I’m 6 foot 190. This would be for the next couple of years for on airport training
I have one hour in the same plane
Didn’t like the fact I couldn’t see ahead and had to zig zag to taxi
Didn’t like heal brakes
Did like the slow speed at touchdown and the open air feeling
All the things I don’t like about this aircraft I’m told will
Make me a better pilot in the long run

And yes , I also agree about a Pacer

I do see it as a great chance to own a plane at a quarter of the price and to get a feel for ownership while at the same time cutting my current flying cost by 150 percent

Right now I’m flying 2-3 hours a week at 120 an hour wet for a Citabria 7GCAA

Don't know how much $ your 1/4 share would be,
but I'd love to get into a partnership on a 90hp J3.
Perfect counterpoint to my 180.
Cheap to fly, low & slow, and the original definition of STOL.
I'd go for a ride, then talk to the other owners about their procedures.
Hereabouts, the Navy clears nordo airplanes into their Class C unless they're real busy.
No problem with our class D airports from what I've seen.
If it's not already set up, about $260 worth of Icom handheld and headset adapter should be all you need.

Havent heard a peep out of the other three so I'm doubting they are as enthusiastic as Me. In the mean time Im looking for recommendations for financing. Im starting to lay the ground work for a solo purchase if needed. Budget around 40K max

The Cub does have an Icon Radio . If it were to happen my share would be 11,250 plus tax and transport

sierrasplitter wrote:Havent heard a peep out of the other three so I'm doubting they are as enthusiastic as Me. In the mean time Im looking for recommendations for financing. Im starting to lay the ground work for a solo purchase if needed. Budget around 40K max

The Cub does have an Icon Radio . If it were to happen my share would be 11,250 plus tax and transport

If I had to choose between paying interest on a 40k loan while assuming all the liability and expense of sole ownership, verses coming up with eleven thousand for a quarter of a cub, I'd be banging on the doors of the other three with chocolates and liquor.

True, but you also need to figure in my current expense of 2-3 hours a week @ 120 an hour . I'm spending over a grand a month right now.

Sounds like you know Bob!

SoCal is a difficult area if you want to go transponderless. You can't enter Bravo or Charlie airspace without a transponder even with the non-electric exemption. This makes it difficult to get around the congested airspace around San Diego, and nearly impossible if you want to go north of the LA area. I have my Cub based at Torrance, it still non-electric, but I have a transponder because it is needed for practicality in this region. If you are looking for a Backcountry airplane you may want to look into a Super Cub, J-3 can be kind of anemic in the mountains and the 12 gallon tank really limits your range when you want to go off Airport

sierrasplitter wrote:True, but you also need to figure in my current expense of 2-3 hours a week @ 120 an hour . I'm spending over a grand a month right now.

So...you think that's expensive for aviation???

If you think borrowing $40k to buy your own airplane is going to reduce your cost-per-hour to fly, I can only wish you good luck. I guess it could happen...

Yes, Bob is the driving force behind the purchase of a cub. Suggested it for a couple of years as a transition trainer. I'm glad the other guys are dragging their feet. I don't think a Cub would be good for me because of the transponder issue and I still don't know how you can even change frequencies from the back
Of course Bob tells me there are only two worthy aircraft......Cub and SuperCubs
As far as expense........aren't we all still little boys at heart? My argument of ownership vs. rental is my strongest platform of reasoning when presenting to the finance dept ( the Wife) .
we can afford an airplane. But She is the higher income of the pair so the whole Idea must be "sold"

Finance dept... Mine is the galactic overlord.... Still don't have the foggiest as to how I ended up with 3 flying airplanes.....

The story continues.

The Cub Coalition has fallen apart. We were supposed to meet to discuss. Three of us. One is an ATP who had mechanical issues to Her plane. Don't know what happened to the third guy.
So, the ATP wants an IFR plane......probably wont work out.
So, I'm starting to look solo. Holidays would be an awful time but after the new year and the Tax Guy I will be ready

Again back to Pacers, Clippers, ect. And I'm still open to others....Cessna 140, 170

Saying that I haven't flow any of the above

I may need to travel just to be able to fly a pacer.
So How do you fly a plane you think you may want but their are none in your area?
I do have a line on being able to fly a 170 and a 140 but the only Piper tailwheelers around are Cubs.
The Club has a supercub I may try but its too expensive (145 per hour) and I'm not allowed to solo in it so that's more cash for the instructor

So, If I'm not being too painful I would like to post up prospective planes for the forums opinion

Mode C transponder is a must.

First Couple
1953 Pacer

https://www.trade-a-plane.com/search?ca ... =aircraft#




in Budget, only 135 HP I think


1950 Pacer- 150 HP

https://www.trade-a-plane.com/search?ca ... e=aircraft




1953 Pacer

https://www.trade-a-plane.com/search?ca ... e=aircraft



third one is at the very top of the budget

I don't have any input on the airplanes you've posted, or on Pacers at all, for that matter. But I can tell you that in your budget, without really knowing exactly what you want in a first airplane, you'd be well advised NOT to chase airplanes all over the country.

You can burn up a large portion of your budget on travel and inspections, then be tempted to buy something you should walk away from since you spent all that time and money to look at it. If you think you found the bargain of all bargains in trade-a-plane, stop and think why, if it's such a bargain, someone local hasn't bought it?

