I was a bit interested this morning too, so I did a quick hunt around 
on the internet. I think Daves guess is a bit on the low side.  
 
        Airframe : going by costs of 150/152 from the latest aviation trader 
(about 12 aircraft) costs range from 30k to 65k but typically fell in 
the 45-55 range for aircraft with about 6000 hrs on the airframe. (the 
$30k one was a real outlier and would be a bit of a clunker I reckon, 
the 65k one "only" had 2000 hrs on the airframe, least used by a long 
way).  
 
        So Airframe : average 48K, best 65k  
 
        Had a look at Lycomings 2010 price list for O-360s (there are 140+ 
types ! not counting IO, AEIO etc)   
 
        With exchange, a new O-360 $41k, rebuilt zero hours $29k. BUT up 
front they say they are reluctant to exchange different types, so add 
20% to either of these prices for a straight out purchase (though you 
should still be able to sell the old engine locally and recoup 
something).   
 
        Then looked for conversion prices. Found a site called Aeroprices 
which quoted a tailwheel kit as US$2225 and an engine upsize kit as 
US$5835-7622. HOWEVER (and this is the interesting bit) the STC for 
both these kits was owned by "Aircraft Conversion Technologies" who 
seem to have folded as a business in 1999. The STC ownership seems to 
have then passed to "Del Air" who have little in the way of info on 
the web (only reference by third parties). They could be gone too. Who 
owns the STC? The upshot being the prices given must be pre 1999 
prices so a conservative 50% inflation since then (I would bet closer 
to 100%) gives:  
 
        Tailwheel kit $3300 (which seems neither here nor there in the 
overall cost of the work)  
 
        Engine fit kit $9800  
 
        -------------------------  
 
        Finally if we were to buy a 150/152 on the Australian market and 
upgrade it as above (not counting labour!) an "average/cheap" 
conversion would be about $90k and a "top of the line" job would run 
to about $120k.  
 
        I haven't allowed any cost for labour (and chasing around after who 
owns the STC etc). I expect you would get some change (but not much) 
out of $10k  
 
        After this expenditure you would still have a 30+ year old airframe.  
 
 
        Regards  
 
        SWK 
 
 On Fri 01/10/10 10:06 AM , Dave Donald icans...@y7mail.com sent: 
    Why would you want a taildragger 150/152 (even though they exist)? 
If you get a tricycle 150/152 that nearly every GA pilot trained on, 
they are a ready source of tug pilots (when endorsed). And you don't 
have all of the issues of ground handling that goes with a 
taildragger.   Airframe 20k Engine 35k Conversion 15K = 70k   Pretty 
rough figures across a couple of years - the engine may be more or 
less depending on condition. Also, most modded 150/152 have a 
recurring problem shaking the rivets out of the tailplane skins/spar, 
but with proper maintenance this risk is mitigated. Dave 
 
------------------------- 
 FROM: Colin Campbell  
 TO: Discussion of issues relating to Soaring in Australia.  
 SENT: Fri, 1 October, 2010 10:04:54 AM 
 SUBJECT: Re: [Aus-soaring] "Super Motor Falke" and towing 
 
 Can anyone supply information on current cost purchase and conversion 
of C 152 to taildragger and 180 hp engine transplant and a LAME who 
has done it before?   Colin C 
 
  On Fri, Oct 1, 2010 at 9:37 AM, Mike Borgelt  wrote: 
 As proved at Kingaroy over the last 20 years. 
 
 Mike  
 
 At 09:41 PM 30/09/2010, you wrote: 
   One has to ask the question - why? 
 If cost is the answer then a 180HP Cessna 150/152 is the best 
alternative. 
 Tom 
 
 --- On Wed, 29/9/10, Richard Skinner  wrote: 
 
 From: Richard Skinner  
 Subject: [Aus-soaring] "Super Motor Falke" and towing 
 To: Aus-soaring@lists.internode.on.net [4] 
 Received: Wednesday, 29 September, 2010, 4:57 PM 
 
 Does anybody out there have any information regarding the launching 
of gliders by Motor Falke, or indeed, any other motor glider that may 
be used to launch? I’m not aware of it in Australia but I 
understand that there may be some such happening in Europe? I am aware 
of Ultra lights acting as tugs but I’m specifically interested 
in motor gliders.  
 
 Regards 
 
 Richard Skinner 
 
 skinn...@bigpond.net.au [5] 
 
 08 8431 8249 
 
 0419 818 024 
 
 If you want to grow old as a pilot, you've got to know 
 when to push it, and when to back off. Chuck Yeager 
 
 P Please consider the environment before printing this e-mail. 
 
 -----Inline Attachment Follows----- 
 
 _______________________________________________ 
 Aus-soaring mailing list 
 Aus-soaring@lists.internode.on.net [6] 
 To check or change subscription details, visit: 
 http://lists.internode.on.net/mailman/listinfo/aus-soaring [8]  
 
 _______________________________________________ 
 Aus-soaring mailing list 
 Aus-soaring@lists.internode.on.net [9] 
 To check or change subscription details, visit: 
 http://lists.internode.on.net/mailman/listinfo/aus-soaring [10] 
 
 Borgelt Instruments - manufacturers of quality soaring instruments 
since 1978 
 phone Int'l + 61 746 355784 
 fax Int'l + 61 746 358796 
 cellphone Int'l + 61 428 355784 
 
 email: mborg...@borgeltinstruments.com [11] 
 website: www.borgeltinstruments.com [12]  
 
 _______________________________________________ 
    Aus-soaring mailing list 
 Aus-soaring@lists.internode.on.net [13] 
 To check or change subscription details, visit: 
 http://lists.internode.on.net/mailman/listinfo/aus-soaring [14] 
 
  
 
Links: 
------ 
[1] mailto:mborg...@borgeltinstruments.com 
[2] mailto:skinn...@bigpond.net.au 
[3] mailto:skinn...@bigpond.net.au 
[4] mailto:Aus-soaring@lists.internode.on.net 
[5] mailto:skinn...@bigpond.net.au 
[6] mailto:Aus-soaring@lists.internode.on.net 
[7] http://lists.internode.on.net/mailman/listinfo/aus-soaring 
[8] http://lists.internode.on.net/mailman/listinfo/aus-soaring 
[9] mailto:Aus-soaring@lists.internode.on.net 
[10] http://lists.internode.on.net/mailman/listinfo/aus-soaring 
[11] mailto:mborg...@borgeltinstruments.com 
[12] http://www.borgeltinstruments.com/ 
[13] mailto:Aus-soaring@lists.internode.on.net 
[14] http://lists.internode.on.net/mailman/listinfo/aus-soaring 
 
_______________________________________________
Aus-soaring mailing list
Aus-soaring@lists.internode.on.net
To check or change subscription details, visit:
http://lists.internode.on.net/mailman/listinfo/aus-soaring

Reply via email to