I’m considering a Sedan as my next plane. Does anyone have any insight as to what ownership looks like now that Burls has closed up shop? All of my research finds old discussions about how Burl was keeping things airworthy, but I’m now a bit hesitant to take on an orphaned plane.

Side note, anyone selling a sedan with a Lycoming? I’d consider an o-300 but would appreciate better performance.

I have no experience with the Sedan, but have admired their looks forever. I'll be following this topic with interest.

I can't say enough good things about how the one I flew behaved—it's a wonderful airplane. If you've never sat in one, the first thing that strikes you is the the volume of the cockpit. It's huge. The windshield arcs up overhead and feels almost like a quarter-skylight. The glareshield is monstrous.

I hopped in one on floats and knocked out three greaser landings, and I am nothing special when it comes to stick 'n rudder skills. It's just a great handling and very forgiving design. Flaps weren't even missed because the wing is so long.

Burl is truly excused from the Sedan space now, unfortunately. His site is blank. Won't answer the phone. Good for him, I guess, but yeah—it could mean that any meaningful support for the fleet is going to be found elsewhere.

My local Sedan buddy had a hell of a time getting support from Burl when his 180hp engine mount cracked. Then it was discovered that the mount had been produced incorrectly—several measurements were just plain wrong and it put stresses on the cowling and the thrustline was off. Ended up sending to a repair station here in MN to fix it.

That's why you have to choose the right specimen the first time, one with metal fuel tanks and as many STCs already installed as possible. There are many other aircraft types that are abandoned for support but people get by with generic components or owner-produced parts. Perhaps the case for owner-produced parts for the Sedan adds some extra appeal—now it's more akin to EAB!

The recurring spar cap AD is no joke. But it's documented. Aeronca club members remain a good (but aging) resource.

Find a Burl's aircraft thing that you think you can't live without, look into alternative ways to apply those mods.

Sedans are sexy; big round tail, enough said before Zzz has to sanction me for salacious behavior

My first exposure to a Sedan was in Kodiak. A gent showed up at Lilly Lake, the local float pond in one, filled it with fuel, loaded four full size adult males, and taxiied out for takeoff on that fairly short pond. I hung around for the show. He blasted out of there quicker than most of us in "mightier" aircraft. I ran into him later and learned he had the Lyc O-360 and a CS prop. Twas an impressive performer.

Later, I was contacted by a fellow with a stock Sedan (O-300 engine) who requested that I teach him to fly floats in it. I was skeptical, especially with the lack of flaps, and the fact that the owner was "large", like every lesson started at gross weight. I quickly became very impressed with that airplane on floats. I later got another fellow float rated in his Sedan, which was equipped with the O-360, and was even more impressed with that one.

Would I buy one if I were in the market? Absolutely, based, of course, upon the usual VERY intense pre buy for any old airplane. That spar cap AD could be spooky, so would be high on the list for proper compliance. Almost anything else falls into the very broad (these days) category of "unsupported aircraft types". Most aircraft of this vintage fall into that category, and I do NOT suggest owning one unless you're willing to deal with parts availability, searches for stuff, etc. That said, that process is SOOOO much easier these days with the internet than it used to be.

The Sedan is a great airplane. It is an Aeronca product, and a lot of the design features are similar. It's a fabric covered plane, with all that comes with that feature. Start with a rat bag, and.....bring $$$, or plan a serious winter garage project. Otherwise, it's a rag and tube airplane. There's not much a good welder can't fix on those airframes.

Great airplane, and stove bolt simple.

If you would like to fly one let me know I’m in Southern California most of the year.

Dean Sibley

KEMT Airport

There is a pretty one with an O360 listed on FB in the "Stick & Rudder Aircraft Exchange". Eagle AK, $140k.