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Low Cost Simple Aircraft

Seth

By Seth
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Seth Grand Master

Seth

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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

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KLRDMD
KLRDMD

I've been flying an Ercoupe some lately and it is a hoot!

KLRDMD
KLRDMD

I fly with Jessica Cox in her Aircoupe. https://www.jessicacox.com

aviatoreb
aviatoreb

What about the L39?!

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Seth Grand Master

Seth

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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!

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EricJ Grand Master

EricJ

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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.

 

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carusoam Grand Master

carusoam

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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-

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the_elkhartian Enthusiast

the_elkhartian

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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”. 

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carusoam Grand Master

carusoam

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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-

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Ibra Mentor

Ibra

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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 :lol: 

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Air pirate Collaborator

Air pirate

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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 

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Seth Grand Master

Seth

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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 

 

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EricJ Grand Master

EricJ

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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.  ;) 

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aviatoreb Grand Master

aviatoreb

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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?!

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Seth Grand Master

Seth

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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.

 

 

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aviatoreb Grand Master

aviatoreb

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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.

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aviatoreb Grand Master

aviatoreb

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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.

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