Pennsylvania men ask broker to give them a number on abandoned airplane they spent ages rebuilding to see if profit can be made
Published on Oct 29, 2025 at 10:19 PM (UTC+4)
by Daisy Edwards
Last updated on Oct 29, 2025 at 3:00 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Emma Matthews
This team had a risky plan to get a broker to give them a number on an abandoned airplane, only after they spent ages rebuilding it.
After sitting forgotten for 14 years, a neglected Piper Warrior found new life in the hands of a group of Pennsylvanian aviation enthusiasts.
What started as a rescue mission soon became a full restoration project, and now they want to know if their work was worth it.
They spent weeks repairing the engine, replacing worn parts, and polishing the faded paint until the plane looked almost new again.
EXPLORE SBX CARS – Supercar auctions starting soon powered by Supercar Blondie
An abandoned airplane gets its shine back
The airplane had been left untouched at a small Maryland airport before the Rebuild Rescue team stepped in.
Once back at their hangar, they replaced lots of the little Piper’s parts, including the magnetos, vacuum pump, battery, and several other components to make it airworthy again.
After finishing the mechanical work, they turned their attention to the outside appearance.
The dull, chalky paint was carefully buffed to reveal its secret glossiness, cracked wingtips were swapped out, and minor bodywork touch-ups gave the plane a cleaner finish.
To complete the transformation, they brought in an expert in vinyl who wrapped the nose in black and replaced the old rainbow stripes with a fresh, cool design.
The verdict from the broker: can a profit be made?
When the project was finished, the team invited an aviation broker called Rich to inspect their work and determine its value.
He examined every detail, from the upgraded parts to the fresh paint, and called the result ‘a respectable airplane.’
Rich rated the Piper Warrior a seven out of 10 and said it would make an ideal training aircraft.
His valuation placed it between $70,000 and $90,000 on the open market, which, considering the team bought it for about $20,000, would be a healthy profit.
But for the Rebuild Rescue crew, it was about more than money – the sale will help fund future rescue projects and give other forgotten airplanes a chance to fly again.
DISCOVER SBX CARS: The global premium car auction platform powered by Supercar Blondie
Daisy Edwards is a Content Writer at supercarblondie.com. Daisy has more than five years’ experience as a qualified journalist, having graduated with a History and Journalism degree from Goldsmiths, University of London and a dissertation in vintage electric vehicles. Daisy specializes in writing about cars, EVs, tech and luxury lifestyle. When she's not writing, she's at a country music concert or working on one of her many unfinished craft projects.
