Aircraft suggestions please.
 

In the market for something aerobatic and tailwheel with reasonable running costs. Don’t fancy a homebuilt and the budget is £30K or (preferably) less. Any ideas?

Gash

Pilot took a look at the options in three price brackets - I think they were <£10k, £10k-£20k and >£20k - which should give you some ideas. I cant remember exactly which issues, but they were published in several parts over the last six to eight months or thereabouts.

Super Cub ?

With your budget I'd be looking for a Pitts or a Starduster Too.

What's wrong with a homebuilt?

Citabria = mildly aerobatic.
Pitts S2A
Chipmunk
Yak 50 / 55 (pushing your budget...)

Aerobatic and Tailwheel huh? What about a wonderful Tiger Moth? They aren't super aerobatic planes but they can loop, roll, stall turn etc etc. I don't know about 30K but I think you could get one for perhaps 35K. Or maybe a Stampe which is similar but with a bit more power.

How about a Cessna 150 or 152 Aerobat?

I bought an Aerobat and converted it to a Texas Taildragger. Of course it is not a Pitts but I can legally give both aerobatic and tailwheel training for a very reasonable investment, not to mention it is cheap to run as far as fuel cost is concerned.

The conversion cost approx $3000 USD for the kit and S.T.C. We worked around eighty hours to install the kit.

Makes for a sexy looking Cessna 150 with a new paint job and refurbished interior.

.............................................

:D The hardest thing about flying is knowing when to say no. :D

...import one from the states! I found a 150 Aerobat, in good condition (old boy had just passed away) for $12,000. Add another $5000 shipping and handling and you have a classic aeroplane for $17000 !.....

Pup150 probably comes into your range, much better than a Cessna if you want aeros and 4 seats (well 2+2)as a bonus.If you want tailwheel as well, probably best looking at the PFA market, a lot around especially if you are happy with a single seater.

[ 29 November 2001: Message edited by: foxmoth ]

Thanks for the responses.

Maybe I’ll make my money go a bit farther and have a look at forming a small group with something like a Jungmann or SV4C (Tiger_Moth, don’t think I’d get near a Stampe for £30K). Anyone any first-hand experience of ownership or flying these types?

Thanks again.

Gash

Flown Jungmann & Stampe. M-m-mmmm to both, & they fly nicer than Tigers, (more precise & controllable) but on balance I'd go for the Jungmann. Grouping sounds eminently sensible - not just the purchase y'know, its the running costs...

I would have thought Citabria/Super Cub would be better for single ownership (assuming the sort of budget you're suggesting.), purely from the maintenance aspect (engine& airframe spares, engineers knowledge, etc etc).

According to where you are, check out your local engineers' expertise, knowledge and preferences - this could be crucial to keeping it airworthy whilst minimising time & expense scrounging for rare parts & specialists.

PP, thanks for the advice. I’ve learnt from experience that it’s very easy to make the wrong decision when you’ve some cash burning a hole in your pocket. :eek:

well yes, Mr G, it happened to me once. Bought a half share in a Chipmunk in the 80s. It was the most expensive 20 hrs flying in a year that I've ever done, either before or since. Most of the time it was being worked on for ADs or cylinder head problems (we spent 3 months searching for a new cylinder head for it).

The flying qualities of the machine were never in doubt. However, the non-bottomless nature of my wallet & Mrs Poet's protests won the day and it went to a better (i.e. more well-heeled) owner in the end. Then of course the value of them shot up after we sold it. Isn't life just one long party?

if you are around the redhill area, then i happen to know of a share in a modified s1c pitts for sale..
right up your alley... £36 per hour on fuel and oil and 180hp worth of poke...

[email protected]

sorry for the plug

Most Austers are semi aerobatic but the Aiglet is the best of them (for aeros). If you can find one you'll get 4 seats, 2 sticks a tailwheel and aeros for around 16k.

If you want an aeroplane built like the proverbial outhouse try a Fuji. Slow but again 4 seats and semi aerobatic but this time more like 25k