Buying and Exporting a Skymaster

[johnnyfalcon]

G'day folks, from Down Under

I'm looking for a P337 to use as personal business transport in New Zealand. I've been watching the market for about a year and done considerable research. Before committing to this venture I'd like to seek your collective observations.

I've been told that 'you don't take the wings off a Skymaster' for export. Could you fly one out here? I know the O-2s were all flown to Vietnam. In NZ Cessna's SIDs are mandatory. It seems to me that this would require a significant amount of disassembly anyhow and may warrant taking the wings off to make the inspection easier. Have many/any Skymaster owners put their aircraft through the SID program? Are there any for sale? I have a maintenance shop here that is just finishing one now and has offered their services. Or it may be easier to have it done in the US first as there are more Skymaster savvy outfits there.

If anyone knows of any well-maintained airframes available for sale, I'd be interested in adding them to my shortlist. Also, if you have any further advice, warnings, or observations, I'd appreciate any assistance. I hope to visit the US in the next month or so with a view to making a decision.

Cheers and beers

Johnny

[Ernie Martin]

Don Nieser at Commodore (405-503-4686 or 722-4079, nieser.02.337parts@juno.com) has done the SIDs, and shipped the diassembled aircraft to Australia or NZ. He may have an aircraft for sale, or look online for one. Most (all?) 337s in private use have NOT had the SIDs done because it's not mandatory.

Ernie

[johnnyfalcon]

Thanks for the pronto reply and the information :-)

[hharney]

Contact Clamback & Hennessy in Sydney, AU
They will ferry a Skymaster for you from the USA to your location

Check for the country code but number is 97921022 ask for Aminta

Are there specifics in the P model you are looking for? Year, Model, Equip, Mods ???

[johnnyfalcon]

Hi Herb,

Thanks for your input. Do you consider ferrying to NZ first then doing the SIDs a better option?

I'm considering all years of P models. I don't know that there are any significant differences. I considered all turbo models of 337 initially but decided upon pressurized. It needs to be IFR-ready. Intercooled is desirable? I'd prefer engines with good times remaining rather than the inconvenience of overhauling. I have wondered about the significance of climate control in the cabin. How do the pilots of the non-airconditioned airframes manage on hot days?

All observations welcome.

[johnnyfalcon]

Thanks Frank. I thought there was another relatively minor change after the 1973 model too. But, after all the reading I've been doing, I can't remember what it was...

123 gallons equals about 4.5 hours? NZ isn't very big... (in case you've not heard of it!)