by Chappy » Wed Nov 16, 2005 12:08 am
Tyler,
Wow, I never imagined that the enclosure was so rare! I had guessed only a handful ever made it into the states, as I've been to tons of fly-ins over the years and have never seen one. I've had the desire to own another series III ever since I sold the last one I had to fly (the one AOPA built back in 1983 while I was a dealer). About a dozen years ago I got the idea to try to find one with the enclosure (IIIEC). Every once in a while I would find an ad for one, inevitably in Canada, but they always turned out to be already sold. When I found out about the one out in Oregon, I didn't mess around. I called the owner, he e-mailed me pictures and answered my questions, and we made a deal over the phone in just a couple days.
I felt crazy buying it this way, and kind of foolish driving all the way across the US for it, but I really feared I would never find another one. Facing the trip out there, and not really knowing that what I would find would come anywere close to my expectations, I sure had some serious doubts (the trip, the plane, my sanity). H*ll, I even purchased a new van to go get it with - the first new vehicle I've purchased in 30 years. If in fact there were only nine sold, I'm more sure now than ever that I made the right decision.
Chappy
PS. Do you know who fabricated the enclosures? Was it Mike? Carbon fiber would be neat, as I've been surprised how heavy the fiberglass pieces are. The front half seems rather thick.