A question about assessing a ramp queen for purchase (disassembly of the wings...)

[L16 Pilot]

Slightly off the subject but I'm always amazed at folks who will buy a fine piece of machinery (airplane) and then tie it down outside and let the weather and sun beat it to death. Often they apparently lose interest in the subject and it sits on the ramp or in the weeds for years and never touched. I can think of several right now. My father in law who was a good farmer never left his machinery outside. Once it was done for the season it was cleaned up and put away under shelter. I was just looking at a Cessna 150 yesterday that I don't believe has been moved for 10 years.

[geosnooker2000]

Your father-in-law likely had a lot of land on which to build his own hangar. For the majority of people, we are relegated to storing a plane at the airstrip, where we can either pay $75/month for a tiedown space, or $350/month for hangar space. And looking around, that seems to be a minimum around the Memphis metro area. I mean... that's a freaking car payment. If I could build my own hangar, I bet the monthlies on that would be a lot closer to the former than the latter.

[geosnooker2000]

Assuming I get this plane (the guy a spoke with at the airport suggested it might be for a $1), the panel is probably useless. Let's assume I needed to replace every piece of avionics in there. Or basically start from scratch. I-pad panel mount system, old used steam gauges, etc. What do I need? I mean, from the FAR point of view.

[ulpilot]

Assuming I get this plane (the guy a spoke with at the airport suggested it might be for a $1), the panel is probably useless. Let's assume I needed to replace every piece of avionics in there. Or basically start from scratch. I-pad panel mount system, old used steam gauges, etc. What do I need? I mean, from the FAR point of view.

For a certified aircraft the minimum equipment list on the type certificate outlines what the aircraft needs to be airworthy.

[Airmutt]

So that would be Part 91. There is no MEL for a PA28-140.

[rwanttaja]

Assuming I get this plane (the guy a spoke with at the airport suggested it might be for a $1), the panel is probably useless. Let's assume I needed to replace every piece of avionics in there. Or basically start from scratch. I-pad panel mount system, old used steam gauges, etc. What do I need? I mean, from the FAR point of view.

14CFR 91.205 would give you the minimum list of instruments required for VFR and IFR, day and night. In MY opinion, if you're facing replacement of ALL the gauges, you might as well look into an EFIS.

Basic Comm radio, such as the Icom ICA220. Transponder, encoder, and ADS-B, depending on where you plan to fly.

Resurrecting the engine is likely to cost as least as much as the panel, depending on how long it's been sitting, how it was prepared, and the environment it sat in.

Ron Wanttaja

[Bill Berson]

The Equipment List is issued by Piper with the original Weight and Balance form and should be transferred with the aircraft papers. http://twisted-wrench.com/files/W_an...pment_List.pdf