Cessna 140 ownership

[TheGorrilla]

Does anyone have experience of owning a 140, who can point out any potential pitfalls? Also, does anyone know where I can find an up-to-date list of ADs and/or TCDSs online?

Thanks,
TheGorrilla.

[SlipSlider]

Hi. The forum section of the International Cessna 120-140 Assn may be of interest:

http://www.cessna120-140.org/forum/index.php

Probably the biggest drawback in the UK is that most, perhaps all, C140's are on CofA not LAA Permit.

Slip

[IFMU]

SlipSlider is right on the Cessna 120/140 association. When you join you get access to their online library of AD's, STC's, and a whole lot of techical stuff. Plus on the forums you have the ear of a bunch of smart C120/140 people. I'm an association member and am restoring a '46 140.

I can't speak about owning a 140 in the UK. However, potential pitfalls include:

doorpost cracks (most have them, no AD against it, there is a cessna service bulletin about them and a readily available STC for a nifty doubler)
Corrosion - typical stuff, but look in the spar carrythroughs.
Cracks in landing gear mount structure
Cracks in landing gear legs where the step bolts on
Tailwheel leaf spring bracket
Empty weight - some of them really pork up with metal wings plus a lot of old avionics. This can be fixed. Or buy a light one.

It's a great little airplane.

-- IFMU

[Monocock]

It is indeed a little beaut. However, please PLEASE be careful when buying something of that age.

A £15k beauty can easily cost you as much again a year later to stay airworthy. It's not just a myth and I can testify!!

[TheGorrilla]

Thanks chaps, much appreciated. I'll let you know how this progresses.

[TheGorrilla]

The aforementioned C120 is now a Chipmunk....

[javelin]

Interesting - the 140 turns into a 120 - different beasts because 1 is C of A, the other is permit.

Then you get a Chipmunk......:ugh:

You should have got a 120 - much cheaper to operate IMHO

[TheGorrilla]

Yeah... Well, I have to say:

a: Not my plane or my decision in the end,

b: The chippy is lovely and well worth the money.

[Wide-Body]

Javelin,

Luckily finance is only a part of any aircraft decision. The Chipmunk is a superior aircraft than the Cessna 120/140 in many ways.

I would rather pay three times the amount to have a chipmunk than a Cessna 120/140

[Them thar hills]

I thought that £250 for my 1/12 share in a Chippy was quite good value !
(G-AORW)
:}

[javelin]

Well - you can't polish a turd :E

[Tom_p]

Well - you can't polish a turd http://images.ibsrv.net/ibsrv/res/src:www.pprune.org/get/images/smilies/evil.gif

According to Mythbusters you can :p

[javelin]

Touche :(


Mythbusters: Polishing a Turd : Video : Discovery Channel (http://dsc.discovery.com/videos/mythbusters-polishing-a-turd.html)