Ask Pete
Aircraft Sales & Having Fun On Skis! by Pete Schoeninger
© Copyright 2021. All rights reserved!
Q: Is the airplane market still strong? What do you hear from airplane sales professionals you know? A: To get an up-to-the-minute report, I contacted aircraft broker, Jeff Baum, owner of Wisconsin Aviation in Madison, Watertown, and Juneau, Wisconsin; and Gavin Leake, an aircraft broker in Milwaukee and Burlington. As of October 14, 2021, this is what they had to say: Baum: “The used airplane market has been acting very much like the housing market: good planes go immediately at exorbitant prices. Many first-time buyers are looking to buy an aircraft, particularly business aircraft. The inventory is very low. There are still reasonable prices on some older models, but buyers need to either really know aircraft or use a good broker. We are seeing many novice buyers making decisions based on what they have learned online and living to regret not getting professional advice.” Baum continued: “Manufacture production rates are still very low, and with a fair percentage of those aircraft going overseas, there simply are not enough airplanes to replace those being wrecked, economically destroyed or sold out of the country. Couple that with renewed interest in learning to fly and aircraft ownership, it will take a major economic downturn, or some punitive political legislation, to reverse this trend.” For assistance, contact Jeff Baum at 920-2614567. Gavin Leake simply stated: “It’s still hot as far as I can tell.” For assistance, contact Gavin Leake at 218-280-2615. Q: You have stated that airplane sales numbers typically drop a little in winter months. With this hot current market, what’s your guess for this winter’s activity?
Pete Schoeninger
A: I suspect volume may drop a little as the holidays and taxes sneak up on us, but I don’t see any price decreases unless there are very difficult world events, or a big blast of Covid, major stock market decline, or other unforeseen problem. Let me add a caution for airplane buyers and I hear the same from real estate people: Don’t be tempted to commit to buy something on first sight because you fear it might be sold out from under you. It is better to miss a good deal, than to buy a dud, which could bury you financially.
A 1982 F21 Taylorcraft, equipped with wheel penetration “Trick Air Snow Skis.” Photo taken on a lake in the Adirondack Mountains in northeast New York by aircraft owner, Jim Baker of Rochester, New York. Trick Air Skis were invented by Rick and Sandy Discher of Weywauega, Wisconsin, but are now manufactured in Minnesota by Steve Schwister. Trick Air Skis have carbon-fiber strength and an aerodynamic shape that mimics a wing, giving the pilot confidence to take-off and land with ease in the backcountry. Trick Air Skis install quickly, and their wheelpenetration design gives the pilot flexibility to operate on both snow and pavement (https://trickair.com).
Q: What kind of skis would you recommend for my Citabria? I generally fly from a paved runway but would like to land on snow-covered frozen lakes and fields. A: Your best bet would probably be “wheel penetration skis.” There are three versions of skis for light planes: 1) Straight skis, which are only a ski. These offer the best performance (lightest, and less drag) on snow and cost less than other versions, but their drawback is you cannot move the airplane into a hangar, to a gas pump, etc., without some hassle. 2) Wheel 16 DECEMBER 2021/JANUARY 2022 MIDWEST FLYER MAGAZINE
