In the near future I am going to look at an early C150 for my first purchase. Early model, good paint and maintenance history, basic VFR instruments. Mid time engine with a 90's overhaul, and cylinders around 2000.

Three questions:

- Would you have any concerns/reservations about an O-200 with an overhaul from the 90s?

- What does an overhaul on an O-200 go for nowadays? I'm more familiar with Lycoming prices

- What is a good source for purchase price transactions?

I know I've said forever I want a tailwheel plane. The good news is that I plan on using this while building a tailwheel RV, and I may play towbitch in the meantime as well with a Pawnee.

Thanks guys!

Jesse

If you really want a tailwheel plane why not consider a Cessna 120/140? They are just as cheap if not cheaper to buy than a 150, burn even less fuel, and are more fun to fly. And they look a whole lot better to top it off.

+1 on that. I had a little C120 we rebuilt from spinner to tailwheel. It was a fun airplane and got me to most of the Idaho strips and all over British Columbia.

There's some nice looking ones out there for cheap right now.

Gump

Sitting and not flying is hard on any airplane. That is why they had to top it in 2,000. In high humidity climates the cylinders pit. Flying around the patch every week or two just gets the cylinders hot enough to condense water when they cool. Hire a mechanic you trust to do a pre-buy.

I can't quite you a recent price. Used to be around $7,000 in SW Missouri fifteen years ago.

Barnstormers is the new Trade-a-Plane. Print is just too expensive now. You should be able to get a decent C-150 for $15,000. Pay more for a really nice one if you have it. Check for corrosion.

Have your mechanic pull the valve covers and check the Rocker shaft mounts as part of the pre-purchase. In the late 90's, early 2000's continental sold some 0-200/300 cylinders with no bushings on the rocker shaft. They would spin and very quickly wear out the mounts, in one case I saw a flight school plane needed 4 new cylinders after only 70 hrs. So Continental added a set screw to stop the shaft spinning. I got a set of these and they went almost 200 hrs before the shaft started rotating and wore out the mounts. Continental eventually added a bolt through the shaft which solved the problem.

So if the cylinders don't have either a bronze bushing on the rocker shafts, or a bolt through the center mount, plan on replacing the cylinders in short order.

Phil

X3 on the C120/C140. Great airplanes! Occasionally, a decent looking Stinson will come up on Barnstormers for 15k. Take your time with the purchase unless you are getting a really good deal is my advice.

Thanks guys. I have a good mechanic lined up for a pre buy. He knows the type of plane and is comfortable with the O-200. I agree the C140 looks nicer, but I can still get tailwheel time with the Pawnee while I have the C150 and am building. Also, my wife said she would take lessons in a C150, not so in a tailwheel.

This whole process has also got a guy at work really excited to start flying planes. He was interested in a powered parachute until I took him up in a Citabria for 5 minutes. Now every day he comes in asking about different planes. He is now on a Carbon Cub kick. I told him to learn to crawl first, but I am very excited to help him out. If I get the C150, he wants to enter a partnership, which would be awesome.

He also has a huge field for an airstrip, so I'm telling him to get/build a highlander eventually.

Finding a good plane close to home will save $$ on transaction cost. I would find out what kind of propeller it has and how it is pitched, makes a big difference on climb vs cruise performance. Sorta related story; I fly a Highlander, my friend out at P20 has a C150. Last month we flew to beautiful downtown Quartzite, AZ, and I couldn't keep up with him to save my life. He landed on the same gravel strip that the Highlanders used. It's not a STOL but it's a good airplane.

Get out your cigarette lighter and enjoy some Bon Jovi:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r3DpS4r_0_Q

I personally know a guy who has flown a stock (well, it has a bush STOL kit) C150 into, and out of Mile Hi, Simonds, Vines, and Dewey Moore.... the dude has ninja-like flying chops! And yes, I have seen the pics to prove it all.

A great little airplane if you use low ground effect on takeoff and all of those wonderful Fowler flaps on landing.

.

I'll look into the prop pitch, and my mechanic seems to be pretty good with the O-200 and the cylinder options. That video certainly didn't help!

There isn't that much backcountry work around these parts. Maybe one day I can do the lowe conversion on this thing and have my mini-180.