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New Varieze owner.. Help!


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Hello all.. I’ve been in the market for an EZ for a while and wanted a Long but I stumbled across a Vari that hasn’t flown in 5 years in central FL that was built by Gene Zabler that has 1600 hours airframe. It’s currently on Barnstormers and I’m considering purchasing it. As it sits, it needs to be repainted and some light wing structure work, and a chunk is missing from the right elevator trailing edge from the initial overlook. It has an O-200 with 50hrs since overhaul by Zephyr engines and a “new” prop, but the seller has no logbooks other than the build plans and overhaul papers. I’d like to get some insight on key items to look at during the pre-buy tear down. I appreciate any and all feedback!!

Thanks

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I commented on it earlier here FWIW.  

http://www.canardzone.com/forum/topic/21972-sales-ive-seen/?p=61043

 

Zephyr is a well-regarded overhauler but a 1600 hour engine is very nearly a run-out engine unless it had a full overhaul and that is not clear in the ad.  Even so, an engine that has sat in Florida for 5 years can have rust.  Unless Zephyr did a complete overhaul and there is no rust, I would discount the value of the engine.  

 

A Varieze that has sat outside in Florida also has a chance of corrosion in the wing-attach fittings.  Read up on that problem.

 

Painting a canard airplane is a huge job--sometimes as much work as the original finishing job.  Bad paint gets a big discount.

 

Who is Jerry Mobley and why does he still own this airplane?  

http://registry.faa.gov/aircraftinquiry/NNum_Results.aspx?NNumbertxt=39DT

Can you get the proper bills-of-sale to prove chain-of-ownership to the FAA?  Without those, you can't register it in your name.

 

Why are there no logbooks?   This is just bad.

 

IMO, it is way overpriced as it sits there today. 

-Kent
Cozy IV N13AM-750 hrs, Long-EZ-85 hrs and sold

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Hello all.. I’ve been in the market for an EZ for a while and wanted a Long but I stumbled across a Vari that hasn’t flown in 5 years in central FL ...

Ken has given you some good info to look into. I'll be more blunt. You do not want to buy this airplane. There is no history, the legal records are unclear, the engine has 50 hours on it since some sort of work that is NOT an overhaul or rebuild in a seven year period, it's in a high corrosion environment with no indication of what protection was performed on the wing attach fittings (which are completely uninspectable), etc., etc.

 

I wouldn't take this plane if it were free, unless I was looking for a large project and was willing to learn how to replace the wing attach fittings and actually rebuild the engine.

 

If you want a Long-EZ, get a Long-EZ - there are a lot of them for sale, and some of them are even good ones. GET A GOOD PRE-BUY EXAMINATION from a qualified examiner prior to purchasing any canard aircraft. I do them and I can recommend others who do them as well. Buy this Varieze and expect to be kicking yourself soon thereafter.

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Ouch! I truly appreciate the harsh truth from both of you.. All of those thoughts have run through my mind multiple times. I guess that’s why he’s eager to take $11,500 for it.

 

I’ll keep looking for a nice EZ! Can anyone point me in a good direction?

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Ouch! I truly appreciate the harsh truth from both of you.. All of those thoughts have run through my mind multiple times. I guess that’s why he’s eager to take $11,500 for it.

 

I’ll keep looking for a nice EZ! Can anyone point me in a good direction?

 

Kent has one for sale. A beautiful plane...

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I’ll keep looking for a nice EZ! Can anyone point me in a good direction?

 

 

http://www.canardzone.com/forum/topic/21972-sales-ive-seen/page-1

 

Kent has one for sale. A beautiful plane...

 

 

Thanks Barry but it has sold.  Just waiting for the California buyer to pick it up.

-Kent
Cozy IV N13AM-750 hrs, Long-EZ-85 hrs and sold

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