Hi I was just wondering what plane is really good for some backcountry strips and STOL areas. I can't really spend more than 30k. I've been looking at a Stinson 108-2 but just not sure yet. I know a rancher who has a 165hp Stinson and he loves it. Any input is appreciated as I am not sure what to do yet. Thanks

Do you realize the can of worms you have just opened up with that kind of question? With all of the pilots and the different aircraft they fly here on this site your going to get 50 answers??

What looks good to you?

Zane has a great Cessna 170! Then there are Kits, cubs, light sports, experimentals and so on...I have a great 182 for ya...

You will also start at 30K and then talk your self into 40K then 50K etc. It will be a happy day when you do drop in no matter what bird you get.

Good luck!

Kevin

first lets hear about your flight experience do you have PPL, or student, total time, time in tail wheel, the Stinson is a good airplane for the money low to insure and a good trainer, look at AOPA insurance and get quotes on different planes

I can only spend less than 30k because that's all the cash I will have after selling our Cherokee 180. I have to split it with my bro. I am not going into debt. I have very little tail wheel time. I do have the PPL. I need a good trainer tail wheel that I can fly into some short back country strips and some fields. I am not a complete stranger to landing on dirt and gravel; been doing it for a couple years. I want something too that I can go scouting for hunting. A low wing isn't very good. I'd love a Cessna 180 but I can't afford it for a long while yet. I'm only 19. I am asking you guys for advice because I don't want to do something stupid I'll regret later on. I like to do a lot of research on stuff before I commit.

Don't feed the troll.

I'd suggest a Stinson or Pacer, maybe a Maule, but that may be a stretch on your budget.

Taylor Craft, 170, pacer would be great!

The only stupid thing you could do is pay for more airplane that you can afford, or pay more than an airplane is worth. Or, try to do more with an airplane than it is capable of doing. Not many people go out for the first time to buy the airplane they expect to have the rest of their lives.

Two seats, three seats or four seats?

Do you realize the can of worms you have just opened up with that kind of question?

maybe a Maule

Hey! You leave the Maules out of this one!

It's great flying weather. Lots of color and we don't have time for this. Save it for those blustery days.

Champ, J-3, or a T craft.

This is what I would do if I were 19 and had 30 K to spend. viewtopic.php?f=21&t=6189

You can get change back on your 30K Go look at it. It is Oregon like you.

Tim

qmdv wrote:This is what I would do if I were 19 and had 30 K to spend. viewtopic.php?f=21&t=6189

You can get change back on your 30K Go look at it. It is Oregon like you.

Tim

Man, I second that motion.. Looks good. Otherwise, I too would go with a Champ, T Craft or J-3.

Yes, that plane is nice. If i didn't have my current plane I'd make a call on it but there's not much point right now when I can't afford it. I seen it couple days ago on here. I really like its' looks. If anybody is interested in buying a PA-28-180 let me know.

You can get a pretty good 150-horse Pacer for $30K or less. They are generally under-rated & so are often bargain priced. Maybe the most bang for your buck, if you wanna be able to haul along a girlfriend and camping gear. Stinson's and old straight-tail C172's seem like pretty good values too. Most anything else under $30K is gonna be 2 place and maybe not able to haul a whole lot.

you could buy this for 28k

http://www.controller.com/listingsdetai ... 168793.htm

If you have dogs, make sure it's got room to take them along!

Mans best friend deserves to be with you...

Fraser
A185F

I would DEFINITELY go with the Stinson

Ya I really like the sound of taking along a girlfriend going camping. I've heard the Pacers are a little hard to handle on the ground if your new with tail wheel a/c. I'm not really a fan of 172s. I've flown them enough to know I don't care for them much. My biggest concern with Stinsons are the Franklins. I know finding parts is hard.

And ya i'll need to be able to haul some weight, especially if I do go camping or something.

I really appreciate everybodys input into this. It's helping me decide which is best for me. Thanks everybody

Pacers are short so they're kinda quick on the rudders on the ground, compared to longer airplanes like Stinsons & 170's.. I think a lot of the squirrelly reputation they have is due to that, or due to the gear not being aligned properly-- either a botched job when converting a TriPacer to t/w gear, or being twisted out of alignment in a groundloop situation. I have a little time in a PA-22/20 that a couple friends of mine did the t/w conversion on-- they took a lot of care getting the new gear fittings located just right, and it shows in the way the airplane tracks straight as a string on the ground.

If you are going into backcountry strips, as opposed to gravel bars and ridgetops, you could do what you are suggesting with a Tri-Pacer. Would get you a decent load hauling ability for normal operations from airport to airport, and if you're careful, still get you comfortably in and out of backcountry strips. But the short wings are pretty underwhelming in high density altitudes (goes for pacers as well). I've been practicing on a 1,000 foot backcountry strip with mine, but the strip is at 500 feet and it's chilly up here right now. It's a jack-of-all trades-master-of-none type of aircraft, but if you shop carefully it will do what you suggest, within your budget, haul a bit when needed, and not break the bank (assuming you are extremely diligent on pre-buy).

If you want a tailwheel then take a hard look at the TriPacer with the tailwheel conversion, sometimes referred to as a PA-22/20. They have a 2000# gross and usually have a 150hp engine (sometimes the 160hp version but those will be more than 30k). Tougher than a C-180 on the ground, but that's only until you get used to it. Once you get the feel of it, no big deal. As mentioned before, main gear geometry is important.

If you want to pay half the insurance premium and about $5k less then go for the tricycle gear TriPacer. Everybody I've talked to said the nose gear is tough as nails. The nose gear mounts to the engine mount, not the firewall, just like the tri-gear Maule that frequently goes into back country strips. It will limit your operations some but maybe not as much as you think - you will see tri-gear Cessnas landing on some of the rougher Idaho backcountry strips like Cabin Creek.

I've never flown a Stinson, but I'll bet my 22/20 will out-perform any 165hp 108. My Pacer is 1135# empty and I think most Stinsons are around 1400#. Stinsons are roomier inside, though.

Also look at Cessna 170s. The 170B is out of your 30k price range but a good 170 or a rougher 170A are around 30k.