Alex90
I've actually flown that particular Luton when it belonged to my friend. It's had 3 owners in 2 years so that may tell you something............
1. It's good fun - the wind in your hair and all that. The climb rate is not the best though so marginal strips in difficult wind conditions make it 'interesting', and in a crosswind it can be 'very interesting'. I think it is much happier on grass than it was on the tarmac...........
2. It's cheap to run for sure. And easy to hangar (must be hangared)
3. It's easy to handle on your own on the ground.
4. This particular Luton was a Barsteward to start, hot or cold, as it's a hand swing/Armstrong starter it can be difficult. Despite it being checked over by me (an LAA inspector), by our local VW specialist and LAA inspector (Roger Burrows) and several other people we never got to the bottom of it. Sometimes you could be there for 90 minutes and never get it to start. Fuel and spark were present but no joy. The carb was replaced with a new item, the plugs were new and the Mag overhauled. Timing was correct but no luck quite often. Several good days were lost due to Propswinger exhaustion.............
Other days you could sneak up on it and a couple of blades away it went............. IMHO it needs a new ignition system rather than the one it has. If this was resolved then probably OK.
5. It doesn't go anywhere fast. But great fun when it's working. If you want a cheap potter about, and are not in a hurry then I am sure they are great fun.
6. Visibility is very limited above and ahead of you (think Slingsby T31 rear cockpit), down and to the sides is OK though.
If you are OK with all this then I can think of far worse ways to get your bum off the ground !! - I enjoyed my trips............
Arc