Warbird Information Exchange

Are these really "worth" 8 grand?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/P-51-D-LONGERON ... 2037316975

I mean specific longerons with provenance towards a specific airframe with some notoriety I may get, but these look like real simple "H" extrusions. How much aluminum is there?

I think you have to price what it would cost to make one set, one off is big $$$$

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I saw those in Barnstormers as well. There are a couple of places producing them. I think the bigger questions are:
If one is coming apart and they are all the same age, what are the chances that the other 3 are good, or perfect-corrosion free? I wouldn't want to have to go through all of that work of replacing them on a 2 Million dollar aircraft or building an aircraft up with longerons that may potentially have corrosion.
The other concerns would be any bends or damage from 70 years of use or removal (with no disrespect to Terry Rogers shop).

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Always looking for P-51D parts.

they are no good for flying, why would you spend all that money rebuilding a 51 to use original longerons? they look very expensive to make though

I'm sure those are available on the Cal Pacific Airmotive price list.

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remember the Oogahonk!
old school enthusiast of Civiltary Warbirds and Air Racers

Cal Pacific does make them. We stopped there (and Airmotive Specialities Inc.) for a tour after the POF show, Lori treated us very well and is an encyclopedia of P-51 knowledge! If you need a set, they can do it...

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Always looking for P-51D parts.

But that's for a new-build... and they don't make these one-off. they are currently in production. I was thinking 8 grand for a used, unusable set of sticks with no provenance to a specific airframe seems a little steep to me.

They're junk! What's the scrap price of aluminum? Unless you want a trophy to hang on a wall.

But honestly though, aren't those H extrusions just standard ALCOA Aerospace Dies? then bent/stamped into place, cut, ground and drilled?

Agreed: corroded and drilled-off to suit the aircraft they came from. Thus, no use even for a static restoration. But that also explains why there are no bidders. If they eventually sell for $50 as scrap, then that is what they're worth.

I'd give $500 for them, maybe a little more if they are what I think they are.



Jim

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