
http://airventure.org/2004/groups/type_clubs.html
It's time for me to see which forums I'd most like to catch...

--kyler

[Jim Burns]

> Oh, I've been thinking about it. I have to be in Pennsylvania for a
> (Python robotics) workshop on Aug. 2 so I'd need to try for one of
> the earlier days.
>
> Are Aztec people congregating at any special times?

Not that I am aware of, but if you find out anything, please pass it my way.
Thanks again
Jim


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