1946 NORTH AMERICAN NAVION, 4,348 TT, E-185 1,272, SIMPLE GEAR UP, GOOD PLANE!

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1946 NORTH AMERICAN NAVION, 4,348 TT, E-185 1,272, SIMPLE GEAR UP, GOOD PLANE!
THE NAVION IS A NORTH AMERICAN AVIATION AIRCRAFT DEVELOPED AND BUILT JUST AFTER WORLD WAR II TO CATER TO THE THOUSANDS OF TRAINED PILOTS RETURNING FROM THE WAR.
UNLIKE THE CUBS, TAYLORCRAFTS AND LUSCOMBES, THE NAVION (LIKE THE BONANZA) WAS DESIGNED AS AN ALL METAL, RETRACTABLE GEAR, 4 PLACE, CROSS COUNTRY MACHINE, CAPABLE OF BUSINESS TRIPS OR TAKING YOUR WIFE AND ANOTHER COUPLE ON VACATION OR OUT TO A NICE DINNER IN THE CITY!
DESIGNED TO BE FAMILIAR TO MILITARY PILOTS, THE NAVION SPORTS A SLIDING CANOPY OVER THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT AND REAR BAGGAGE AREA AND A TAIL VERY REMINISENT OF THE FAMOUS P-51 MUSTANG!
MANY NAVIONS WERE SOLD TO THE MILITARY FOR USE AS LIASON AIRCRAFT (DUE TO THE COMFORTABLE 4 PLACE CABIN) AND MANY NAVIONS TODAY ARE PAINTED AND STENCILED WITH AIRFORCE OR NAVY MARKINGS AND ARE TREATED AS “WARBIRDS” AS WELL AS CLASSICS AT AIRSHOWS.
THIS AIRPLANE IS LISTED AS A 1946 AIRPLANE IN THE FAA REGISTRY.  THE ORIGINAL NORTH AMERICAN AVIATION LOGBOOK SHOWS THE PRODUCTION TEST FLIGHTS AS STARTING 1/4/1947.
LATER IN 1947/EARLY 1948, NORTH AMERICAN SOLD THE RIGHTS TO THE NAVION TO RYAN, WHO PRODUCED IT FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS BEFORE SELLING IT TO TUSCO, WHO EACH PRODUCED THEIR OWN VERSIONS.
IN 1966 THIS AIRCRAFT RECEIVED AN UPGRADE TO THE E-185/205 ENGINE, WHICH IS STILL INSTALLED.
RATED FOR 205 H.P. FOR 5 MINUTES, (TAKEOFF), THEN 185 H.P. CONTINUOUS.
THIS AIRPLANE HAS BEEN IN MICHIGAN SINCE 1998, BOTH OF WHOM HAD IT CONSTANTLY AND WELL MAINTAINED, BUT WHO USED THE AIRCRAFT OCCASIONALLY, RATHER THAN OFTEN (20-25 HOURS PER YEAR)  ANNUALS SINCE 2002 HAVE BEEN CONSISTANT, WITH ONLY 1 6 MONTH LAPSE IN 2011.
NOT A SITTER OR RAMP QUEEN, THIS AIRPLANE WAS TREATED WELL AND STORED INSIDE.
THERE IS A PICTURE OF THE AIRPLANE AT THE OSHKOSH AIRSHOW, AND I PRESUME THE OWNERS USED IT FOR OTHER AIRSHOWS AS WELL.
IN FACT, THE  ANNUAL IS CURRENT, AND DOES NOT EXPIRE UNTIL 10/1/2021!
BUT THE AIRPLANE IS NO LONGER PERFECT!
LIKE ANY RETRACTABLE GEARED AIRPLANE, THE NAVION REQUIRES THAT THE PILOT REMEMBERS TO PUT THE GEAR SWITCH IN THE DOWN POSITION BEFORE EVERY LANDING, NOT JUST MOST LANDINGS.  ALSO NO CREDIT IS GIVEN FOR ALL THE TIMES YOU SUCCESSFULLY DID PUT THE GEAR DOWN, IT STILL REQUIRES IT EVERY TIME! (DON’T ASK ME HOW I KNOW THIS).
THE PILOT FORGOT TO LOWER THE GEAR THIS ONE TIME, AT HIS HOME AIRPORT.
YOU MIGHT IMAGINE THE BELLY SKINS WERE SCRAPED, OR WORSE, THE JOINING STRIP ON THE BELLY THAT BOLTS THE TWO HALVES OF THE WING TOGETHER, BUT LUCKILY, YOU WOULD BE WRONG!
THE INBOARD EDGE OF BOTH FLAPS ARE SCRAPED, AND HAVING THEM DOWN SAVED THE BELLY!!
THE RIGHT FLAP INBOARD HANGER IS SCRAPED THROUGH AS WELL, AND THE LEFT ONE HAS SOME EROSION BUT NOT ALL THE WAY THROUGH. THE RIGHT FLAP FAIRING IS DEFORMED FROM THE HANGER COMING LOOSE. AND THE STEP IS DAMAGED, BUT NOT THE ATTACH POINT.
