I currently rent the only remaining taildragger (7ECA) that I'm aware of being for rent in all of Ventura County.  Today after I put myself on the schedule to take a 100 mile trip for some sightseeing with the Mrs. I learned that since someone balled up the other Citabria a few weeks ago, this one is no longer available for cross country. Boo.
I understand where the good people I rent from are coming from since a lot of their business is TW instruction but it's kind of a bummer having the choice of burning gas in the pattern or renting a 172. I have too little experience over all to be a 172 hater but since I've got this doggone TW endorsement I'd prefer to use it and build my experience there.
-->rant off<--
Clearly I don't have it all that bad since there are plenty of folk who have no tail dragger or no airplane at all to rent. All that said, I'm now on the hunt for options. Can anyone point me toward a rental or arrangement of some sort at any of the following?
Camarillo
Santa Paula
Oxnard
Santa Monica
Santa Barbara
Van Nuys
Whiteman

Thanks in advance for any insight
SD

I'm pretty sure that CP Aviation in KSZP has a couple of them for rent. Give them a call.

R

Rich is right, CP aviation in SZP has them for rent. And Decathlons as well

You are both quite correct, Clay and Judy are who I currently rent from at CPAviation and have nothing but good to say about them and their operation. Problem is, they are down to the one Citabria and the super D's are dual only. Sounds like there may be another Citabria added to the line up in the future some time but I figured I'd take this opportunity to look around a bit and see if there were any additional options out there.

Thanks for the input guys
SD

Looking at my license all I can see a seaplane, multiengine, helicopter and an over 12,500 type rating.

Lots of talk on this group about spin, off-airport, and tail wheel endorsements. What do those look like and what good are they if they are not on a license? Maybe I'm confusing ratings with endorsements, so perhaps someone can explain to me the difference. I somehow doubt that 90% of the Alaska pilots have a tail wheel endorsement - I met a few in the back bush and farms without even a license.

Years ago no tailwheel endorsement was required. Now it is required. It is a logbook entry, as with high performance, complex, etc. Not a rating.

Hey Straydog:
Buy a Luscombe!! You'll make up for ownership costs over renting in no time at all!

PM me for a nice one....

EB

No official tailwheel rentals at Whiteman.

If you run out of other options entirely, I can make an inquiry to see if a particular Aeronca Chief is available for rent/instruction/whatever here.

There are several people who always advertised tailwheel transitions and rentals in the Pacific Flyer magazine, but alas April is the very last issue of Pacific Flyer.

Not to start a flame war, but if you're renting to fly cross country, what difference does it make which end the little wheel is on, unless your destination is such that a nose-dragger won't cut it? If all you're doing is going from A to B for a burger, the flight there and back is the same.

Now if what you're wanting to do is hone those TD skills, staying in the pattern and doing that makes sense--and the FBO's no-XC policy in the Citabria also makes sense.

Cary

Generally speaking,it seems like if you want tailwheel or floatplane time you're gonna have to buy your own, or buy a share in one. More fun that way anyway. A Champ C140 or Luscombe isn't that much dough. I know of a real nice Luscombe for sale locally here for about $28K. Very nice airplane which has only had four owners in it's life and has a Lycoming O-235 to boot.

Cary, I appreciate that perspective on the subject, it's a good point to make that for all intents and purposes whether you're in a c-150 or a Pilatus the journey between A and B is no different except of course the mild performance differences. Where the real difference is, is very much in the take offs and landings which you might only do a couple of on an X-C. This kind of opens up a whole new arena to me as C-150s are cheap to rent and plentiful to find.

EB & Hotrod, I appreciate the leads and also the fact that ownership is by far the way to go. I'm working right now on eradicating the last bits of debt from my life and then will be doing just that.

EZ, thanks for the info, I may follow up on that sometime later. Bummer to hear about the Pacific Flyers demise.

As always thanks for your input folks,
SD

...and there's a Citabria at KWJF from Barnes.

Thanks Jet that's a good looking 7KCAB, I'll definitely be looking into that one.
SD

Jet966 are you part of that private strip at Lake Hughes? If so, please ask Kathy Storgard (spelling?) if she still has that great big dog we found at Whiteman that she adopted. Molly, I think. If so, please send my thanks and best wishes.

@straydog - It's a pretty heavily worked aircraft. I haven't flown it, but I imagine it's a little rough. ...so don't shoot the messenger, but I'm hoping it's a good option for you.

@EZ - Not affiliated with the 'Sky Haven Ranch' strip, but I'm good friends with a fellah that used to fly out of there. I'll ask him what he knows.