Some of you may have followed my journey here on Backcountrypilot.org. After 4 years of renting, a float plane rating, an instructor crashing a prospective-plane-buy, a year hiatus afterwards, a full fledged pandemic fueled airplane market upturn, and finally completing a tailwheel endorsement plus a biennial flight review.... I have finally purchased a new to ME aircraft. A PA-12 Super Cruiser with an O-320-B2B nearing 590 hours SMOH, PA-18 wings/flaps/tail feathers/trim, PA-14 sky light, extended baggage, VGs, Firmin bush pod, seaplane door, 3200 Tw w/ pony springs, Cleveland double puck brakes, sealed struts, float fittings. Whatever - it flys, it's mine, and I don't owe a bank my soul - let's go.

Would like to put on some new 31" ABWs within the next few weeks. I'd also like to have the cowling repainted, install ADS-B w/ transponder, and invest in a new prop - within the next year or so.

I've chosen to seek out a more qualified PA-12/PA-18 instructor for a few hours of instruction/introduction flight time. After flying the Citabria 7ECA, it'll be a nice change of pace to get some flaps involved. In addition, the 100 Hp to 160 Hp increase will surely be a welcomed sight. I'll try to keep a thread going over at the Trip Reports area for future endeavors. Fingers crossed that the simulation hands me a positive outcome here.

Thanks for the support.

~ CompSciAndFly

Awesome!! Congratulations. -12's are great, you'll love it.

Glad it worked out. That's a nice 12!

Congrats man! Looking forward to seeing the trip reports in that pretty bird with all those sweet mods!

Nice!!! you'll like the Bushwheels too.

Good lookin bird, she's going to take you many places! Have fun

Nice PA12. You won’t have any problem transitioning between the Citabria to the 12. Especially from a low power Citabria. You will lose a some roll rate in the PA12, but will make up for it low speeds with that great SuperCub Wing. And the flaps are just icing on the cake.
I fly a GCAA 160hp Citabria and a PA12/160 w/supercub wings/flaps/tail feathers about 500 hours a year apiece in pipeline patrol. You will love the 12. Very comfortable airplane
I suggest slipping it in the first few landings, to get used to that wing. Then go for the flaps. It will amaze you how slow it will get after the Citabria.
For me the Citabria is much faster and handles and maneuvers above 100mph. Under that the 12 vastly outperforms it slow. You won’t have any problem after flying the Citabria
12 is the easiest to fly airplane I have in the stable. I fly C180 regularly, also. And Ag aircraft

Very cool! Like others here, I'm excited to see the places it will eventually take you. Nice to see people living the dream I hope to be living one day!

I'll have to go back through your post history to read your comments and threads on why you landed on the PA12 instead of something else.

Happy flying!

Your going to love it! I just bought the same spec pa-12 myself and can’t tell you how much I love it after flying in Idaho/Sierra’s with it.

Zzz wrote:Glad it worked out. That's a nice 12!

Thanks Zane! The last owner has been in possession since the 1970's (50 years), hoping I can carry it home for the next 50 to the 2070's. =P

lcdrles wrote:Nice PA12. You won’t have any problem transitioning between the Citabria to the 12. Especially from a low power Citabria.

I fly a GCAA 160hp Citabria and a PA12/160 w/supercub wings/flaps/tail feathers about 500 hours a year apiece in pipeline patrol.

For me the Citabria is much faster and handles and maneuvers above 100mph. Under that the 12 vastly outperforms it slow. You won’t have any problem after flying the Citabria.
12 is the easiest to fly airplane I have in the stable.

Man, yeah I couldn't even get the low powered Citbaria above 100 MPH with 2 people on board. This will for sure be a lot more fun. I'm really hoping the transition is seamless. I've purchased it at quite a weird time here in AK, where most pilots are transitioning to skis. Really debating if I should try skis this season, especially since I'm based in Anchorage (Lake Hood is full), or just land on the pavement here at Merrill all winter. The option for Whiskey ramp is open, but I'd be on straight skis and don't know if I'm ready to fully give up wheels at the moment while in training with this plane.

Keep it on wheels this season and get some time in it. Easier to prep for flight which means you will fly more. Ski flying will come soon enough.

Kurt

G44 wrote:Keep it on wheels this season and get some time in it. Easier to prep for flight which means you will fly more. Ski flying will come soon enough.

Kurt

Thanks Kurt, that's probably some sound advice. For now, I'll plan on keeping it on wheels this season.

Congrats! I just bought my first cub too. Have you thought about wheel skis or penetration skis?

Alaskadrifter, is your Cub N82109? If so that is my old cub.

Kurt

G44 wrote:Alaskadrifter, is your Cub N82109? If so that is my old cub.

Kurt

Yah! I just bought it from a friend!

It was pristine when I owned it. I did most of the mods and I spent a lot of time putting all the logs and associated paperwork in order and in neat notebook filing system. I sure hope all is still in order. I told the guy I sold it to if he doesnt keep up with the maintenance and paper work I would beat him to within an inch of his life with a wet noodle! Congrats on your purchase, she sure was a great airplane for me! Post more pics, I would love to see the panel. Sorry to CSAF for hijacking your thread. Nice PA-12 and congrats to you on your new airplane!

Kurt

G44 wrote:It was pristine when I owned it. I did most of the mods and I spent a lot of time putting all the logs and associated paperwork in order and in neat notebook filing system. I sure hope all is still in order. I told the guy I sold it to if he doesnt keep up with the maintenance and paper work I would beat him to within an inch of his life with a wet noodle! Congrats on your purchase, she sure was a great airplane for me! Post more pics, I would love to see the panel. Sorry to CSAF for hijacking your thread. Nice PA-12 and congrats to you on your new airplane!

Kurt

Thanks! The panel is nice and simple, I don’t like busy cub panels. Over all its in good shape, still pretty clean inside. Paint isn’t in really pretty, but if it was I probably wouldn’t have been able to afford it . I still haven’t got to fly her yet, just after we bought the cub it dumped a bunch of snow on us.

CSAF...Congrats on your new ride! I predict great adventures ahead.

alaskadrifter wrote:Congrats! I just bought my first cub too. Have you thought about wheel skis or penetration skis?

Thanks Drifter! Where are you keeping your cubby? I just moved mine over to Merrill a couple of days ago. I don't think I'm going to do skis this season, as I'm really just trying to get used to the taildragger still. A nice set of wheel skis would be pretty sweet though. What about you?

TXWagon wrote:CSAF...Congrats on your new ride! I predict great adventures ahead.

Thank you TXWagon, I look forward to it!