Low-cost flying
Budget flying
Brian Hope and Clive Davidson look at low cost single-seaters and the joy they can bring…
A
s we celebrate the Association’s 75th anniversary, it is natural that we consider some of the aeroplanes which members have built and enjoyed over those seven-plus decades. Of course, in the early days the Air Registration Board, which initially only very begrudgingly allowed us to build anything at all, permitted only single-seat ultralight types, which undoubtedly spawned a number of suitable designs over the ensuing years. When it became possible to build two-seaters, one of the principal problems was the lack of suitable engines, high purchase tax rates making them very expensive to ship in from the US. As Britain moved out of post-war austerity the two-seater, seen by most as a more practical machine, outgrew the single-seaters in popularity. However, although something of a niche market these days, they continue to have a following and new types do occasionally become available. For those on a tight budget, a single-seater may well make the difference between flying, or taking up tiddlywinks, so don’t be too fast in discarding what can certainly be an affordable entry into aircraft ownership – and a lot of fun! The earlier types in particular, with VW or Rotax two-stroke engines, can be bought and maintained for what is in aviation terms, a very affordable amount of money – a set of four VW barrels, and pistons costs less than the typical aero engine’s set of spark plugs for instance. So, let’s take a look at some of the bargain bucket single-seat machines that have formed part of the LAA fleet over the years. Most were built in tens at best, not hundreds, but there are undoubtedly many languishing in barns and sheds, no longer loved and possibly available for the asking at not a lot of money. My advice, if you are serious about doing some investigations about the possibility of acquiring a budget single-seater, and you don’t mind getting your hands dirty learning how to bring it back to flying condition, is to join your local Strut, and also get in touch with LAA members at local airfields and strips. They are the people who will know what’s out there and you will almost certainly make the acquaintance of members who know the ropes when it
comes to VW and two-stroke Rotax engines. I’ve said it before, I know, but the LAA is a self-help organisation, it provides a variety of routes to enable you to fly affordably, but you have to put in some effort if you want to make things happen. Another piece of worthwhile advice is not to take book figures at face value. Useful loads in lightweight single seaters can be tight, so check a particular aircraft’s weight and balance to make sure you are not too heavy for it. Empty weights of aircraft are generally heavier than manufacturer’s quoted figures. You may need to join Weight Watchers! When we first get into owning an aircraft, most of us are wet behind the ears so take a knowledgeable friend or, better still, an LAA Inspector to look at anything you may consider buying. If it’s a bit tired and tatty, that doesn’t mean it’s a non-starter – literally or metaphorically speaking – but knowing it’s likely pitfalls before you part with your cash gives you bargaining power that might still make it a viable proposition.
Duplicate checks
How much can you expect to pay? Well, I would be surprised if any of the aircraft listed, other than a Colibri or a Nipper, reached £10K in very tidy condition with a Permit. Some, Turbs and D9s may make £8K. If it’s tired, sad and unused in a barn somewhere, then considerably less. Most of the rest will be around £3K-£5k in running order. These are ballpark figures based on typical sales but I have known of aircraft being given away just to get rid of them, and there are undoubtedly particularly nice examples of all types that fetch above the norm. Just don’t pay a lot of money for an aeroplane that needs a lot of work! Whether you buy something that needs work or not, I say again, seek help from knowledgeable members; you’ll make friends, learn a lot and will save a fortune, one way and another. And don’t house your new acquisition at a strip or airfield if it needs work before it is ready to fly. Take it home, or to a mate’s place, so you aren’t haemorrhaging money on hangar rent. And finally, before I keep going for another three pages, when the aircraft is ready to fly, let an experienced pilot of the type take it aloft for the first time as he will be able to quickly assess if everything is as it should be. Let’s take a look at what you may find available.
42 | LIGHT AVIATION | May 2021
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21/04/2021 17:16