THE EXHAUST PIPES ARE EACH SLIGHTLY SCRAPED ON THE ENDS AND THERE IS A VERY LIGHT SKIN DEFORMATION ON THE EDGE OF THE NOSEGEAR WELL (EASILY PATCHED OR STRAIGHTENED)
AND THAT’S IT!
NO WING DAMAGE, AILERON DAMAGE, TAIL DAMAGE.
NOT EVEN ANY LOWER COWL DAMAGE!  LOOK AT THE PHOTOS!
THE CANOPY HAS THE FULL SIDE GLASS MOD, AND IT IS NOT DAMAGED AT ALL.
THE INTERIOR IS “VINTAGE” CLOTH, BUT SERVICEABLE AS IS.
THE DASH HAS BEEN UPDATED TO A MODERN “6 PACK” GUAGE LAYOUT, AND ALL OF THE FLIGHT INSTRUMENTS ARE MODERN UNITS!
THE KING RADIO PANEL UNITS HAVE BEEN REMOVED AND ARE NOT INCLUDED, BUT THE TRAYS ARE INCLUDED AND FULLY WIRED SO YOU CAN GO BACK THIS WAY WITH NO INSTALL COSTS, OR UPGRADE SOME OR ALL TO MORE MODERN STUFF, WITHOUT PAYING FOR WHAT YOU DON’T WANT.
OF COURSE THE PROP IS DAMAGED (IT DOES HAVE THE NEW STYLE MV PROP, WITH 550 HOURS SINCE NEW)
THE E-185/205 HAS 1,272 SMOH AND HAD GOOD COMPRESSIONS AT THE LAST ANNUAL, BUT E-225’S ARE READILY AVAILABLE AND WOULD GIVE THIS AIRPLANE A NICE BOAST WITH NO MODIFICATIONS REQUIRED, JUST DROP IT IN.
IF EVEN MORE PERFORMANCE IS WHAT YOU SEEK, IO-470 ENGINES OF 250 AND 260 H.P. WERE INSTALLED IN THESE AIRPLANES BY THE FACTORY IN THE 1960’S, AND MORE RECENTLY THE 285 H.P. IO-520 AND THE 300 H.P. IO-550 (AVAILABLE WITH A 4 BLADED PROP FOR THAT REAL “MUSTANG” LOOK!)
SO INSTALL A LITTLE MORE HORSEPOWER, REPLACE THE FLAPS, INBOARD HANGERS AND FAIRING AND GO FLYING IN YOUR OWN 1940’S VINTAGE NORTH AMERICAN NAVION!!
LOCATED IN A HANGER AT THE WILLOW RUN AIRPORT WEST OF DETROIT (ANOTHER WWII LANDMARK, HOME TO THE B-24 LIBERATOR).
WE WILL PAY THE HANGER STORAGE FOR 30 DAYS FROM THE END OF THE AUCTION AND MORE TIME IS AVAILABLE AT YOUR COST IF YOU NEED IT.
PARTS FOR THESE AIRPLANES ARE READILY AVAILABLE, AS ARE ENGINES, SO THIS CAN BE A SHORT TERM PROJECT, NOT A LONG TERM ONE.
AND YOU CAN GO TO OSHKOSH THIS YEAR AS A NAVION OWNER, NOT JUST A NAVION AFFECTIONADO!
SOLD WITH AIRFRAME LOGBOOKS SINCE NEW, ENGINE LOGBOOKS SINCE 1966, PROP LOGS SINCE NEW.
LAST ANNUAL PERFORMED 9/22/2020, NOT A SITTER, STORED INSIDE, NOT A RAMP QUEEN!
ADDITIONAL PAPERWORK INCLUDES 337 FORMS FROM AS FAR BACK AS THE 1940’S!
MODS INCLUDE:
CLEVELAND WHEELS AND BRAKES
JASCO ALTERNATOR AND REGULATOR
NEW STYLE FUEL SELECTOR
ALSO INCLUDES WEIGHT AND BALANCE, INSPECTION CHECKLIST FORMS, OPERATORS MANUAL AND OPERATING LIMITATIONS, PILOT CHECKLISTS, RECEIPTS AND OTHER ASSOCIATED GOOD PAPERWORK.
AND THE FAA BILL OF SALE
AND THE FAA AIRWORTHINESS CERTIFICATE
AND THE KEYS!
THE NAVION IS A PRACTICAL CLASSIC AND CAN BE UPDATED AS FAR AS YOU WISH OR FLOWN AS A 4 PLACE “CHEAPIE” QUITE NICELY. EVEN A PRETTY COOL YOUNG EAGLES RIDE I WOULD THINK!
AND A ‘NORTH AMERICAN AVIATION’ JACKET WOULD LOOK GOOD ON YOU AND YOUR KIDS OR GRANDKIDS TOO!