I think that you'll find having a reliable airplane with few mechanical surprises and which is well within your budget is MUCH more important than HP, seating, airfoil, tailwheel, etc.. Keep an open mind and let as many people as possible know you're looking to buy a airplane. The perfect fit might be something you've never even considered, which nobody brought to your attention because you said you wanted a X airplane. A sweet deal on a 150 that's in your backyard is a hell of a lot better first plane than the Pacer with rusted out spars for sale in Oklahoma or the 170 with a basket-case engine in Topeka.

Spending a year looking for a airplane isn't unusual, so don't get frustrated, and don't fall in love with an airplane before you own it!

good luck!

PS: "In budget" is infinitely more important than another 15 hp!!!

I don’t know where you are, but if you get to North AL we can go fly in my plane. It’s close enough to a 160hp Pacer for government work.

I’ve got seat time in a 150hp Clipper as well, and can describe the handling differences between the bungee-gear Pipers and my plane.

This was my first plane and I’ll have it for a while I’m sure. Hard to beat a Pacer for price and they do “pretty good” at a lot of things.

Thank You for the Offer Tom I'm in San Diego and unfortunately don't make it to your area much. I do like the Clipper . Would much rather have a stick than a yoke . But I'm still talking out my ass due to the lack of experience in pretty much any airplane I think I would like to buy

Funny side note - I met another one of the Local Cub guys here. Started discussing my plans. Told Him I would like to try a Pacer out

His Comment ? "Pacers are PIGS " . Its funny , they believe there are two choices when it comes to aircraft.....Cub, and Super Cub

Pigs.... That's funny I don't know about you, but compared to the price of pork shoulder any more, beef AND chicken cost more... at least where I live... And I live in cow country. So, ya I'll buy pacers all day and cruise faster and land longer than the cub I can't afford. As far as the planes you put up.. more than a couple of things pop into my head. I like the 54 and newer (separately adjustable seats.. Only reason) if you get a converted pacer alignment can be an issue, these are already "sporty" so a straight pa-20 might be a better option. Learn about the service bulletins and Ad's. Learn about fabric, mine was done in 82 but was still in great condition. I'd prefer the o320 to the o290 but not for the reason everyone sites about spares, they are available but you do need to beat the bushes. I'd prefer a built o320 for the ponies because of summer mtn flying. My old tripe will be getting a nicely built o320 with ported/flowed cylinders, and non AD, hi-po exhaust. I'm glad the guy that bought it has the ability to mod it, it's a great plane, I'm just going a different direction. Pacers are not pigs, they're more responsive than the cubs, -18's and any cessna I've flown, so as far as an alternative to a 85k super cub, I think it's a great option. The ideal pacer would be 150/160+hp(180's are tough to find, and expensive), it wouldn't need covering or paint, it would have big square wingtips, VG's, skylight, simple vfr panel with adsb, would roll straight as an arrow, it would have at least 800hrs usable engine time left, less than 3500ttaf, and cost 30k or less. I'm pretty sure that would be a whole lot more airplane than any other make or model for the same money, and most assuredly more performance than a non tubo kitfox in the same price range. Take your time finding one, get your endorsement, then get checked out in what you buy, don't let any time lapse in that scenario, and once you get the pacer, put lots of practice in. Buy the covers for it until you can get a hangar. The two biggest bang for buck aircraft in this market are the pa 20's and 22's and the E series bonazas, just get educated and be patient

I'd only consider the Placerville plane... Just for hp, if the fabric is good and the prebuy works out I'd jump. I'm a fan of the dual brakes, the beachcraft yolks are just a bonus. Assuming the fabric is good it'll need rejuvenator, silver (on top of wings fuse and tail) and another cote of white.

sierrasplitter wrote:Concerns I have - soloing from the back
Haven’t tried it so I don’t know how it would be.
No transponder - not required Im told due to the age of the plane and no original electrical system but I don’t know how cool that would be in SoCal or how you can fly into D and C class without one

But it is cheap flying

I could hold out a few months and buy outright what I want up to 40 K but couldn’t afford a hanger
Won’t need tundra tires for a while as I’m just now starting to venture out to other paved runways

A plane with no electrical system in SoCal is going to be a headache. Also, you're saying the plane is grandfathered from ADS-B requirements entirely? If not, you'd only have a year to sort that out or get rid of the plane at best.

I too had a dream of J-3 life. Part practical, part romantic. The regulatory issues make it almost a total no-go here in SoCal, and the fact that I'm a tall guy and just don't fit killed the dream for good.

sierrasplitter wrote:1953 Pacer

https://www.trade-a-plane.com/search?ca ... e=aircraft



third one is at the very top of the budget

This one is local to me.... Belongs to a very good friend of mine... LOTS of mods done and has an 0-320 conversion... I posted that add for him on TAP since he lives off grid and does not own a computer... You can call me if you have questions about it.
541-826-9729

Brian.

Thanks I have been looking at that one. But, I need to fly a Pacer first. Have that set up for the New Year. And gotta wait till the Tax Man tells me how deep to dig this year.

I think I may give you a call though I am curious

I don't know why I thought that was an o290 bird... That's my favorite of the lot.

rsrguy3 wrote:I don't know why I thought that was an o290 bird... That's my favorite of the lot.

73 Charlie is a sweet little bird... Weighs 1080 empty... Univair gear, 0-320, skylight, Super Cub tail, VG's, Stewart tips... Jim operates it out of a 1500 foot long dirt runway at 2500 ft AGL...

Brian.