URGENTLY needed Pre-buy inspector near Portland for a Varieze

[flydr2]

Hi, this is my 1st post here...

I'm looking for someone to do a pre-buy inspection an a Varieze (n216ez) near Portland. Or does anyone know about this airplane?

Is anyone available?

Thanks
Marc

[A. Bruce Hughes]

Hi Marc

I live in Washington so I am pretty far from Portland, OR.  I also don't know much
about Variezes so I am NOT your man.

Are you a member of CSA?   IF you are, look in the directory you have.   IF you are
not in CSA, why not?   Joining is a very smart thing to do.   Best $30 you will spend
in aviation.

Anyway get a map and see where Marcola, Springfield, Milwaukie, and Gresham are.
If any are close to Portland, get back to me at bruce@fairpoint.net.   I will give you
phone numbers then.

Klamath Falls and Baker are farther from Portland than I am, so those 2 guys would be
no help.

Tom Young lives in Scappoose.    Perry Mick lives in McMinnville.   Coy Powell and Ray
Ratzlaff live in Redmond so you can try those 4.   Perry's number is 503-472-6889
Call him and he can do it or give you the numbers for the other 3.

IF you want to PAY a REAL expert, call Dale Martin in Lewiston, Idaho.   Dale is far from
Portland but he makes a living repairing, modifying, and inspecting canard aircraft.
He may have already seen the Varieze you are considering.   He is a VERY careful
and exacting man.   If it looks like sh*t, he will tell you it looks like sh*t.   It will
cost you, but it will be well worth it to avoid a dog.   There are plenty of dogs
out there.   Some of them are DANGEROUS dogs.

IF I were buying, I would use Dale Martin, no matter what the cost.   His # is
208-746-3969   Tell him I sent you.

Bruce Hughes   

[flyingwaldo]

You might check with Beagle on the plane's background.  He has a database of many planes and their histories.
http://canardfinder.com/

[Joe Person]

How urgently do you need a look?  Also, even though a good Long-EZ or Cozy builder can offer quite a bit of review, the VariEze has a few differences where a Long-EZ or Cozy builder would not be able to offer experienced assesment (main wing attach, for one).  Where is the airplane physically located?  If the urgency enatils a couple of weeks of time window, and weather-permiting, I am an hour away from the Portland area by VariEze.

Let me know.

425-481-3645

[flydr2]

Thanks allot guys... Will let you know the outcome.

[flydr2]

 Well this one got sold before I could get things organized. I guess I'll keep looking.

Thanks to everyone for your help.

Marc

[flyingwaldo]

There appears to be an excellent one in this issue of the CSA newsletter.  It sounds well made and not a lot of hours for $18,000.

[flydr2]

Could you send me the details...

Or if anyone has a nice varieze for sale please let me know.

Thanks
Marc

[flyingwaldo]

He wants an experienced EZ pilot.  You should be getting the newsletter.  Here is one in Barnstormers:
RUTAN VARIEZE • $29,500 • YOU SNOOZE, YOU LOSE • 772 TTSN, 86 TSMOH CERTIFIED 0-200-A, New Crank and Cylinders, B&C Starter, New 114 P-Mag Electronic Ignition, 37 SPOH Prince Carbon Fiber P-Tip, Electric Nose Gear, King KLX 135A GPS/COM, Terra TRT-250 Transponder, AT3000 Alt Encoder, Intercom, 33 gal fuel, ALWAYS HANGERD, 180mph, flys hands off, RARE find • Contact Bill Shenk, Owner - located Englewood, FL USA • Telephone: 540-421-9292 or 901-255-0626

[N31WJ]

Marc,

If you're still looking for a VariEze at a reasonable price, let me know. 

A good Varieze will set you back $18-22K depending on engine, avionics, total engine/ariframe time and condition.  In my opinion, any VariEze over $25K should be a candidate for best-in-class and include an instrument panel with AI, DG, AS, VSI, TC, NAV/COM, XPDR, and probably an autopilot. 

If you find a worthy aircraft in your price range, spend the extra bucks to have an experienced builder/pilot look it over and produce an inspection report.  Know what you're buying and don't forget insurance... before you fly the airplane.  This is not a process you want to rush.

Good luck   

Wayne Johnson
(256) 585-9614 

[eric r]

Marc,
My EZ may be available, and it was well built by a gentleman in Cody Wyoming (N57EZ)
e-mail ericrhinehart@earthlink.net for particulars.
I am located in SW Florida ... and I flew the Varieze home with two stops:Kansas, Mississippi, and then SW Florida.

[Paul Thomas]

Marc,

I just talked to the seller (before starting my research online). He has not sold it yet but wouldn't answer any of my questions, instead quizzed me on what kind of pilot I was. I then stated he wouldn't let me fly it to FL (my home) nor would he deliver it before hanging up on me. He looked like a real nut-job.
Did he ever get back to you with more information? BTW, it's now in need of a conditional inspection so we need a real "pre-buy".
I'd appreciate it if you could forward me any information you have for comparison purposes. If you talk with him again, tell him I sent you his way and was ready to pay cash.

[A. Bruce Hughes]

Hi Marc

There are dogs out there!   You should contact David Orr at canardfinder@worldnet.att.net
or call him at 949-939-1479.   He knows about all or almost all of the decent canard aircraft
for sale.   He charges a fee but it will be worth it to find a decent airplane.

When you find a good prospect get one of the following to check it:
NE - Ken Miller
NW - Dale Martin
SE - Bill Oertel
Rocky Mt - Burrell Sanders
Tennessee - Valerie Harris
There may be others that I don't know about but those are the PROFESSIONAL canard
repair/renovate people that I know.   All are much more knowledgeable that the ordinary
canard driver.  Of course you will pay for their service.

Bruce Hughes   

[Brett795]

  Barnstormers seems like a good place to look. Seems like most of the planes that Beagle even has is on there.  If someone is not interested in answering your questions- probably not a good guy to buy from. I was inexperienced with canards when I bought my first Varieze about 4 years ago and the guy who I bought it from seemed a little shady.  At the time, I was unaware that tension was to be on nose wheel and when I landed it back at our airport, I snapped the fork off at the height of the tire- just as Burt said would happen back in '78.  The guy did not say anything about it, also would not go up in the plane with me because of liability and such (even if it was after the purchase).  This plane was 2 days away from being out of conditional. A pre-buy inspection by an A&P does not mean a whole lot if he does not know the planes. I was an A&P at the time and was new to canards and I did not know about the correct tension.  I just knew how to set up the carb, replace the starter, mag and retime the engine to get it flying home (about 3hrs away). I would have more confidence in someone who has been around Canards and better yet- a builder if possible. I worked out a few bugs and the plane flew well for me.

Brett Gerber