Backcountry Pilot

[shorton offline]

My son in law is a new private pilot and is living in central Idaho with a home altitude of 5380 ft. He needs to fly something as cheap as possible to build time toward commercial.

The question is "with limited money available, what is the best choice of a plane to build time, cheaply and safely in that high deseart country?"

I have my opinion but would like to hear yours>

[Supercubber offline]

150 hp Citabria $30,000-45,000

An older converted 180 hp Skyhawk with a STOL kit. $30,000-50,000

A good 150 hp Supercub is hard to beat, but of course the acquisition price isn't cheap. $80,000-120,000

When you say cheap, what is your price range?

[onceAndFutr_alaskaflyer offline]

I flew an ole straight tail 172 with a O-300-D for a couple years after I got my private, in southern Utah/northern Arizona. The altitude was not much lower, but the temperature was higher. Put 7.00 tires on and took it into all kinds of places - grass, dirt. Even landed at Leadville, CO with a passenger and (very) light luggage.

He could get into one from anywhere between $25k and $35k.

And if that one could handle the DA, then presumably a 170 will, and it is a taildragger! From $35k to $45k. (one word: Skiplane! )

This will only work if you are an online TAP subscriber: http://tinyurl.com/l2y2g

I've got a friend with a 150 hp Citabria. He loves it. Very docile airplane for a taildragger. Two seats though.

[Strata Rocketeer offline]

Speedbumps Old Pacer Is For Sale

[hardtailjohn offline]

TAYLORCRAFT!!! An 85 hp Tcraft will operate out of there safely, and burn about 5 gals an hour, cruising over 100 doing it.... best thing... you can find good ones for about $15,000. If you find one with the Gilberti STC, you'll have 24 gallons of gas, and about a 700# useful.... not bad for the buck!!!! Plus...it'll teach him alot about flying!!
JH

[Dano offline]

I'm with John (Hi John). I have an 85HP T-Craft with the Gilbertti STC...Can't beat the speed, short field performance, and cost with anything else....A modified T might be hard to find though. They also make quite a respectable float plane.

[hotrod180 offline]

What's the Gilberti STC? Does that add wing tanks in addition to the nose tank? Or in place of the nose tank?
I've always thought that a T-Craft with an 85 or a negative-electric C-90 or O-200 would make for a good little bush plane. Fat tires, patrol doors,maybe a skylight -- a stick conversion would be cool too! Is there an STC for dual sticks (not the Swick center-stick) ?

Eric

[Dano offline]

The Gilberti STC is actually the Harer STC now...Bob Harer bought it and it allows the modification of a BC & BC12D Taylorcraft to a BC12D-85 or Model 19. The BC12D-85 includes (2) wing tanks (in addition to the nose tank), A C-85 and wing mods that bring the gross weight to 1280 land 1351 sea. If go to a Model 19...it includes the same wing mods, and then a new engine mount (4 inches longer) an electric system, extended baggage and a 1500lb gross. The electric system is optional...so if you have the mods minus electrics...your E.W should be around 815 to 830....giving a useful load of 670 to 685. If you do the STC you can get a field approval for a C-90 or O-200....I recomend the C-90....better power curve for takeoff performance.

[LowAndSlow offline]

I have a 90hp Luscombe that I bought when I lived in Boulder, Colorado (5,280'). I flew several hundred hours around there, and I flew it to McCall, ID last summer when I moved here. It's a great airplane to build time in, that's what I bought it for. It's easy on gas (5gph), and takes a while to get anywhere (105 mph) - great for adding pages to that logbook! It performs alright when it's hot and high, but it certainly takes some common sense to fly, too. It can be a humbling little airplane, but I learned so much from her when I was just starting out.

She's for sale, I'd deliver in Idaho. 3200TT and only 90 since Major Overhaul. $25k obo

[shorton offline]

My son In law baught a 61 Cessna 172, it wasn't my first choice but he is comfortable with them due to training in one. It should serve him well as a time builder and he will learn to fly as apposed to just horsing it into the air with lots of power.

Thanks for all your input.

Shane

[Zzz]

My C170 wouldn't have been my first choice, but it fit the requirements for what I want: Tailwheel, 4-place, inexpensive, good resale. PLus, my dad's been in love with the 170 for as long as I can remember, and I want him to finish his Private in this airplane, so we agreed on the 170.

I would like more power, but like shorton said, I am optimistic about flying the C-145/O-300 with all its bulging muscle. The stories I've read about guys in AK doing amazing things with not a whole lot of horsepower inspire me to become a better pilot, a thinking pilot who can't depend on HP to save my ass. This is what I tell myself at night in bed while pondering my decision to buy a 50 year old underpowered aircraft.

[mtv offline]

Zane, also remember that the vast majority of those "Alaska stories" of derring do occured at DA's very close to sea level. D/A's in the range of 7 to 10,000 feet affect the performance of all airplanes just a tad.

MTV

[BRD offline]

Zane - after this site has made you rich and famous...then you can convert your trusty steed to a 180 Lyc and tread toward those sunlit uplands of plentiful horsepower from the gloomy vale of gutless wonderdome...

[Zzz]

Zane - after this site has made you rich and famous...then you can convert your trusty steed to a 180 Lyc and tread toward those sunlit uplands of plentiful horsepower from the gloomy vale of gutless wonderdome...

That is so poetic, Brad.

[Supercubber offline]

Zane - after this site has made you rich and famous...then you can convert your trusty steed to a 180 Lyc and tread toward those sunlit uplands of plentiful horsepower from the gloomy vale of gutless wonderdome...

Then his wings will melt

[BRD offline]

Operor vos narro ex usus Icarus?