Finally getting around to getting my PPL after too long messing about in FPV drones and PPG. In eastern Oregon so operating at elevations of over 2000' on a hot day is normal.

Mission is going to mostly be Solo + 50lb of dog and some lightweight backpacking gear. with the goal of landing at places like Reds/Minam in the future. On occasion might carry a passenger or two for a short hop in to the back country in the future.

I am open to the idea of going with a tail dragger but the higher insurance with low hours seems to be not worth it for the moment.

The short list at the moment is
Tri Pacer with the 160hp
C172
C170B
stinson 108-3
Maule maaaaaby but crazy insurance

Trying to keep the budget under 50k the more under the better.
Also hanger space is a myth in my part of the woods. The only way to get a hanger out here is to build one or someone die. So a tiedown and covers is the only option available at the moment.

Any other options I should consider that might fit the mission?

The airplanes you listed are a bit outrageous for what you're trying to do. I think you should totally change direction, be realistic, and look into these airplanes as possibilities:

-Tripacer
-C172
-C170
-Stinson

Good choices of capable airplanes. Fabric is fine outside if you either work a lot at keeping up or don't sweat the looks. Tin deteriorates outside as well. Flying regularly is more important than hanger. Best performance for price is the Tri-Pacer. Short wing makes power pitch approach more critical for short field, but power pitch to touchdown is the safer and more efficient approach in any of them. Because the airframe is heavier, the extra 10 hp in the H2AD Lycoming is more noticeable in the 172 than the Tri-Pacer in the mountains. Either 150 or 160 hp Lycoming 172 is heavier and more expensive than the O-300 172.

Consider finding a partnership in something if you can. It will make your $50K go a long ways. Most of the 2-4 seat fixed gear certified airplanes that are common can do what you want to do, especially with your limitations. If you limit yourself to known, charted runways, and fly light... A Cherokee 150 without wheel pants would be fine, and a Cherokee 180 would provide a lot of utility during the summer. I know it's tempting to buy a 180 on 29's to go to Red's, but it isn't needed. Being able to land exactly where you want and stop in 1000' every single time, without going around, is much more important. I consider Red's a one way strip with no late go around in typical airplanes, but otherwise it is just a shortish narrow runway with a dogleg, a ditch on one side, animals on the surface, potentially tall grass, and into rising terrain at 3600'. Bring a bug net.

jcadwell wrote:Consider finding a partnership in something if you can. It will make your $50K go a long ways. Most of the 2-4 seat fixed gear certified airplanes that are common can do what you want to do, especially with your limitations. If you limit yourself to known, charted runways, and fly light... A Cherokee 150 without wheel pants would be fine, and a Cherokee 180 would provide a lot of utility during the summer. I know it's tempting to buy a 180 on 29's to go to Red's, but it isn't needed. Being able to land exactly where you want and stop in 1000' every single time, without going around, is much more important. I consider Red's a one way strip with no late go around in typical airplanes, but otherwise it is just a shortish narrow runway with a dogleg, a ditch on one side, animals on the surface, potentially tall grass, and into rising terrain at 3600'. Bring a bug net.

Ya have thought about partnering but never been a big fan of going that rout. Got some insurance quote requests in the works to see if it is even worth it to going with the Maule M4/M5s.

Go with a TriPacer Half of your budget will buy a nice one , they are cheap to buy , cheap to fly , cheaper to insure
Plenty of useful load , lots of parts around and good support community
If you get tired and want an upgrade easy to sell
You don’t even need a 160 hp , 150 will do

With student or one pax or dog, the 135 hp Tri-Pacer will get you there and teach energy management. I used one at Gallup and got along just fine. Same with Colt.

sierrasplitter wrote:Go with a TriPacer Half of your budget will buy a nice one , they are cheap to buy , cheap to fly , cheaper to insure
Plenty of useful load , lots of parts around and good support community
If you get tired and want an upgrade easy to sell
You don’t even need a 160 hp , 150 will do

Pacers are very high on my list but due to not having a hanger till someone dies in these parts one with newer fabric is going to be almost a requirement. Recovering a pacer seems like a money black hole at the moment.

Pretty fabric is expensive. Legal and safe but ugly poly fabric is not expensive. Dry climate fabric airplanes can go until somebody doesn't like the looks and recovers. I flew several different 20 year old fabric airplanes. It makes the relative wind go over the top and push down. It doesn't haul things. The steel tubing does that.

I’m in San Diego and had a bitch of a time finding a hanger . The one I’m
im will be torn down next year and Im guessing I will be back out on the ramp .
I have a full set of Bruce’s covers for the plane .
I won’t hesitate for a minute if it has to go back outside .
i will miss being able to work on it at any time , but I can use friends hangers if needed for work Here in Suburbia hangers become available after a death , and then only if the pilots fifty or do friends don’t have first dibs on the hanger it might make it to the market
And I notice on all of the Alaska Flying Videos I watch there seems to be a whole fleet of cloth planes outside
Yes , I would love to have a lifetime lease or at least options , but my plane will sit outside before I would sell
You do what you gotta do

sierrasplitter wrote:I’m in San Diego and had a bitch of a time finding a hanger . The one I’m
im will be torn down next year and Im guessing I will be back out on the ramp . ....

Which airport, and why are the hangars being torn down?
I'm guessing to make room for high-end corporate hangars for the monied crowd?

sierrasplitter wrote:I’m in San Diego and had a bitch of a time finding a hanger . The one I’m
im will be torn down next year and Im guessing I will be back out on the ramp .
I have a full set of Bruce’s covers for the plane .
I won’t hesitate for a minute if it has to go back outside .
i will miss being able to work on it at any time , but I can use friends hangers if needed for work Here in Suburbia hangers become available after a death , and then only if the pilots fifty or do friends don’t have first dibs on the hanger it might make it to the market
And I notice on all of the Alaska Flying Videos I watch there seems to be a whole fleet of cloth planes outside
Yes , I would love to have a lifetime lease or at least options , but my plane will sit outside before I would sell
You do what you gotta do

my plan for the moment is to get a full set of covers. Out in my parts anything uncovered during the summer gets disintegrated in a season or two

Which airport, and why are the hangars being torn down?
I'm guessing to make room for high-end corporate hangars for the monied crowd

KSEE and Yes . Being torn down to make room for larger , more expensive hangers .
I get it , why not make the most dollar possible .
Looking at Ramona if needed . Its not to far from my house either