Selling Astore's

[dlb1]

I've been LSA searching for the last several months, and have narrowed down my top two list to include the Astore.  While researching this board it appears two very active and longtime members, macattack and geobuff have their planes for sale after less than fiver years of ownership.  I've read you're both positive on the plane in the past, but wonder if I should read something more into the fact that you're both getting out of the Astore.  Would appreciate any thoughts on why you're selling, or thoughts for a potential buyer of either of your former a/c.  I'm interested in both the 912is and 914 for different reasons.  Thanks

David

[montanapilot]

I'm not one of the two you mentioned, but I definitely have an opinion. My Astore is my 19th airplane. I've had 5 different model of Pitts's, a Bonanza, a 421, and a Fairchild 24 among many others. Being a Pitts pilot for 37 years, I'm hypercritical of an airplane's handling qualities.

So, for what it's woth, I love this little machine.
Great looking (at my age, anything that could improve my appearance is good).
Amazingly comfortable. I've taken it on long cross countries, and it's like driving a Porche.
I've not seen another LSA (SLSA) with the level of fit and finish.
I could nitpick the handling qualities - controls are not really balanced - elevator very sensitive and ailerons not, but this airplane was not made for acro, so for me, the flying qualities are great. I think I could teach my dog to land it.
It's great for just a hop around the local area and it's great for a very long cross country - either role.
Factory support was not great a year ago when I bought the airplane, but it's stellar now, and that's a big deal with LSA's, since many of them are support-challenged.

Hope this adds to clarity rather than more confusion.

All the best in your search for a new flying machine.

[mackattack]

Buy my plane! Buy my plane!! *laughing*

I can’t speak for the other person (who I have met by the way when he came through Houston a year or two ago). Hopefully he will chime in. I am selling my Astore because while I can justify owning 2 airplanes, I can’t justify owning 3. I bought the Astore after a 35 year hiatus from flying and while I was recovering from some serious cancer stuff ... could not get a medical at that time, wasn’t sure I would be able to. But I wanted to get back into aviation so I bought my plane - and loved it! All the things montanapilot says above and even more. I love that plane and hate to sell it... but...

I was able to get a medical a year ago, and then went out and bought a used Cirrus G3 turbo-normalized SR22. My cross-country missions are typically long, or at least a lot of them are - 700 nm plus. The extra speed of the Cirrus, air conditioning, etc. work for me. And then I spent the last six months getting my instrument rating. So the Cirrus is now my primary traveling machine rather than the Astore.

I also put down a deposit on a CubCrafters FX3 because I like operating out of a grass field (that’s where I kept my Astore) but want to get into taildragger mode with some BIG ASS TIRES so I can do the off-runway thing. And I will use the Cub for the “just fooling around” flights and short $100 burger runs. I can’t really justify a third airplane so that’s why I’m selling the Astore.

The thing about airplanes is that, within a given budget, it’s all about your mission and how you want to get there. But I miss hand flying the Astore. Of all these planes, it hand flies the best. Better than either the Cirrus or the Cub, although the Cub is more fun that the Cirrus. The Astore has fingertip touch on the controls, stays put where you point it, easy to land, very forgiving and can be tweaked up to cruise close to 130 knots at 8-10,000 feet with the right prop work. It’s a sweet airplane. I upgraded mine a fair amount (avionics, Beringer brakes, ceramic coating), etc.

If I ever lose my medical, I’m going to have to move back into LSA-land and will be back in a Tecnam. But I hope that doesn’t happen.

I hope this answered your question - feel free to pm me ...

Good luck!
Joel

[montanapilot]

What's "ceramic coating" mackattack? I thought I'd done everything to my airplane that can be done, but it sounds like there might yet be another way to spend money.

[jetcat3]

Jul 27, 2018 16:27:29 GMT dlb1 said:

I've been LSA searching for the last several months, and have narrowed down my top two list to include the Astore.  While researching this board it appears two very active and longtime members, macattack and geobuff have their planes for sale after less than fiver years of ownership.  I've read you're both positive on the plane in the past, but wonder if I should read something more into the fact that you're both getting out of the Astore.  Would appreciate any thoughts on why you're selling, or thoughts for a potential buyer of either of your former a/c.  I'm interested in both the 912is and 914 for different reasons.  Thanks

David

Which other LSA are you considering?

[mackattack]

There’s always a way to spend more money! Ceramic coatings are a paint protectant - applied manually to the exterior. Seals the paint and provides a very smooth finish that cleans up easily with a cloth and maybe some citrus cleaner. Belly stains too. Paint doesn’t fade. Lasts 5-7 years. People use this on collectible and fancy sports cars too. I used Aviana Detailing ... www.aviana-detailing.com. Posted about it on COPA and MMOPA. My Astore has never looked better! They do restoration before they apply - my plane looks brand new. Cost me about $2100 plus the guy’s travel expenses to Houston. I shared those with a local Meridian owner - he was happy too. Made my Cirrus smooth as glass ... really amazing.

Cheers

[dlb1]

I'm also considering Sling 2, would likely be a build to order.

[geobuff]

I did put my Astore on the market. I too, would like to upgrade to a Cirrus like MacAttack, as I also do a lot of long cross-countries.
The aircraft is in great condition, with all the bells and whistles, so would be a reasonable buy for someone who cannot afford the list price of a new Astore.
Geobuff

[slingpilot]

Jul 28, 2018 20:48:03 GMT dlb1 said:

I'm also considering Sling 2, would likely be a build to order.


i just took delivery of a Sling 2. Mine was ordered and built in SA. I flew it back east from CA two weeks ago. A new friend of mine is doing an assisted build with Midwest Sky Sports in MI. That is the way to do it IMHO. I’m happy with the factory build, but the delivery time to get to the states was literally a slow boat from China. Midwest does a great job. I’ll be using them for my first condition (annual) inspection next year. 


By The Way, the Sling 2 is everything they say it is and more. I’m a pvt pilot who decided to downsize. I’ve flown most of the LSA’s on the market, almost bought an RV-12, when I stumbled on the Sling. So glad I checked it out. 


PM me if you need more info.

[danal]

I know this is a somewhat old thread... just thought I'd mention that I am the buyer of Mackattack's N837TA.

To the original question: Yeah, he sold it to upgrade. I'm buying it to change from going short-STOL (in a Zenith CH750) that only cruises about 78 or 80, to be able to cruse at 120+. I live in the DFW area, near Denton, and the Astore will be 2 hours (almost exactly) to the airport that is just 4 minutes from kids/grandkids. That's vs a 5 to 6 hour drive or 4+ hours in the STOL. Makes a "Saturday lunch visit" very realistic.

[Flocker]

Feb 23, 2019 2:34:26 GMT danal said:

I know this is a somewhat old thread... just thought I'd mention that I am the buyer of Mackattack's N837TA.

Congrats!  Welcome to the Tecnam family.