680W for sale

[JimC]

Not my ad:

TURBOCOMMANDER 680W TURBOPROP • $40,000 • MUST SELL • 1965 680w Complete Turbo Commander was flying in 2020. Both Engines have been removed and crated Garret tpe-331-1-151A. Mid time engines hot section recommended, log books available. Parts Plane or Project plane that can be put back together and fly again if wanted to. • Contact Zachary Stetler - HANGAR 14 MAINTENANCE , - located Santa Teresa, NM 88008 United States • Telephone: 9153165417 • Posted April 21, 2022

Flying 2 years ago and it's already in pieces?

[Adam Frisch]

Engines must have gone to an MU-2F or something, or maybe a crop duster.

[donv]

If I'm reading the ad correctly, it comes with the engines, they just aren't on the airplane.

[Adam Frisch]

Then it's a friggin bargain.

[donv]

Don't you need some engine parts? Maybe you could just buy the engines.

[JimC]

Hmmm..it's not that far of a flight for me.

[donv]

Looking at the seller's website:

https://www.hangar14.net

I'm going to guess that it is an airplane that came to them for maintenance, or probably hot sections (or at least to R&R the engines) and the owner ran out of money to put it back together.

[Adam Frisch]

Did email, but no response yet.

[JimC]

I'm way too tempted to get this, get it flying as a fire attack plane to leaseback in the summers, and flying it myself the rest of the year.

I just reread all 30 pages of Adam's 680V thread to talk myself out of it.

[donv]

No! Get a 690 instead. Vastly better airplane for not much more money, when you take into consideration the cost to get this 680, or any 680, properly airworthy.

Although, I don't know how much 690 prices have changed over the last year or two, so maybe I'm wrong about the money part? Still a vastly superior airplane, though.

[Adam Frisch]

I do not disagree with Don. However I would say one thing - there is no lower op cost plane in the TC family to operate than the pre-690's with the -1 conversion. They have no calendar items, they have no gear overhauls, they have no heated windscreens (that cost $55K when they crack) and no spar inspections until you get to the 681 model. So, if you don't mind sourcing a little bit longer for parts and going a bit slower, you can operate these for less.

[JimC]

The only 690 I see for sale is over $500k.

This 680 can probably be had for $20k. Even if you pay list price of $40k, that's a rounding error in the final sum.

Can it be made airworthy for $300k? Assume no boots and radar, and no pressurization fixes - you take the pressurization wherever it is. Include two -1 hot sections.