Need Advice - What to check when renting a plane?

My question is, when you first go to a FBO, what to check when seeing a
plane that you never flew on. How do I know that this plane is
maintained well?! Any advice would be appreciated.

1. Look at the planes. Ask to see the rentals. Sit in them. Examine
their general condition. Is the interior tattered? Are the
instruments tired looking? Is the paint faded and old? All of these
point to less-than-wonderful maintenance.

2. Turn on the master switch. Listen to the gyros spin up. Hear any
grinding noises? Turn the radios on, listen to the external speaker.
Hear any static? Switch from radio to radio. Does the audio panel
work right? *Is* there an audio panel? Check the tach time. Is it
in 5 digits? Look at the tires. Any tread? Look for leaks around
the plane(s). Check the condition of the plastic parts. Cracked?
Old? Hangar rash on the wing tips? All are clues.

3. Observe the FBO. How's the place look? Are there people around?
Check the magazines -- are they five years old? Use the bathroom. Is
it a pit? Is someone taking pride in the condition of the place, or is
it a dive? All are indicators.

4. IF everything above appears satisfactory, ask to see the aircraft
logbooks. (No sense in wasting your time if the first three items are
bad.) Make sure everything is there, going back to the date of
manufacture. If you want to be really anal, get a list of all ADs for
that model plane, and make sure they've all been complied with. (This
will take HOURS.)

5. Get checked out. Remember, you are checking THEM out as much as
they are checking you out. If the instructor is too casual -- or too
strict -- you may have trouble. See how the planes fly -- are they
straight and true? Can you fly them hand's off without too much rudder
trim?

We rented for four years, and during that time flew some real dogs. We
also flew some real cherries -- so be careful which one you pick.
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"