On 1-Apr-2004, "Kai Glaesner" wrote:

imagine you consider byuing an older airplane, e.g. a Piper from the Pa-28
Arrow series: is there an age (or a year of birth ;-) you would not
exceed? If yes, for what reason (e.g. may be that corrosion-protection was
not
usual before that year, or that copper was so expensive, they used
something
less conductive as a replacement)?


There are a number of factors at work here. Fist of all, purchase price:
All else being equal, most people would prefer a newer airplane but budget
dictates how much they can spend. Barring collectible/antique factors,
purchase price generally goes down with age. So do annual hull insurance
costs. But it is crucial to remember that maintenance and other costs
(direct operating, hangar/tiedown, liability insurance) do not. Other than
depreciation, it will cost about as much to own and fly a 30 year old
airplane as it will a 5 year old version of the same model. Maybe even
more, since the older plane is likely to require more maintenance.

Corrosion is certainly more likely to be a problem with an older airframe,
but that's not a hard and fast rule. I've seen 40 year old airplanes that
have been well maintained and are totally free of corrosion. I've also seen
10 year old airplanes that look like they might dissolve any minute.

One major reason a buyer might choose to limit the age range he/she would
consider is that most models undergo refinements/improvements over the
years. For example, Piper Arrows got a much-needed cabin stretch in the
early '70s. Then, with the Arrow III version in '77 they got much greater
fuel capacity (which increased range from adequate to awesome).


-Elliott Drucker