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Shadow CD 462 - SOLD (Again)

Back for sale, after something of a fiasco, is my fabulous little 462 engined Shadow CD.

I listed this aircraft for sale back in April and quickly found a buyer (or so I thought). Unfortunately the buyer (and I mean this with no hostility or disrespect to the individual involved), jumped into the purchase without considering practicalities such as where he might keep it, or if he could fly it. After a couple of months of waiting for the buyer to find hangarage, it was agreed that I would finally undertake the delivery flight for him. Frustratingly, during the course of the delivery, the bracket that held the coolant expansion bottle failed, with the bottle causing damage to the propeller. As a result, the buyer then decided that he wanted nothing further to do with the aircraft and I had to recover her back to my home airfield.

Never the less, thanks to the addition of a new (second hand) prop and coolant bottle, G-MWIZ is now back to full health and so back for sale again.

Preamble over, here’s some info about the aircraft. First of all, she is an SSDR machine, but having been meticulously maintained over the last 5 years by an experienced B1 licenced engineer, she is genuinely in much better condition than the vast majority of permit machines out there. The failure of the damned bottle bracket (a brand new and supposedly high quality, purpose build part) is not a fair reflection of the overall sate of the aeroplane.

She was factory built in 1989 as a BD (S/N 096), but returned to CFM in 1997 for conversion to CD; becoming one of just three Shadows to be factory fitted with a Rotax 462. The following year she spent a spell in Danny Crosbie’s workshop, being fitted with an extended foot well and wing fold, while also benefitting from a smart re-spray too. A Crosbie main U/C was fitted in 2004 and a pair of Jedi metal fuel tanks in 2014.

I bought the aircraft in late 2017, after searching for a suitable machine for well over a year. I must have walked away from more than a dozen different shadows, but this one was head and shoulders better than anything else I viewed. I don’t mind admitting that I was a bit unsure of the 462 to begin with (mainly due to the single ignition), but it really has proven to be a fabulous engine. With slightly more power than a 503 and better fuel burn too, I honestly think it’s the best pairing for a Shadow. I’ve flown quite a few Shadows over the years, including B, C, D and Streak variants and this little C really is just a sweet as they come.

The aircraft has not been subject to a complete restoration, as some machines have recently, but she is never the less in exceptional condition for a 1989 built example. No expense has been spared during my ownership and I have receipts totalling well over £5k for parts and work over the last few years. Work has included a full engine strip, inspection and rebuild by Eccleston, installation of an M5 electric starter and the complete nose to tail replacement of all electrics, including a new lithium battery. All rubber components (mounts, hoses, sockets etc) have been replaced and the brakes have been re-lined with a super grippy race compound, which makes the aircraft an absolute delight to taxi. The rear controls were also removed removed to offset the additional weight of the starter motor.

I have no doubt that this aircraft would sail through a permit inspection if a new owner wished to return her to 2-seat status, but she has benefitted from a number of modifications which would have to be notified to the BMAA.

The aircraft will be sold with a huge array of airframe and engine spares, including not one, but two spare 462 engines. The first engine is already dismantled (I had intended to rebuild it as a running spare, but just never got around to it) – It should make a good runner if rebuilt, but otherwise is a useful source of spares. The second engine is intact and reportedly a good runner (though I have never seen it run myself) and was also originally fitted to another Shadow.

Please note the following points:
The asking price is £5,000 – No tyre kickers please.
This is a narrow-bodied shadow, so is not suitable for the gravitationally impaired.
This is a 32 year old aircraft, so it does have a few marks commensurate with age.
The skins are also 32 years old and will need to be replaced at some stage (we’re talking a few years, rather than a few decades).
Because the aircraft is a single-seater, test flights will not be offered. I am very happy to demonstrate the aircraft but I’m afraid you’ll have to buy it if you want to fly it.
Located close to Sleaford, Lincolnshire.
I’m happy to deliver within a sensible flight time (IRO 90 minutes) from Sleaford

The key features are as follows:
Airframe: 515 Hours
Engine: 405 Hours
Rotax 462 Engine with M5 Electric Start
EarthX EXT24C Lithium Battery
Key West Regulator/Rectifier
3-Blade Ivoprop Propeller
Dual Jedi Fuel Tanks
Crosbie Main Undercarriage
Crosbie Wing-Fold
Crosbie Extended Foot Well
Crosbie Tail Bushes
Crosbie Nose Inspection Hatch
Crosbie Tapered Tail Skid
Adrian Jones Strengthened Nose Leg
Villiers Re-Lined High Performance Brake Shoes
Alloy Main Wheels
Electric Trim
Tinted Canopy
Dual Strobes
Icom IC-A6E (8.33) Radio
Microavionics Intercom (Headsets not included)
Pilot Aware System (Tablet not included)
Floor mounted GPS Holder
Dodo Matt Soundproofing (makes a noticeable difference)