Hiring planes for longer

[Dan Winterland]

As to the question as to what is the best aircraft for touring, there are as many answers as aircraft. If you need it as a business tool, the speed is probably the main criteria. If you're hours building, then it may not matter. A PA24 with 250hp may well work out cheaper per mile than a 160hp PA28 due to the 60% speed increase. But if you don't need a 160 knots cruise, then there are some very cheap options. A friend built hours flying a J3 Cub around the US at 60 knots. He was a flight engineer and they tend to know the value of money.

And another flight engineer told me that if it flys, floats or fornicates, it's usually cheaper to rent! (Polite version).

[button push ignored]

Originally Posted by Pilot DAR

Hmmm... I've owned a C 150 for 31 years, and more than 3000 hours. I can carry my wife, two folding bikes in the back, and a bit of luggage - from Canada to Florida or the Bahamas. I've flown it to Texas, and the mountains in western Canada. I'm not pushing the idea that a C 150 is good or bad, but smaller planes are affordable, and can make a long trip, albeit in trips

Full fuel in a Cessna 150 leaves you with less than 390 lbs of useful load.
Good for a little over two and a half hours (with reserves).
I don’t think I can even last that long
After an hour of instructing, sitting cocked to the left to give the student some elbow room
First your legs start to cramp. Then my lower back gives way.
You are basically sitting on a stadium cushion.

A friend has a Taylorcraft that I couldn’t even get into.
So I tried his Luscombe on for size.
People just were smaller back then.
I certainly don’t fit comfortably in a any primary trainer.
Two people, bikes and luggage in the mountains? Geeessh!

I looked at a up graded Cessna 150/150 and a Grumman AA1 Yankee 150 for sale.
Problem is, you’ve cut your range down to 1:45.

A friend suggested we build two Vans RV14s together.
140 grand, check.
18 months, no can do.
I’d much rather just go buy a used Grumman Tiger.