Fiddler wrote:Come to Kern Valley the last weekend in September and meet a lot of local SoCal pilots that do this sort of flying. There will probably be a Pacer or two, as well as a lot of other folks flying more affordable type planes and still playing in the dirt.



And some photos of the cheaper side of backcountry capable airplanes (a lot of these were at Kern Valley last year):

I'm planning on being there in my Pacer if anyone wants to take a look, and I'm more than happy to talk Pacers all day!

moto657 wrote:I like the Maules too, but they are likely a little out of my price range.

If you are prepared to wait, solid Maules do come up for sale in and around the 50k range now and then. After looking for a year, we decided on one that was about 30k more than we wanted to spend & on the other side of the country, but it had upgraded ADS-B compliant avionics and a low TSMOH Lycoming.

Insurance: about $4000/year. I was ~ 140hrs pilot with 50 taildragger hours (all in Pacers), at the time we looked at quotes. Was told the rate should improve with every year I don't bend things up. We'll see next year. The rate stipulated 6 hours dual with an approved pilot. We found a ferry pilot that met the requirements, and I did the 6+ hours dual with him on the ferry trip home.

First time I ever sat in a Maule was after the purchase, when I met the ferry pilot in Bakersfield to do the last leg of the trip with him up the coast. It was pretty much love at first sight. The Maule, i mean, not the ferry pilot. We did our research beforehand, knew we wanted a side-by-side plane with at least 800lbs useful load, had to be a taildragger, preferably a Lycoming engine. The Maule cargo doors were the final selling point- they make it so easy to load. We do, however, keep the plane in a hangar.

Fiddler wrote:Come to Kern Valley the last weekend in September and meet a lot of local SoCal pilots that do this sort of flying. There will probably be a Pacer or two, as well as a lot of other folks flying more affordable type planes and still playing in the dirt.

Fiddler thanks for the info on the Kernville fly in! I go up there to ride dirt bikes a lot. It would be great to meet some local pilots that are into mountain and bush type flying.

Yeah, Thanks Fiddler. I will be there. No Plane, just my truck

You mentioned insurance rates, I just got a good deal through Aviation Insurance Managers. $1136 a year. For 65hrs total. Zero tailwheel time. They asked for info on my cfi which seems different from most. That might have been what pulled it down. Either way I expect I'll be going that route

Spdcrazy wrote:You mentioned insurance rates, I just got a good deal through Aviation Insurance Managers. $1136 a year. For 65hrs total. Zero tailwheel time. They asked for info on my cfi which seems different from most. That might have been what pulled it down. Either way I expect I'll be going that route

What plane is this quote for? Seems reasonable.

moto657 wrote:

Spdcrazy wrote:You mentioned insurance rates, I just got a good deal through Aviation Insurance Managers. $1136 a year. For 65hrs total. Zero tailwheel time. They asked for info on my cfi which seems different from most. That might have been what pulled it down. Either way I expect I'll be going that route

What plane is this quote for? Seems reasonable.

54 pa22/20 150hp

Spdcrazy wrote:

moto657 wrote:

Spdcrazy wrote:You mentioned insurance rates, I just got a good deal through Aviation Insurance Managers. $1136 a year. For 65hrs total. Zero tailwheel time. They asked for info on my cfi which seems different from most. That might have been what pulled it down. Either way I expect I'll be going that route

What plane is this quote for? Seems reasonable.

54 pa22/20 150hp

Thanks. This is great to know. That is a manageable amount to pay for insurance.

moto657 wrote:

Spdcrazy wrote:

moto657 wrote:

Spdcrazy wrote:You mentioned insurance rates, I just got a good deal through Aviation Insurance Managers. $1136 a year. For 65hrs total. Zero tailwheel time. They asked for info on my cfi which seems different from most. That might have been what pulled it down. Either way I expect I'll be going that route

What plane is this quote for? Seems reasonable.

54 pa22/20 150hp

Thanks. This is great to know. That is a manageable amount to pay for insurance.

