Seth Posted June 17, 2020 Report Share Posted June 17, 2020 A group of pilots I know keep kicking the idea of purchasing an inexpensive airplane for a number of us to share in co-ownership in addition to our Mooney's (and other aircraft). The 150/152 has been thrown into the discussion as well as the 140. The idea would be 4-5 pilots each throwing in $3000-$4000 and then roughly $100 a month plus a dry or wet rate. What other aircraft do you suggest? This is to test a structure which may also in the future include a larger six place aircraft. The idea is we'll have access to a slower inexpensive airplane to fly when we just want to go fly, and a larger people mover when we need more than four seats, but still have our Mooney's as our primary birds. We want to keep the initial cost down for a decently maintained aircraft. One of our members is an A&P and a few are also very good with their hands so over time we'd bring this airplane back in shape. So, tricycle gear: -C-150/152 -PA-28 (140) -ErCoupe Conventional Gear: -Citabria (maybe a little too expensive) -C-140/120 -Champ Give us some other ideas! At first it'll be stored outside (hence metal) but in time we may get a hangar for it - though that would dive up the monthly expense (and lower the maintenance expense . . .) -Seth Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seth Posted June 17, 2020 Author Report Share Posted June 17, 2020 (edited) Hadn't thought experiments for this one, but that is possible. Thanks for the suggestion. Frankly, I'd love to purchase a good RV4, or build an RV8, but I don't have the time! Edited June 17, 2020 by Seth Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EricJ Posted June 17, 2020 Report Share Posted June 17, 2020 If I were looking at PA-28s it probably wouldn't be a 140, but that's just me. A C-150 with an upgraded engine (or something) or an aerobat would be pretty cool. Also, anything PA-18-ish or similar, e.g., a C-140. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aviatoreb Posted June 17, 2020 Report Share Posted June 17, 2020 Champ. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carusoam Posted June 17, 2020 Report Share Posted June 17, 2020 Yooper Tom had a good idea for a home built.... But the insurance for each user might be a bit too high.... Everyone could appreciate, the P & the T..... Get something strong enough to do basic aero.... Strive to Store It indoors... PP dreams only... Best regards, -a- 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Niko182 Posted June 17, 2020 Report Share Posted June 17, 2020 Why don't you get something thats really fun? a basic J3 Cub is about as fun as flying gets. same with a champ. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carusoam Posted June 17, 2020 Report Share Posted June 17, 2020 Somebody posted a nice video of a carbon cub flying up the Jersey shore... around here somewhere... Best regards, -a- Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
the_elkhartian Posted June 17, 2020 Report Share Posted June 17, 2020 Get an RV-12. Performs like a 172 in the footprint of a 150. One of you in the group can take a weekend repairman certificate class and then the group could do the annual condition inspection. A blast to fly. Most have modern avionics with a simple autopilot. Awesome visibility. Oh, and it burns 3.5gph mogas. Also, with the E-LSA you have to worry even less about build quality. It’s more of a “home-assembled” aircraft than a “home-built”. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
the_elkhartian Posted June 17, 2020 Report Share Posted June 17, 2020 9 minutes ago, carusoam said: Somebody posted a nice video of a carbon cub flying up the Jersey shore... around here somewhere... Best regards, -a- Have you priced Carbon Cubs? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carusoam Posted June 17, 2020 Report Share Posted June 17, 2020 16 minutes ago, wingtipwalker said: Have you priced Carbon Cubs? Not when I’m spending OPM... The piper cub didn’t make Seth’s list... So an expensive modern piper cub probably won’t be the winner... But, an MSer did post video of his carbon Cub... Not sure how he got his... or what his Mooney looked like? Note for Seth... if you like the Carbon Cub.... Seth, you are going to need a few more friends.... that want to play at the more expensive table... http://cubcrafters.com/c/inventory/ Holy cow nice stuff isn’t cheap... Best regards, -a- Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Other Red Baron Posted June 17, 2020 Report Share Posted June 17, 2020 My first votes are for a J3 Cub or Ercoupe but I would not want to keep those outside... so.. How about a conventional gear Maule, Globe Swift, or Grumman AA1? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ibra Posted June 17, 2020 Report Share Posted June 17, 2020 (edited) Cheaper would be tailwheel high wing vintages? Cub J3/Super, C120/140, Luscombe...or the ideal for me would be Decathlon/Maule Hangar for wood & fabric is still a big cost though RV7+ or Carbon Cub? they cost more than the M20J to purchase & running cost Edited June 17, 2020 by Ibra Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MIm20c Posted June 17, 2020 Report Share Posted June 17, 2020 RV___! Split that many ways just find a really nice RTF version and have fun. