What would you get?

Right now I have a 1976 172M that is is tip top shape with new interior and new 160 hp engine. But I am finding that I am becoming increasingly drawn to turf strips. I don't do a lot of longer trips - mostly local flying and some cross countries up to 200 miles or so.

My stock tires do the job for where I've been going but they may in the future be somewhat prohibitive so I've been thinking about putting on fatter tires. Frankly, I'm quite happy with my 172 but find myself constantly looking at tail draggers. For whatever reason I just think they are beautiful, not to mention their capabilities over and above what a nose-wheel can offer. I may very well end up keeping "Gracie" as every squawk has been attended to and she is clean as can be but I'm going through the due diligence / research phase as I try and make a decision one way or the other.

Preferences: Stick... Side by side seating (I know I know - that's the wifes preference - not mine. And I "might" be able to get past that)... Useful load must be fair as I'm 225 and the wife 180 (I guess that knocks a lot off the list right there but thems the facts)...

Any thoughts would be much appreciated!!!

I'd buy the rest of my CH801 kit, and have it trucked to a completion
center in TX so I can finish it up in good time, with their work space, tools,
and mechanics experienced in the type.

I'd still have enough left for an engine and halfway decent instruments.

It may be hard to find a side by side seating with stick, But for 50k you could find a nice c170 with 180hp conversion or a very nice Stinson or older Maule. All would give you great performance for what you mentioned so far.

I would look at early Cessna 180s. They seem to be coming down in price. There aren't many for 50K but a bunch under 60K. This is a pretty awesome looking bush plane.

http://www.trade-a-plane.com/clsfdspecs/813325

[quote="Terryd23"]What would you get?

not to mention their capabilities over and above what a nose-wheel can offer.

Just wondering what are the capabilities over and above a nose wheel ? do tail draggers offer. Similar equipped of course.

what about converting your 172 to a taildragger. If you want to keep it anyhow an extra 50k you could change your engine to a 180horse put on a stol kit and have mony left over. last I checked it was only 6700.00 to convert to a taildragger.

DonC wrote:Similar equipped of course.

That's just exactly it, you can't put say a 29" nose wheel on much of anything, can you? For some reason you can drag a little wheel over rocks, but you can't push a little wheel over rocks,holes, soft sand etc.

Depends on the kind of places you want to land. For me the most fun is finding challenging (which almost always means rough) short places. I'm in weeds and sagebrush a lot and I need the prop clearance I get with my taildragger. The only reason I fly is for fun and for me fun is a taildragger on Bushwheels. I would not even consider landing a nosewheel plane at many of the places that I enjoy landing my Highlander. I'm not putting down any kind of plane or pilot, we are all in this together.

ccurrie wrote:what about converting your 172 to a taildragger. If you want to keep it anyhow an extra 50k you could change your engine to a 180horse put on a stol kit and have mony left over. last I checked it was only 6700.00 to convert to a taildragger.

The expensive part here is making the tail round

A friend of mine had a 172 with an 8.50 on the nose and 8.50-10 mains. Stock engine, climb prop. Amazing where that thing would go. Talking sea level and cool weather, now.

With similar rubber as above, a C206 will go nearly anywhere 99% of us will take a big - tired C180 or 185, and it will haul more while doing it. Rocks, sand or otherwise.

But, if you really want one, I've got a good C180 for sale.

gb

I spent a little less than $50K and bought my 86 M6-235. I think eventhough you love your 172, if you fly something a little more capable, you'll part with it easily enough.
The straight tail 172's don't look that bad as tail draggers, but the swept tails are a different story, I hear they don't work as well either, but that's hear say, I haven't flown either.

DonC wrote:Just wondering what are the capabilities over and above a nose wheel ? do tail draggers offer. Similar equipped of course.

The opportunity to depart the runway in a gusty x-wind condition.

What would you get?

The nicest J3 I could find and bank the rest of the money to pay for the next few annuals.

I would't try to tell you what airplane to buy though. That would be be like telling you what woman to marry.