Ya I am happy so far. There is restrictions on mine. 10hrs dual with CFI and 5 hours solo. Which I am fine with. Was planning on doing that anyways

2 cents on insurance and comparing rates.
Make sure you’re realistic on the valuation of aircraft.
I try and make sure coverage will actually repair or replace to my satisfaction.
Thankfully have not had to deploy this strategy yet.

Good words. I bought mine for 20k. But hull coverage for 25k.

I tried to keep a seven year spread between crashes and over insure a bit. It actually worked. Moved up a bit each time.

Fiddler wrote:Come to Kern Valley the last weekend in September and meet a lot of local SoCal pilots that do this sort of flying. There will probably be a Pacer or two, as well as a lot of other folks flying more affordable type planes and still playing in the dirt.

Jumping on the bandwagon here. I'm a pilot-in-training and plan to be heading down the same path as this post (as well as the lengthy and informative "planes for tall people" thread!) in the next couple of years. So obviously no aircraft just yet, but I'd be interested in camping out at the fly-in and poking my head around just the same if that's welcomed!

I was in the same boat as you - I'm an LA guy too, have spent summers and winters for years up at Mammoth - and in my hunt for a PA 22/20 convert stumbled upon a Tri Pacer that was in such incredible shape (Oshkosh Golden Wrench winner, 84SMOH on an 0320, wing tips, VGs, boosted brakes, 56" twist prop, etc etc) that I sprung for it at $40k despite the nosewheel, and have been thrilled by the choice. It did just fine up in the Idaho backcountry this summer, and performed admirably at gross coming out of Mammoth a few weeks ago. Feel free to PM if you're ever up near KWHP where I keep the plane, welcome to come see what it's like to enjoy the fun responsiveness on a short wing piper. They're a blast to fly!

Good to know there's so many people in LA with these interests! I was worried, just looking at local area rentals, that there would be basically no support at all.

Just informed that a friend is selling his Pacer. It has an O-320. I can get more info if anyone is interested. Priced mid to high $30K I believe. If I have this correct or not, he has it priced at $34K if picked up in Mn and $37 delivered to Alaska.

I'm with Denny. Get an instructor who teaches flying, not testing. Get an IA who knows fabric. Get an airplane (all are good) that has good but old ok fabric, good mid time engine, and looks like a dog (not Pokey Joe who is pretty). Tie the thing out and run the engine out in a couple of years of heavy flying.

Then you will have some idea about flying.

Almost forgot. Insure the hull for what a pretty similar model would cost.

evanr42 wrote:I was in the same boat as you - I'm an LA guy too, have spent summers and winters for years up at Mammoth - and in my hunt for a PA 22/20 convert stumbled upon a Tri Pacer that was in such incredible shape (Oshkosh Golden Wrench winner, 84SMOH on an 0320, wing tips, VGs, boosted brakes, 56" twist prop, etc etc) that I sprung for it at $40k despite the nosewheel, and have been thrilled by the choice. It did just fine up in the Idaho backcountry this summer, and performed admirably at gross coming out of Mammoth a few weeks ago. Feel free to PM if you're ever up near KWHP where I keep the plane, welcome to come see what it's like to enjoy the fun responsiveness on a short wing piper. They're a blast to fly!

Sounds like a great plane you found. It would be great to swing out and check it out sometime! Thanks.

I'll be heading up to the Kern fly-in tomorrow (in my truck, sadly not a plane -- but some guys will probably still get a kick out of it), looking forward to meeting some people and learning some things!

unipus wrote:I'll be heading up to the Kern fly-in tomorrow (in my truck, sadly not a plane -- but some guys will probably still get a kick out of it), looking forward to meeting some people and learning some things!

Awesome. Have a great time up there. I'm not going to make it. I'm heading to Utah Weds for a dirt biking trip and the alternator in my van went out. So that's today's project. Diesel van is a total nightmare to work on. Tomorrow the bike will be getting worked on and gear organized, etc, etc. Never enough time for everything.

Post up your experience at the fly in!