In article nN_xc.23080$HG.18275@attbi_s53, Jay Honeck wrote:
How about it? Are *you* flying a "beater?" Or do you know anyone who
does? What's going on here?

Flying a beater is a false economy - or rather, it's a false economy to
skimp so it becomes a beater. The trouble is once it becomes a beater,
it's vicious circle - often it costs more to keep it running as a
marginal beater than it would cost if it had been kept in good condition
all along. Of course, the cost to turn a beater into a nice plane is so
high, once a plane's a beater, it's unlikely it will ever be anything
other than a beater.

--
Dylan Smith, Castletown, Isle of Man
Flying: http://www.dylansmith.net
Frontier Elite Universe: http://www.alioth.net
"Maintain thine airspeed, lest the ground come up and smite thee"