DonC wrote:

Terryd23 wrote:What would you get?

not to mention their capabilities over and above what a nose-wheel can offer.

Just wondering what are the capabilities over and above a nose wheel ? do tail draggers offer. Similar equipped of course.

Keeping my nose out of the dirt for one! I'd say that'd be the # 1 reason. But then to be frank there's something nostalgic about some of those older birds, you know? Just attracted to 'em.

As I said up front, my 172 is a great plane and I know that to be a fact and (with fatter tires) she'll probably take me where I want to go.

I think what I may very well be dealing with here is just a simple interest in a possible change - something new and different. Just not sure I want to be faced with having to dump as much $ getting it up to par as I did with my 172. But yet, my eyes are still wandering!

1SeventyZ wrote:

DonC wrote:Just wondering what are the capabilities over and above a nose wheel ? do tail draggers offer. Similar equipped of course.

The opportunity to depart the runway in a gusty x-wind condition.

.....but then you have to land....

Terryd23 wrote:What would you get?

Right now I have a 1976 172M that is is tip top shape with new interior and new 160 hp engine. But I am finding that I am becoming increasingly drawn to turf strips. I don't do a lot of longer trips - mostly local flying and some cross countries up to 200 miles or so.

My stock tires do the job for where I've been going but they may in the future be somewhat prohibitive so I've been thinking about putting on fatter tires. Frankly, I'm quite happy with my 172 but find myself constantly looking at tail draggers. For whatever reason I just think they are beautiful, not to mention their capabilities over and above what a nose-wheel can offer. I may very well end up keeping "Gracie" as every squawk has been attended to and she is clean as can be but I'm going through the due diligence / research phase as I try and make a decision one way or the other.

Preferences: Stick... Side by side seating (I know I know - that's the wifes preference - not mine. And I "might" be able to get past that)... Useful load must be fair as I'm 225 and the wife 180 (I guess that knocks a lot off the list right there but thems the facts)...

Any thoughts would be much appreciated!!!

My suggestion,

Unless you can afford a 180....buy a Maule. You just cannot get more bang for the buck. I'll admit to being prejudice. I have owned mine for 7 years and flown it over 600 hours. I am constantly amazed by the performance which I enjoy.

Bob(Maule M-5-210-C)

p.s. MERRY CHRISTMAS

whynotfly wrote:

1SeventyZ wrote:The opportunity to depart the runway in a gusty x-wind condition.

.....but then you have to land....

Well, by "depart" I meant...go off the edge of the runway.

Unless you married to an insurance broker forget the Maule............

Buy a Scout

It would probably be a step down for you but I owned and flew a tripacer for 8 years or something like that. Had 600 x6 tires all around. Flew to almost all the Idaho strips. Mine had 160 HP and a fairly flat(53 ) inch prop for climb and vortex generators. The damn thing was remarkable... It climbed out of jOHNSon Creek with all my camping gear,(150 lbs) and me with half tanks at over 600 FPM . and I was always off all the strips up there before half the runway was behind me. That doesn't satisfy your tail dragger fix but there's a lot to be said for those land a matic nose gears. I wanted more power and carrying capacity so I sold it and got a Pacer on steroids, ( M4 210 C) I've ground looped it once landing with a quartering tail wind... I love the maule but I'm not nearly as comfortable landing it as I was with the PA 22...I guess that comes with experience. I'm getting there but it's a whole different ball game in a tail dragger...Most PA 22's are under 30,000 now so that would leave you a bunch of money for improvements, like VG's and a climb prop for back country stuff...Or just go for a Maule and be done with it.... be sure you over insure it though...

I've had quite a few planes, now have a cub and a 180, love my cub, but it is a toy for me, the 180 is the best plane for my mission by far. It is reasonably fast, reasonably slow and very versitel, wheels, skis, floats. I think there are some buys out there now, wouldn't be surprised if you could pick one up in your budget. Did I mention that I love my cub........