PA28-235 Piper Dakota

[Bungee]

Hi all

I am looking into buying my first plane, i have found a Dakota i used to hire years ago up for sale, it has TT2750. This was a great plane, full fuel, 4 pax and still get off the ground.

Does anyone have any tips on how i best approach this? what should i be looking for and how do i know if i am getting a good deal or not.

Is it best to put it online with a school or keep it in the hangar between flights?

thanks for your help...

Ben

[OLDPILOT]

Ben.
I dare say the best approach would be to find everything in print on the aircraft. Aviation Consumer did a piece on the aircraft years ago, and their articles are good food for thought. Most aviation magazines have done articles on the Dakota over the years also. If you can find a local chap who owns a Dakota or previously owned one, you have a real find! Last but not least, a Mechanic with experience with the Dakota would be a good prospect for a pre-buy inspection. Good luck on the search!

[juticalpa]

I used to own a Piper Dakota., I wish I had never sold it. It was the most reliable and easy to fly airplane that I have ever owned. I now have a Turbo Dakota that does much better in the mountains. However, they are both great airplanes. The airframes are bullet proof. The Turbo engine is slightly more demanding, but not too bad.

Both are good airplanes. Make sure that the engines are in good shape. Our Lycoming engined Dakota were absolutely reliable.

Tom Milam
milam@inglesrud.com