Pre-buy inspection recommendation near Redlands, CA

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KevinM

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Jan 4, 2022
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Location
San Diego, CA
Hello, can anyone recommend a good shop for a pre-buy inspection of 1980 Super D near Redlands, CA? Plane has wood spars, so I'm looking for a shop with experience with the AD inspection. Thanks in advance!
 
The experts were at Santa Paula. I own a wood spar Dec, and am still mystified by the inspection process.

Best advice is to study photos of compression cracks, then do the inspection yourself.
 
Bob Turner said:
The experts were at Santa Paula. I own a wood spar Dec, and am still mystified by the inspection process.

Best advice is to study photos of compression cracks, then do the inspection yourself.
Click to expand...
Thanks Bob. I have seen some pictures, I'll plan to take a look myself in addition to the pre-buy.

I'm also looking at a Super D in San Diego. I talked to Aeromechanix at MYF about doing a pre-buy on that one and was planning to use them if I pull the trigger, but they just lost a mechanic and aren't taking any new work for at least a month. Are you familiar with any shops in San Diego with Super D experience?
 
I am a part time Aeromchanix employee. Are you looking at Joe’s Decathlon?
 
It is at SDM for its annual. I have flown it several times - faster than mine. A nice airplane. I think mine is better, except for the engine/prop, and I have it insured for seventy.
 
You should be able to get a good one for under eighty.
If I had to do it over, I would get a wood spar 150 C/S. I think those might be in the fifties. Then spend the extra bucks to convert to 160.
Just eyeball the spar. Decathlon spars are not problematic, unless allowed to deteriorate. Nobody is doing off-airport work with them - and a ground loop will be in the logbook, if there ever was one.
 
I looked into getting a 150 C/S and upgrading it to a 180 at the first engine overhaul. I thought I'd be able to use the same prop, but per American Champion the higher HP engine will require a different prop. The numbers don't pencil out well when you factor in a new prop.
 
The 180 is only useful for vertical maneuvers. I am not sure you can go straight up long enough to do anything useful with either engine. Maybe a second or two longer in a hammerhead.
But if it is legal, I might swap! My 180 Christen and prop for a good 150 suitable for conversion and prop with Christen.
 
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