I've been looking at putting together a partnership to buy a bare bones airplane that doesn't burn money like my 205 or fly like a suburban. I've flown about 20 different types of airplanes, but am still looking for that intangible feeling of excellent handling and enjoyable experience (open cockpit, doors that open like a J3, something that makes it special). I'm hoping for a two seat tandem tailwheel certified airplane that will hold someone 6'4", and carry 400 lbs of people plus some gas, all for the price of a decent new car. Any suggestions?

Maybe a Citabria 7GCBC/KCAB/GCAA? Some have the split door, so you can open the windows on both sides fully to the wing while flying. Not fast but not too slow either. Can do basic acro for the occasional loop/roll and they spin really nice. About the easiest taildraggers I've ever flown with good visibility on the ground & in the air. Plenty of parts & support, simple & easy to work on. I've flown 7GCBC (flaps, O-320), 7GCAA (no flaps, O-320), and 8KCAB (more of an acro wing, IO-360 CS) and like them all; they're good honest airplanes.

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Anything in the Citabria line up would be a good choice other then the Decathlon might not do so well on floats if it's even possible, the wing was intended for upside down flying

One of my friends recently picked up a very nice 65hp champ for 12k. The thing was restored about 10 years ago, and has been sitting for the last 5 or so, we ferried it back home and did the annual in a weekend. Fabric is in beautiful shape. I've ridden in it a few times now and the 65hp does just fine with the two of us in there and a couple hours worth of gas, were both about 185lbs. I was shocked at the price, it got me looking and for whatever reason chaps seem to sell for reasonable prices unlike the J3's.

I'll give another vote to the Citabria. A 7GCBC with the split door that can be opened, or a one piece door that can be removed easily for flight. Put some bushwheels on it for landing rough stuff and do gentleman's acro all the way there. Great heater for winter. Comfortable ride and entry/egress. Get one with the 2 position seat so you can move it aft a bit for you being a tall guy.

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7ECA with the O-235 burns 3.6 GPH throttled back and has a 2400 TBO.

Tandem, centerline seating with sticks and you can roll and loop it too.

Doesn't get any more miserly than that! Great bang for the buck.

EDIT: Disregard the 7ECA as a candidate...you and your passengers are large mammals! [emoji482]

Thanks for the suggestions. I've sat in a chief, an L2, a Porterfield, and an L3. The L2 was a maybe for fit, but the others aren't close. A Citabria sounds compelling. I'll try to find one to sit in.

The 400 lbs of passenger is hard to bend on, as my current airplane partner and I are both 200 each, without a lot of room for weight loss. I don't need much baggage, just some extra weight for gas.

Don’t forget about the J-5 or a stock PA-12, used prices are relatively good, plus the back seat is wide. Problem with the 40’s aircraft is that they were designed with people weighing 145 lbs. For a 400 lbs passenger, you might be looking at buying a 182, big back seat plus those will haul a load.

Where you guys getting the 400 lb passenger from? OP said 400 lbs of people, as in combined weight of pilot and passenger. Citabria would be fine.

How about a small engined Super Cub? PA18-95 or -135... I've never flown one but people sure seem to like the way they fly.

You need to be foldable to get in them but some pretty big people manage it.

Correct, two people at 200 lbs each, plus gas. I've got a 205 if things get heavy:) Just trying to find something that feels more like a sky motorcycle, for going nowhere on a nice day. A supercub would be great, but most would be double what I'd like to spend. The J5 looks interesting, and there is one not too far from here.

You'll find something!!! Lots of good planes on the market that should fit that bill at a close budget to what you want to spend. Might have to wait a bit to find the right one at the right price, but you gotta have an expert lined up to check it out and cash in hand.

I just put mine on barnstormers. 526 lb useful load. It will get that load off the ground in 500' at sea level.

7ECA converted to 150hp, Desser 8.50s. Cheap fun.

The only reason I'm even considering selling it is to go experimental.

aftCG wrote:I just put mine on barnstormers. 526 lb useful load. It will get that load off the ground in 500' at sea level.

7ECA converted to 150hp, Desser 8.50s. Cheap fun.

The only reason I'm even considering selling it is to go experimental.

Have you got your next plane already? What are you moving to?