Contest: $100 and a nice Essay gets you an LSA. Or does it?

[Merlinspop]

So... if you read ANN or General Aviation News, you might have seen where a guy is graciously running a contest to essentially give away a 2007 Storm Century LSA just for writing a compelling essay saying why you deserve it. Oh, and sending in your $100 entry fee.

That's SOOOOOO nice of him, don't you think?

Well....

In the rules, it lists the SN (S9 00R 0001) from which I found the registration number (N383PA). From that I found that the Owner has only owned it since January 2016. That's right.... 4 months. Prior to that, it was owned by Samexa Corp at least as early as April 2011, which in turn owns Mercer Flight Academy. Mercer Flight Academy's Facebook page has multiple pictures of N383PA (at least until they read THIS). So, this aircraft is likely due for a good bit of mx, maybe a new engine and/or who knows what else. Your $100 airplane may quickly cost you a good bit more.

Cavendum est Scriptor! (yes, I used Google for the translation, so it could be completely wrong)

[drseti]

Cavendum est Scriptor!

Beware the fine print?

[Merlinspop]

Cavendum est Scriptor!

Beware the fine print?

I entered "Writer Beware" into the translator.

[drseti]

Ah, cavendum. "Cave scriptor" would, I believe, be "beware the writer", which has exactly the opposite meaning.

<thread drift>
The motto of the USAF Wild Weasels a half century ago was Cave Putorium, "beware the weasel." I still remind my wife about that when she gets too close.
</thread drift>