Hi everyone:

I'm new to the forum. A bit of background on me. I'm a pilot for a cargo airline, doing around the world, back side of the clock flying, but have missed GA flying, especially taildraggers. As an outdoor enthusiast, with a wife and two year old son, I would like to combine my love for camping and flying so we can do this together. She likes the idea, so I'm looking into buying an airplane. I attended A&P school, but never finished it as I moved to start my first flying job, wish I had finished it looking back. My dad is also an airline pilot, who has to retire in a few years, lives in western Montana and holds an A&P certificate, but isn't current.

I've been looking into doing a C-150 conversion into a tailwheel, but I wouldn't be able to do with it what I want, unless I just want to do TW endorsements. I'm about to do a deposit on a Stearman project, but my heart is set on buying something for the family and I to use, and do the occasional TW endorsement, I don't want to do primary training for guys' who's goal is to be a professional button masher like me.

I've been looking around, and the C-180s are way out of my price range, and I can't do much with a -150. I took out a personal loan for about $20k to buy the Stearman project, but am thinking of pulling the ripcord on that and using the money instead on buying something that's flyable and what I want to do with; although I do love restoration work. My income isn't the best, surprisingly for what I do.

So I wanted to see what the thoughts are as to what I should do, and what type of an airplane I should go after.

Welcome. Pacer, Stenson ugly 170 are reasonably priced. Paradigm change from high altitude orientation to low altitude orientation will be helpful. Email me [email protected] for my free "Safe Maneuvering Flight Techniques" ebook. The signature box doesn't work.

Come closer while I whisper a little tid bit too you......... 170B, go find one and never look back.

Tacos wrote:I've been looking into doing a C-150 conversion into a tailwheel, but I wouldn't be able to do with it what I want, unless I just want to do TW endorsements. I'm about to do a deposit on a Stearman project....

I highly recommend finding the plane you want, in the condition you want, with the desired mods already installed. While this approach has a higher "up front" cost, it is much more cost effective to use the former owner's money to upgrade the plane than it is for you to do it. This was a hurdle that I struggled to get past as I shopped for "bargains," but it is ultimately the cheaper way to go. When an owner pours money into a plane, be it for upgrades or condition or both, that money can rarely be recovered when it comes time to sell (ignoring times like the present where prices have recently shot way up).

Having said that, the others' recommendations of a 170 is a good way to go. If you weren't looking tor TW, I'd say 172. As for 170, just skip past the 180 HP ones as they are usually priced like a 180, so why not just get a 180?

Good luck. It's not the best time to be airplane shopping.

Ross

Pipeliners said it best! Buy something flying in good condition. Nearly every plane that I have purchased in the last 35 years has been a 'fixer upper' since that is all I could afford. Everyone of them had more money invested in them than they were worth, and that's not counting my free labor. Parts for these old planes can, at times be hard to find, and expensive.
I have 'about' broke even on all of them, minus my labor. But I was able to fly them so that accounts for something.
The one I owned the longest is now being cared for by my son.
Took me until I was over 60 until I was able to realize I was going to buy the best example of the plane I wanted, and fly it instead of fixing it. Recently found the one I have always wanted, bought it, and truly happy to be able to hop in and fly instead of working on it.

Tacos wrote:but my heart is set on buying something for the family and I to use

A lot of good advice already given. Whatever you do, don't venture away from that thought. I was shopping for a skybolt or something fun when I ran across a deal on a 182 that I couldn't pass up. Best decision I ever made. The plane has allowed us to make a lot of great memories and every time I thought about selling it my wife has talked me off the ledge.

And look into finishing your A&P. If you already have the required hours, you could do a quick prep course at Bakers and take the test.

Save yourself a lot of grief and pass on the Stearman. Even though they are great fun airplanes they are a LOT of work to restore! Lots of. Parts, labor, money and time to restore one and that is if you have all the parts. Get the nicest 182 you can afford.

Kurt

If you really want a taildragger, I would take a look at a 180HP Maule. I looked at Pacers, 180s, 170s, 170s with the 180HP, and ended up settling on a Maule MX-7-180. Price range was similar or better than a 180HP 170 and the Maule had 30 less years on the airframe. For me its been an excellent plane with good blend of power and performance, easy to work on (I am an A&P so I am always doing some projects to it) and the parts are reasonable and easy to come by with a phone call to Maule.

If the price of a Maule is too high, a Pacer or converted Tri-Pacer may be a good fit as long as its the 150HP or 160HP.

Last thing is where will you be flying the plane the most? I flew my Maule all over Colorado for a year and a half and I will saw the 180HP is barely enough when you're dealing with 9-10K DA at takeoff in the warmer months.