AirTalk.org Aviation discussions newsgroups   Archives   FAQ   Search   Memberlist   Usergroups   Register   Profile   Log in to check your private messages   Log in  Aeronca 15AC Sedan          AirTalk.org Forum Index -> Owning Airplanes View previous topic :: View next topic   Author Message JAX Guest Posted: Sat Jun 04, 2005 5:14 pm    Post subject: Aeronca 15AC Sedan Amomg other planes, I've been considering the classic Aeronca 15AC Sedan, and was wondering what to look for or to avoid when doing a pre-buy. Also, general comments good and bad about the plane? There aren't many for sale to use as reference, I know NAAA and Vref list them in the mid to upper twenties but an owner insists they're worth a lot more, like 60 to 80 thousand which I find hard to believe. What's a realistic price for one in good condition? TIA Back to top Rob McDonald Guest Posted: Sat Jun 04, 2005 8:38 pm    Post subject: Re: Aeronca 15AC Sedan "JAX" <beech18 (AT) my-deja (DOT) com> wrote in news:1117905262.948844.178580 @g14g2000cwa.googlegroups.com: Quote: Amomg other planes, I've been considering the classic Aeronca 15AC Sedan, and was wondering ... Join the Aeronca mailing list and ask there. Although it is predominantly Champ and Chief owners, there are Sedan owners, and lots of knowledgeable people there: <http://mail.westmont.edu/mailman/listinfo/aeronca>, or <mailto:aeronca-request (AT) westmont (DOT) edu?subject=subscribe> Rob 1946 Aeronca 7AC Champion CF-RWQ (Previously NC84677) Back to top Orval Fairbairn Guest Posted: Sun Jun 05, 2005 2:25 am    Post subject: Re: Aeronca 15AC Sedan In article <1117905262.948844.178580 (AT) g14g2000cwa (DOT) googlegroups.com>, "JAX" <beech18 (AT) my-deja (DOT) com> wrote: Quote: Amomg other planes, I've been considering the classic Aeronca 15AC Sedan, and was wondering what to look for or to avoid when doing a pre-buy. Also, general comments good and bad about the plane? There aren't many for sale to use as reference, I know NAAA and Vref list them in the mid to upper twenties but an owner insists they're worth a lot more, like 60 to 80 thousand which I find hard to believe. What's a realistic price for one in good condition? TIA I understand that one of the biggest hazards in flying the Sedan is birdstrikes from the rear. ;>) -- Remove _'s from email address to talk to me. Back to top Robert M. Gary Guest Posted: Sun Jun 05, 2005 2:11 pm    Post subject: Re: Aeronca 15AC Sedan If its like the other Aeroncas, the biggest hassle is trying to find one that is airworthy. I spent over a year looking for an airworthy champ. All I could find is unairworthy or show planes (recently restored). Since I was looking for something to just knock around in, I wasn't interested in sometime as pretty as a show plane. The problem is the wood spar. Although they may still be very strong, the FAA has an AD that says if there are any nails backing out or if any part of the spar is rubbing on a rib, the spar is unairworthy. It is very challenging to find a Champ that does not have one of those spar problems. Most people seem to agree that it doesn't make the plane unsafe to fly. It does, however, require finding an IA willing to sign annuals off on a plane that doesn't meet the AD requirements. A full spar job seems run between $10K-$12K. -Robert Back to top nrp Guest Posted: Sun Jun 05, 2005 8:40 pm    Post subject: Re: Aeronca 15AC Sedan Aeronca Sedans have all-aluminum wings (and spars) and fabric/steel frame fuselages and control surfaces. Cessna went the opposite way with the competitive C-170 although both used the same 6 cyl 145 Hp Continental engine. The Sedans were slower. A lot of them were put on floats and retrofitted with 180 Hp Lycomings. I rebuilt & flew 1/4 of one on floats with the Continental 38 years ago. It was a lot of fun, but it gave my wife a headache riding in it - as soon as we got engaged. Back to top JAX Guest Posted: Mon Jun 06, 2005 12:19 pm    Post subject: Re: Aeronca 15AC Sedan Thanks for the info. Any idea how much they've been selling for? All I can find on the market now is one on floats. Back to top nrp Guest Posted: Mon Jun 06, 2005 3:06 pm    Post subject: Re: Aeronca 15AC Sedan I have not followed the 15AC market for years & don't know what they go for now days. Another search thought is to check the condition and type of fuel tanks. They had fuel cells originally & I don't know the replacement situation. We put in new cells 38 years ago for a measly $250 each, which would mean about $2500 each now. I understood some put in metal tanks as the fuel cells were no longer available. Back to top JAX Guest Posted: Thu Jun 09, 2005 12:06 pm    Post subject: Re: Aeronca 15AC Sedan Another thought is the engine. How does the Continental hold up over the long term, and are there any engine upgrades to look for besides the Franklin? nrp wrote: Quote: I have not followed the 15AC market for years & don't know what they go for now days. Another search thought is to check the condition and type of fuel tanks. They had fuel cells originally & I don't know the replacement situation. We put in new cells 38 years ago for a measly $250 each, which would mean about $2500 each now. I understood some put in metal tanks as the fuel cells were no longer available. Back to top Dan_Thomas_nospam@yahoo.c Guest Posted: Thu Jun 09, 2005 2:28 pm    Post subject: Re: Aeronca 15AC Sedan Quote: The problem is the wood spar. Although they may >still be very strong, the FAA has an AD that says if there are any nails >backing out or if any part of the spar is rubbing on a rib, the spar is >unairworthy. It is very challenging to find a Champ that does not >have one of those spar problems. Most people seem to agree that it >doesn't make the plane unsafe to fly. It's more than just nails coming loose. The wood shrinks across its width with age, and as the aluminum rib doesn't shrink, the nails force the wood's grain apart and creates lengthwise cracks and the spar's shear strength suffers. As the ribs move up and down, they elongate those nail holes and the spar begins to crack vertically. Additionally, the mechanics who do the AD properly have been finding cracks in the spars at both the strut and butt attach points, both causes for real concern. We rebuilt a pair of Champ wings some years ago, long before the AD, and found extensive cracking across the grain of the spars through the nail holes as described by a Service Alert. It was only detectable when we had the wing all apart and bent the spars a bit when the cracks appeared. Scared us pretty good; we replaced the spars. 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