about the eBay series...

[Mike]

Ok, I want to use this forum to get some feedback about our "eBay" series in general. It seems that some of the things we do "affect" many peoples life at a personal level.
There was some controversy about this particular series. I know we can't get everybody to like us, but we are not out to cause controversy like South Park for example. We just want to entertain.

Do you guys know anybody who has ever bought a plane on eBay? I mean seriously...
Would you buy a plane of all things on eBay?
I am not talking about parts or helmets or something, a WHOLE PLANE!

Also the strip at the airport ("did you pack your own luggage?") had split reviews. Some people said they haven't been asked in years, but I have been asked 3 weeks ago in London.
Any input?

(or better, more ideas to the series?)

[Sleek-Jet]

I've been getting a kick out of it...

There is no way I would purchase an airplane without a pre-purchase (with my mechanic), test flight, title search, and a good long look at the log books.  I know that the Maloof (sp?) brothers  purchase a GII on Ebay, but that was a thinly disguised publicity stunt for Ebay, in my opinion (IMHO).  If the airplane was close enough to go take a look at, I might consider it.  Buying airplanes in the blind (unless your Barron Thomas) would be a baaaaad idea, I would think. 

On the other hand, there has been a really nice Jetstar II listed on Ebay that I was ready to buy if I hit the power ball a few weeks ago,

[Plthijnx]

we haven't bought a plane on ebay but instead have bought plenty through auctions. mike, the owner of the school is also an A&P so it make the prepurchase inspection go without a hitch. we have an arrow that we bought from an insurance auction and fixed it. it was owned by a group of individuals and they kicked one of the members out because he wouldn't pay his share. he went nuts. waaaaay nuts. in fact futz! he took a pick-ax to the plane!!!!! we bought it, fixed the areas that needed fixing, replaced the windscreen painted it and put it on ebay. the winner couldn't get financing and we haven't had time to put it back on yet. it's a real nice bird though. PA-28-R180 with all the speed mods. it's just as quick as our 200h.p. R200.
holy shayt! i just got off the phone with mike and here it is!! 1968 Piper Arrow too funny.

[CDNpilot]

http://cgi.ebay.ca/cessna-172-skyhawk-1962-3500-ttsn-will-trade_W0QQitemZ4587107061QQcategoryZ63677QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

well here is a plane on ebay with 25 bids.  A 1962 c172. hmmm.  Have to see where this goes.

[Have Blue]

I've seen MiG-21s for sale on eBay.  Probaly fake, though.

[MO]

I do remember an Avro Vulcan bomber being sold at eBay. The whole thing made it to the news... She wasn't airworthy though and was more like a museum piece... Check this one:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/lancashire/3972733.stm

Cheers!

[Mike]

ok, but the question pops up:
isn't this all a big publicity stunt?
or could this be a real sale?

[Plthijnx]

no telling. i did a quick search on ebay and couldn't find it.
btw, mike, the boys are looking at a twin otter in the strip? that's the first twin i ever flew! i was a freshly minted private and had an opportunity to ride right seat and take up load after load of jumpers. it was a blast!

[MO]

Don't know for sure if it was a legit sale. (It could have been, nevertheless...)

In any case, the bomber was available for purchase by mid 2004 and doesn't appear listed on eBay now (item number was 5530699633.) A couple of weeks later, a short snippet appeared in BBC News saying that an old English man had acquired her for £7m and was planning to move her to his place.

And then, this appeared in The Register:

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2004/11/05/ebay_paper_vulcan/

A paper Vulcan that hit £1m !!!

Go figure... The web is a crazy place.

[MO]

While you are at it, check this out:

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2004/09/14/utah_grounds_santa/

Cheers !

[Mike]

btw, mike, the boys are looking at a twin otter in the strip? that's the first twin i ever flew! i was a freshly minted private and had an opportunity to ride right seat and take up load after load of jumpers. it was a blast!

I got to do that too!
It was sort of a blast, but on the way back when he feathered back the props and we went straight down nose down and everything I felt a little weird hanging in my seatbelt. This kind of thing just doesn't happen in a helicopter...

[Plthijnx]

when he feathered back the props and we went straight down nose down and everything I felt a little weird hanging in my seatbelt. This kind of thing just doesn't happen in a helicopter...

yeah, the decent was a little freaky but after the first time i really, really, enjoyed it!

[Bev]

Judging from stuff I've already bought on eBay, if I bought a plane (with photos showing how massive it was) I'm sure I'd get a little envelope 4 weeks later with a TEENY WEENY little plane no bigger than my hand...

[Sleek-Jet]

I had to chuckle when I found this last night

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Cherokee-140-160-New-Paint-and-Interior-IFR-certified_W0QQitemZ4592057024QQcategoryZ63677QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

A friend from another board is selling this (and I wish he would wait another 6 months, I'll be in the market).  Notice the IO-320...  and what's really funny is the guy owns the Delfin in the last few pictures. So it's not like he doesn't know what he's talking about.  I'm going to have to give him a ration about that engine description though. 

[Mike]

Hey Guys!

ONLY 3 DAYS LEFT FOR BIDDING ON THE PIPER CHEROKEE ! ! !

Did anybody see a Twin Otter on eBay yet? I do believe the really good planes don't
really sell on eBay. Actually some of them never sell at all. In my world of "sling wing" there
are certain models who people just keep and never sell. It's almost like trying to find a used
Toyota Pick-Up in the auto-trader, nobody wants to get rid of them....