Ok, I've got this recent obsession with 2-place, tandem taildraggers. I'm thinking about buying a Super Cub, Husky, Scout, or perhaps, just perhaps, a new Cubcrafters Super Sport Cub. I've compared them side-by side assuming all at 180 Hp. The Husky seems to best meet my requirements. My questions are 1) How much will insurance cost assuming around $90-$100K purchase price (I know, the Super Sport Cub wiull cost more that $100K). I have abour 1,500 TT. I ave about 150 hrs in taildraggers as I used to fly 180s commercially when I was a kid back in the '70s. Problem is, my wife tossed my old logbooks so I can't prove it, and that was before there was any such thing as a tail wheel endorsement. 2) how long will it take me to get comfortable in the thing? I havent flown for 10 years. My last aircraft were a Mooney 231 and Cessna 421. I got a couple hours in a rented C140 back in the late 80's and made one landing in a friends Decathalon sometime around 1988. Your help would be much appreciated.

Best Regards,
Oscar Deuce

You sure you didn't mean...

OscarDeuce wrote:my EX-wife tossed my old logbooks

Well...came close, but she's still my wife, but it was a hostile act.

The best thing you can do in to answer these questions is to contact an insurance broker, and let them shop the market for you. Find a good brokerage (I'm sure folks on here will have lots of suggestions) and have them shop the market, and also contact AVEMCO. AVEMCO is an independant underwriter, so they can give you a direct quote.

Almost assuredly, you would have to get some currency dual, and if you're smart, you'd do that anyway, in the particular airplane you wind up buying. I plan 20 hours for a thorough checkout, but that can be as short as ten hours.

For that price you should be able to find a pretty decent older Husky or Super Cub or Scout. You WON'T find a Super Sport Cub (or any of the airplanes CC manufactures) for that kind of pricing just yet.

The Husky model A-1 is a great airplane, good cross country, great fuel economy, and it'll go pretty much anywhere you want to go. All these airplanes are RELATIVELY new, since the type was first built in the late 1980's. The only problem with the A-1 is a relatively low Gross Weight, and thus limited useful load.

Super Cubs are all over the place, but prices are VERY high right now on good ones. I think for $100 K though, you should be able to get a really good one. That market has to start softening soon. Unless the Cub has had the Wipaire 2000 pound gross weight kit added, it will also be very limited in GW and useful load.

Scouts are available in that price range, and are good traveling planes. Get with someone who really knows Scouts, and take a close look for corrosion. For many years, there was little or no corrosion proofing on many parts of those airplanes. One that's had a good quality rebuild would be my choice--lighter and well cared for.

Good luck, and keep us posted.

MTV

Mtv,

Thanks for the input. I'm leaning more to the Husky or Scout than the Super Cub just for the reason you mentioned - the astronomical prices. I figure the Super Sport Cub will be around $175K. I do find the prospect of freeing myself from the tyarnny of the FAA medical compelling though.

Oscar Deuce