By Sam Burgess, Contributing Editor
Sport Aerobatics August 1984
The sample ad with this article, extracted in part from a popular circular, has Caveat Emptor written all over it. Let’s examine it just for the fun of it and see where the buy takes the risk of quality fully upon himself.
1. “Pitts S-1” – Is it a single-place, flat-wing, four aileron or what? If the full model designation is not spelled out, you should immediately become suspect of the other information.
2. "Fully aerobatic" — Read the entire ad. Okay, no mention of an inverted fuel and oil system is made; therefore, this aircraft is not FULLY aerobatic. If it were, it would sport a canopy, Lexan floor, pressure carburetor, etc. We could give up on this character right now but it will be an education if we continue.
3. "Like new" — Like a new what? This one statement probably contains the widest difference in personal opinions more than anything else on earth. "It's a cream puff, fly it myself, owned by an old airplane pilot, mint condition, clean, etc." Even a good picture won't reveal the flaws, ringworm, hangar rash, dull paint, beat-up interior, etc.
4. "Red and white sunburst" — So, this makes it a "run-of-the-mill" Pitts. What is not known is the type of paint, who finished it and if the aircraft has been hangared.
5. "Engine by Joe Berfsk" — Who in (blank) is Joe Berfsk? And what did he do to the engine? With a name like that I wouldn't taxi it around the ramp. He probably has a good reputation back in "Podunk Center," but these ads are also trying to sell a Pitts to a buyer in California.
READ THE FULL ARTICLE THE ATTACHED PDF BELOW.
