What's up with this Invader?

[Shay]

I have noticed this A-26C Invader up for sale on Courtesy's website for quite awhile now and have wondered why the asking price is so low and why it hasn't sold? Was wondering if anyone here knew any background information about it? Thanks

http://www.courtesyaircraft.com/n401Y.htm



Shay
____________
Semper Fortis

[warbirdguy]

I personally believe that plane will need major work just to get it flying, and people want aircraft already restored and ready to go with no work involved.

[Shay]

I personally believe that plane will need major work just to get it flying, and people want aircraft already restored and ready to go with no work involved.

Mike

The Ad even states the it will need major work to get it flying. People buy project aircraft all the time. And at less than a quarter the going rate for a flying restored Invader I was wondering if the aircraft had been involved in an accident or if it's problems are due to neglect?

I was trying to find out the history of this aircraft but couldn't find a matching Invader listed in the registry.

Shay
____________
Semper Fortis

[Warbirdnerd]

I was trying to find out the history of this aircraft but couldn't find a matching Invader listed in the registry.

Shay
____________
Semper Fortis

Try here:
http://www.warbirdregistry.org/a26regis ... 35326.html

[bdk]

...have wondered why the asking price is so low and why it hasn't sold?

My guess:

Side Airstair Door
Ring Spar
Baggage Nose
Wing panels as removed
Fuel tanks (wing) as removed
There is minor damage to the aft fuselage and right engine nacelle
It was last flown in May '98 and would require major work to fly
This is one of a handful of remaining executive aircraft

I personally don't think there is a market for this as an executive aircraft any longer, and being highly modified it would take a lot of work to get it back on the Warbird airshow circuit. Also the condition is described as poor. This is a large and heavy aircraft and would probably cost five times as much to restore as a Mustang.

[Shay]

Try here:
http://www.warbirdregistry.org/a26regis ... 35326.html

Thanks, I missed that one. I wasn't looking at the Serial #s listed as being restored. By the look of it i thought it was being stored.

At 90K very tempting idea, but on the other hand it makes you think of what potential money pit she could be.

Shay
____________
Semper Fortis

[setter]

Shay

Another factor here is that airworthy aircraft are for sale in Canada and aren't moving that fast anyway so why would you buy this when a Canadian airworthy Firebomber can be had for not a hell of a lot more - one has been sold to Oscar Duck here in Australia and will fly to Australia shortly.

Kind regards
John P

[CorsairFreak]

How much are they going for in Canada?

[setter]

CorsairFreak

Don't exactly know but around $200K USD I suspect

Regards
John P

this aircraft was owned by the late Jack Rogers, Stallion aircraft and was being restored when he was killed in a Grumman Goose in 1996 the plane has sat since, I think he was in the process of gathering parts. another of Jack's planes is also listed on Courtesy TBM-3E N325GT
Jack also owned apx 4 Furies and P-51 44-74813 "Cripes a Mighty" now with Ken Wagnon

Steve

[T J Johansen]

Hopefully someone will come around one day and appreciate the a/c as it is and rebuild it as a former exec. Invader. It seems a little too compulsary to slap some stars/bars and a military paint job on a/c these days. This is actually the prototype On-Mark Marketeer and should be finished as such.

http://1000aircraftphotos.com/PRPhotos/OnMark-2.htm


T J

[Rob Mears]

I caought these a couple of weeks ago at Billings, Montana. Owner Denny Lynch passed away a few months back, and the planes apparently belong to his son now. The manager at Alpine Air (where they are stored) said the green A-26K had not had its engines run since last summer. The "Always" A-26 had its cowlings off and a 2-man crew out working on it the day before these were taken. Not sure if Denny's son will be flying them or looking to sell them. One way or the other, it would seem there are plans to operate at least one of them from the looks of it.

[Rob Mears]

Oh, and this thing happened to show up by chance while I was out there shooting the Invaders.

[Aircraft Mech Paul]

...have wondered why the asking price is so low and why it hasn't sold?

My guess:

Side Airstair Door
Ring Spar
Baggage Nose
Wing panels as removed
Fuel tanks (wing) as removed
There is minor damage to the aft fuselage and right engine nacelle
It was last flown in May '98 and would require major work to fly
This is one of a handful of remaining executive aircraft

I personally don't think there is a market for this as an executive aircraft any longer, and being highly modified it would take a lot of work to get it back on the Warbird airshow circuit. Also the condition is described as poor. This is a large and heavy aircraft and would probably cost five times as much to restore as a Mustang.

Hi all,

when I was living in Minnesota, there was one that sat down at St.Paul Downtown airport...I am fairly sure it was "Bar Belle Bomber". The problem with that particular Invader was that it had cracked the rear spar during a flight. A chase plane pilot actually saw the aircraft shudder and the wing flex when it cracked....or so the story I was told goes. I saw the repairs that were being attempted to it, and from what I was told was that the repairs were interim to get the plane out of St.Paul Downtown airport. I lost track of it after.

But my point is that the rear spars on the wings seem rather suspect, and either re-sparring or strengthening them is a fairly costly proposition. I know that the Invader is a sleek, fast bird, and from a pilots perspective I would think that the plane is very attractive in that respect. But the structural fatigue due to the high wing loading the Invader has makes the operational costs high(er) than say a B-25 Mitchell. I have heard of several Invaders that have seen similar troubles in the past with wing spar cracking.

Just my own two cents as to why so many are not around flying the airshows.

Now...may I ask a question ? I was always under the impression that On-Mark B-26K Korean War aircraft were never supposed to be offered for sale to the public...even after the war. Yet in the photo, I think I see one of those modified B-26/A-26 aircraft with the wing tip tanks being what I would call one of the defining points of what the airframe is. Am I wrong ??

Serious question......

Paul

[Rob Mears]

It's definitely a K model. Mr. Lynch operated a firebomber company since the 1960's which might have played a hand in his gaining ownership of the K. Gotta be one of the rarest A-26's around, and definitely one of the most attractive IMO!