GOOD BIDDING!
AS WENTWORTH AIRCRAFT IS LOCATED IN CRYSTAL,MINNESOTA, NOT……...DETROIT, MI.......... ..…….. WE WILL NOT BE ABLE TO PERSONALLY ASSIST WITH THE REPAIR OR MOVING OF THIS AIRPLANE SORRY.
WENTWORTH AIRCRAFT DOES NOT OBTAIN REPAIR ESTIMATES, AS WE DO NOT REPAIR ANY OF OUR AIRPLANES. WE ONLY FACILITATE THE SALE OF REBUILDABLE AIRCRAFT TO THOSE DESIRING TO SAVE MONEY OR HAVE MORE AIRPLANE THAN OTHERWISE POSSIBLE FOR THE MONEY.
REPAIR OF ANY AIRCRAFT WILL DEPEND ON MANY FACTORS, SUCH AS AVAILABILITY OF USED PARTS, LABOR RATE OF THE REPAIR FACILITY, FAMILIARITY WITH THE AIRCRAFT, ETC. AND WE WOULD NEVER PRESUME TO ESTIMATE THIS NUMBER FOR A BUYER. BEWARE OF THOSE WHO OBVIOUSLY GIVE UNREALISTICALLY LOW "ESTIMATES" FOR THE REPAIR OF THE DAMAGED AIRCRAFT THEY SELL.
THIS ITEM IS BEING SOLD WITH A LOW RESERVE, THEREFORE WE FULLY EXPECT THIS LISTING WILL SELL TO THE HIGHEST BIDDER AT THE CLOSE OF THIS AUCTION, SO BID EARLY AND BID HIGH. THERE WILL BE NO CHANCE TO BUY THIS ITEM LATER!!
AS WE SET OUR BUY-IT-NOW SO LOW, MANY OF OUR AIRPLANES SELL BY THIS METHOD BEFORE THE END OF THE AUCTION. DONT WAIT TOO LONG HOPING TO SNIPE IT AT THE END, AND BE DISAPPOINTED !
WENTWORTH AIRCRAFT INC IS THE #1 VOLUME SELLER IN THE USED AIRCRAFT MARKET!
WE ARE THE REAL BRICK AND MORTAR WENTWORTH AIRCRAFT YOU HAVE SEEN ADVERTISED ON PAGE 6 OF TRADE-A-PLANE, AT OUR BOOTHS AT OSHKOSH, SUN-AND-FUN, AOPA, AND ELSEWHERE FOR OVER 20 YEARS !!!!
WE HAVE TENS OF THOUSANDS OF SATISFIED CUSTOMERS OVER THE LAST 20 YEARS, SO WHEN YOU BUY AN ITEM THROUGH EBAY FROM US, YOU CAN BE ASSURED THAT WE WILL LIST ALL ITEMS AS ACCURATELY AS POSSIBLE, AND THAT WE WILL ANSWER ALL QUESTIONS TRUTHFULLY.
PLEASE ASK ALL QUESTIONS THROUGH THE LISTING(ASK SELLER A QUESTION), BECAUSE THESE QUESTIONS GET ANSWERED IN A MORE TIMELY MANNER.
PLEASE DON'T ASSUME. IF YOU ARE NOT SURE ABOUT ANY FACET OF ONE OF OUR LISTINGS, PLEASE ASK !
SO THAT ALL BIDDERS HAVE THE SAME INFORMATION,WE PREFER NOT TO ANSWER DETAIL QUESTIONS BY PHONE. OUR PHONE SALES STAFF HAS NO DIRECT KNOWLEDGE OF THE ITEMS ON EBAY.
DUE TO THE AUCTION FORMAT, IT WOULD NOT BE FAIR FOR THE HIGH BIDDER NOT TO BUY THE ITEM LISTED, SO TREAT YOUR BID LIKE A HANDSHAKE!!
YOUR BID IS NOT A RIGHT OF FIRST REFUSAL, BUT RATHER A CONTRACT TO BUY OUR AIRPLANE AT YOUR BID PRICE
SO BE SURE YOU HAVE ENOUGH INFORMATION, AND FUNDSIN PLACE.
A NON-REFUNDABLE DEPOSIT OF ,000 IS DUE WITHIN 72 HOURS OF THE BID CLOSING. WE PREFER PAYPAL FOR THIS DEPOSIT, BUT IF YOU HAVE A PROBLEM WITH PAYPAL, LET US KNOW, AND WE WILL HELP YOU FIND AN ALTERNATIVE.
THE BALANCE OF THE PAYMENT IS DUE WITHIN 7 DAYS FROM THE DATE OF BID CLOSE. THESE FUNDS CAN BE BY WIRE TRANSFER, BANK OR CASHIERS CHECK, CASH, OR ANY COMBINATION. FULL PAYMENT IS DUE BY TIME STATED, REGARDLESS OF WHETHER YOU HAVE VIEWED THE AIRCRAFT. BID ACCORDINGLY.
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