AT-11 Sold on Courtesy
Sat Aug 15, 2009 4:56 pm
Not to be too picky but, does anyone know where this one is headed? I thought this was an awesome looking aircraft with superb detail. What does everybody else think? Was the stated price at $425,000 a good one? Or would you have rather bought Lex's Corsair project for the same amount? 
Sat Aug 15, 2009 10:11 pm
The AT-11 that sold recently was by far the best AT-11 anywhere. She was restored over many years by several people but the crew that took her to completion were exceptional. Don and Whip are two retired airline mechanics who worked together for 30 some years and they took on the restoration of Ray's AT-11.
I had the honor to work with Don and Whip on several occasions to offer guidance and help with the project. These guys were great and were the perfect duo to complete the Beech. I would love to look in their tool boxes to see those wonderful special tools that they made over the years in the airlines. You know those great tools born out of ingenuity and creativity that you will never see on the Snap On truck? Their tool boxes were full of them.
No expence was spared to build this Beech. Everything that could be replaced with new (NOS) parts was indeed replaced. I think somewhere around 80% of the skins were replaced. All of the original military equipment was found and installed including the turret.
It is probably inappropriate of me to say so but there were three AT-11's completly restored in recent years by three different shops/groups and all of the restorations pushed well over a million dollars each.
This beautiful AT-11 sold for so far under it's value I feel sad for Ray. The new owner aquired this magnificent aircraft for a fraction of her worth. An all too common practice these days.
I had the honor to take this Beech AT-11 up on her first post restoration flight and it was as close as I will ever get to flying a factory new AT-11. Shortly after several local shake down flights we flew her from lake in the hills , Illinois to Tullahoma, Tennessee and back without any problems. A testament to Don, Whip and the crew that built the best AT-11 to date. Well done guys!
Congratulations to the new owner as well
I had the honor to work with Don and Whip on several occasions to offer guidance and help with the project. These guys were great and were the perfect duo to complete the Beech. I would love to look in their tool boxes to see those wonderful special tools that they made over the years in the airlines. You know those great tools born out of ingenuity and creativity that you will never see on the Snap On truck? Their tool boxes were full of them.
No expence was spared to build this Beech. Everything that could be replaced with new (NOS) parts was indeed replaced. I think somewhere around 80% of the skins were replaced. All of the original military equipment was found and installed including the turret.
It is probably inappropriate of me to say so but there were three AT-11's completly restored in recent years by three different shops/groups and all of the restorations pushed well over a million dollars each.
This beautiful AT-11 sold for so far under it's value I feel sad for Ray. The new owner aquired this magnificent aircraft for a fraction of her worth. An all too common practice these days.
I had the honor to take this Beech AT-11 up on her first post restoration flight and it was as close as I will ever get to flying a factory new AT-11. Shortly after several local shake down flights we flew her from lake in the hills , Illinois to Tullahoma, Tennessee and back without any problems. A testament to Don, Whip and the crew that built the best AT-11 to date. Well done guys!
Congratulations to the new owner as well
Sun Aug 16, 2009 9:12 am
The new owner and his wife Georgia are friends of mine. He is fairly reclusive and this is his second AT-11. A few years ago he went to Sun N Fun and intended to buy a B-25. All the fat guys standing around in ill fitting flight suits convinced him you have to have two full time mechanics, have to replace the engines every year, and "there isn't enough money in the world" to keep a B-25 flying, so he bought the nicest AT-11 in the world at that time for $450,000 cash.
He now has 19 warbirds to go with his collection of cars and military vehicles that number close to 400 vehicles.
He now has 19 warbirds to go with his collection of cars and military vehicles that number close to 400 vehicles.
Sun Aug 16, 2009 12:54 pm
marine air wrote:The new owner and his wife Georgia are friends of mine. He is fairly reclusive and this is his second AT-11. A few years ago he went to Sun N Fun and intended to buy a B-25. All the fat guys standing around in ill fitting flight suits convinced him you have to have two full time mechanics, have to replace the engines every year, and "there isn't enough money in the world" to keep a B-25 flying, so he bought the nicest AT-11 in the world at that time for $450,000 cash.
He now has 19 warbirds to go with his collection of cars and military vehicles that number close to 400 vehicles.
He need a mechanic?????? I can switch hit from the warbirds to the military vehicles:)
Sun Aug 16, 2009 4:32 pm
I'm no expert...and I don't even play one on TV
But, for what its worth, YES, this was the very nicest AT-11 restoration, flying or static that I have ever seen...and Ray is a really nice person. Enjoyed meeting him @ OSH the first year he brought it there.
As far as Restoration $$ vs selling prices...IMHO they never, or rarely, match-up. I bet most warbird owners & restorers would agree. Any really good restoration usually sells w-a-y below its restoration cost.
Yeah, I bet someone can cite a few exceptions where a well-restored a/c sold for significantly more than its restoration cost, but "exceptions prove the rule" as my Daddy used to say.
It's still a terrific AT-11.
But, for what its worth, YES, this was the very nicest AT-11 restoration, flying or static that I have ever seen...and Ray is a really nice person. Enjoyed meeting him @ OSH the first year he brought it there.
As far as Restoration $$ vs selling prices...IMHO they never, or rarely, match-up. I bet most warbird owners & restorers would agree. Any really good restoration usually sells w-a-y below its restoration cost.
Yeah, I bet someone can cite a few exceptions where a well-restored a/c sold for significantly more than its restoration cost, but "exceptions prove the rule" as my Daddy used to say.
It's still a terrific AT-11.