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geoff Posted June 17, 2020 Report Share Posted June 17, 2020 Keep it in the family..... Mooney Mite!!! 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BKlott Posted June 17, 2020 Report Share Posted June 17, 2020 Get some hangar space then put a Culver Cadet inside. Economic flying with good cruise speed, plus, it is a classic Al Mooney design. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Air pirate Posted June 17, 2020 Report Share Posted June 17, 2020 I had a Cherokee 140 , flew the hell out of it on the Midwest, easy to fly, easy to maintain , cruise 110, back seat for small folks or bags. Pretty good little bird for the money . If you can swing a few bucks look for a Warrior. 160 hp. Just a bit more performance. J3s are a blast to fly , but limited to wx and winds, they only thing I did t like was solo from the rear seat. Best of luck Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seth Posted June 18, 2020 Author Report Share Posted June 18, 2020 So, there will be up to 4 of these groups in the end. 1. Inexpensive slow airplane that can be tied down not in a hangar. C-150/PA-28-140/Skipper/Tomahawk 2. Fun airplane - hangar - RV-4/Citabria/Decathelon 3. people moved - Baron/PA32/Seneca 4. pressurized expensive fast thing - Cheyenne/Aerostar/C-414/B58P etx I love the idea of a Cub or Carbon Cub but it doesn’t fit price wise into grouping 1. Maybe grouping 2 for non aerobatic We keep coming back to a 150 or PA-28-140. The skipper is slower and parts are expensive. The Tomahawk has bad spin characteristics on purpose. Any other designs I’m missing? We also though C-140A but we’d likely want to hangar that. Maybe Ercoupe if all metal? -Seth Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EricJ Posted June 18, 2020 Report Share Posted June 18, 2020 6 minutes ago, Seth said: We keep coming back to a 150 or PA-28-140. The skipper is slower and parts are expensive. The Tomahawk has bad spin characteristics on purpose. Any other designs I’m missing? We also though C-140A but we’d likely want to hangar that. Maybe Ercoupe if all metal? C-150s are tons of fun, cheap to run, and you can park one outside without guilt. If you can find a C-150 Aerobat, I'd think it'd be a slam dunk. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aviatoreb Posted June 18, 2020 Report Share Posted June 18, 2020 14 minutes ago, Seth said: So, there will be up to 4 of these groups in the end. 1. Inexpensive slow airplane that can be tied down not in a hangar. C-150/PA-28-140/Skipper/Tomahawk 2. Fun airplane - hangar - RV-4/Citabria/Decathelon 3. people moved - Baron/PA32/Seneca 4. pressurized expensive fast thing - Cheyenne/Aerostar/C-414/B58P etx I love the idea of a Cub or Carbon Cub but it doesn’t fit price wise into grouping 1. Maybe grouping 2 for non aerobatic We keep coming back to a 150 or PA-28-140. The skipper is slower and parts are expensive. The Tomahawk has bad spin characteristics on purpose. Any other designs I’m missing? We also though C-140A but we’d likely want to hangar that. Maybe Ercoupe if all metal? -Seth What about the L39?! 1 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seth Posted June 18, 2020 Author Report Share Posted June 18, 2020 12 minutes ago, EricJ said: C-150s are tons of fun, cheap to run, and you can park one outside without guilt. If you can find a C-150 Aerobat, I'd think it'd be a slam dunk. The Aerobat puts us in the price range of an RV4/Decathelon/Citabria. So a non Aerobat 150 makes a lot of sense for the group 1 mission. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seth Posted June 18, 2020 Author Report Share Posted June 18, 2020 6 minutes ago, aviatoreb said: What about the L39?! Okay, that’s group 5 jet warbird! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carusoam Posted June 18, 2020 Report Share Posted June 18, 2020 Then Seth... Here ya go.... -a- oddly enough... If the Carbon Cub wasn’t too expensive.... The L-39 has got to be considered.... https://www.controller.com/listings/aircraft/for-sale/list/?mdlgrp=L-39&FullText=l-39 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aviatoreb Posted June 18, 2020 Report Share Posted June 18, 2020 23 minutes ago, Seth said: Okay, that’s group 5 jet warbird! Yes - definitely group 5. jet war bird. And group 6. Piston war bird. And group 7. Seaplane. And group 8. helicopter. And group 9. Gyrocopter. And group 10. Blimp. 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aviatoreb Posted June 18, 2020 Report Share Posted June 18, 2020 24 minutes ago, carusoam said: Then Seth... Here ya go.... -a- oddly enough... If the Carbon Cub wasn’t too expensive.... The L-39 has got to be considered.... https://www.controller.com/listings/aircraft/for-sale/list/?mdlgrp=L-39&FullText=l-39 I like the one with the red wings and the checkers on the tail. I like checkers on the tail. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carusoam Posted June 18, 2020 Report Share Posted June 18, 2020 Back on track... sorta... Saw a KitFox for sale.... Interesting plane available on floats, with wheels... It’s not terrible... Not terribly useful... Not terribly expensive... Not terribly powerful... -a- 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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