What is the Funnest 2-place airplane?

I'm looking for a fun airplane to introduce my two young kids to
aviation. Here is what fun means to me....

- flies low and slow
- Side by Side seating
- can get into small grass fields
- good STOL performance
- Dependable
- Relatively decent number of planes available to buy
- low operating costs
- OK if it tie down outside
- Homebuilt or Certified OK
- Under $30k

I learned to fly when I was 12 in a C-152 and am now a 40 year old ATP
rated pilot with several thousand hours. I've done a ton of XC
flights in Mooneys, twins, etc. Cool but not viceral fun. Looking
back over the years, flying my friends Piper Cub into grass fields,
small airports and such was probably some of the best shear joy
moments in my flying career.

I want to get my 7-year old EXCITED about aviation and don't have many
ideas outside of a J-3 cub. I'd greatly appreciated any thoughts on
aircraft that I should consider.

Thanks for your thoughts

("Doug Wells" wrote)
I want to get my 7-year old EXCITED about aviation and don't have many
ideas outside of a J-3 cub. I'd greatly appreciated any thoughts on
aircraft that I should consider.


http://www.ercoupe.org/
Ercoupe! Hands down ...or should I say feet down? g

http://www.ercoupe.net/
Check out "The Photo Album" link! :-)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ERCO_Ercoupe
Well organized info page

http://www.airliners.net/info/stats.main?id=393
click "More photos of Erco Ercoupe and derivatives"

7-year old: "You're the bestest dad in the whole wide world."

Dad: "Thank you Ercoupe!"


Paul-Mont
http://album.dweeb.org/images/Stamps/3920.jpg
Ercoupe even has its own stamp

A Taylorcraft, Luscombe, Piper J-5, or Aeronca Chief would all fit the bill.

Using an outside tie-down is one of those things that you have to evaluate
based on your location. If you're in T-storm territory, an outside tie-down
is a roll of the dice for any aircraft.

KB

"Doug Wells" wrote in message
oups.com...
I'm looking for a fun airplane to introduce my two young kids to
aviation. Here is what fun means to me....

- flies low and slow
- Side by Side seating
- can get into small grass fields
- good STOL performance
- Dependable
- Relatively decent number of planes available to buy
- low operating costs
- OK if it tie down outside
- Homebuilt or Certified OK
- Under $30k

I learned to fly when I was 12 in a C-152 and am now a 40 year old ATP
rated pilot with several thousand hours. I've done a ton of XC
flights in Mooneys, twins, etc. Cool but not viceral fun. Looking
back over the years, flying my friends Piper Cub into grass fields,
small airports and such was probably some of the best shear joy
moments in my flying career.

I want to get my 7-year old EXCITED about aviation and don't have many
ideas outside of a J-3 cub. I'd greatly appreciated any thoughts on
aircraft that I should consider.

Thanks for your thoughts

"Doug Wells" wrote in message
oups.com...
I'm looking for a fun airplane to introduce my two young kids to
aviation. Here is what fun means to me....

- flies low and slow
- Side by Side seating
- can get into small grass fields
- good STOL performance
- Dependable
- Relatively decent number of planes available to buy
- low operating costs
- OK if it tie down outside
- Homebuilt or Certified OK

A C-150 converted to taildragger and perhaps with STOL mods would meet most
of your requirements. (See C-150 mods he
http://www.aeroprice.com/aerolibrary/cessnase_mods.htm) I see Texas Taildraggers
on the market from time-to-time, or you could buy a 150 and mod it yourself.
One problem with any taildragger is probably going to be higher insurance costs,
so it is unlikely that there is one plane out there that will fully meet all of
your requirements.

Vaughn

Vaughn

Ercoupe, Ercoupe !!!! Side by side, cheap to operate, flies with the canopy
part way open, low cost, real fun to fly. Some are LSA compliant.

Good luck! I am trying to do the same with my grandson, but in a Mooney.

"Doug Wells" wrote in message
oups.com...
I'm looking for a fun airplane to introduce my two young kids to
aviation. Here is what fun means to me....

- flies low and slow
- Side by Side seating
- can get into small grass fields
- good STOL performance
- Dependable
- Relatively decent number of planes available to buy
- low operating costs
- OK if it tie down outside
- Homebuilt or Certified OK
- Under $30k

I learned to fly when I was 12 in a C-152 and am now a 40 year old ATP
rated pilot with several thousand hours. I've done a ton of XC
flights in Mooneys, twins, etc. Cool but not viceral fun. Looking
back over the years, flying my friends Piper Cub into grass fields,
small airports and such was probably some of the best shear joy
moments in my flying career.

I want to get my 7-year old EXCITED about aviation and don't have many
ideas outside of a J-3 cub. I'd greatly appreciated any thoughts on
aircraft that I should consider.

Thanks for your thoughts

"Doug Wells" wrote in message
oups.com...
I'm looking for a fun airplane to introduce my two young kids to
aviation. Here is what fun means to me....

- flies low and slow
- Side by Side seating
- can get into small grass fields
- good STOL performance
- Dependable
- Relatively decent number of planes available to buy
- low operating costs
- OK if it tie down outside
- Homebuilt or Certified OK
- Under $30k


Well it's not side by side, but how about a Titan Tornado.

www.titanaircraft.com

On Sep 7, 9:58 pm, Doug Wells wrote:
I'm looking for a fun airplane to introduce my two young kids to
aviation. Here is what fun means to me....

- flies low and slow
- Side by Side seating
- can get into small grass fields
- good STOL performance
- Dependable
- Relatively decent number of planes available to buy
- low operating costs
- OK if it tie down outside
- Homebuilt or Certified OK
- Under $30k

SW Piper PA22/20 (Tripacer converted to tailwheel)
Here is ours: http://tinyurl.com/2a77os

Sonex. $26,000, sonexaircraft.com amateur-built, 150MPH, LSA-qualified

"Doug Wells" wrote in message
oups.com...
I'm looking for a fun airplane to introduce my two young kids to
aviation. Here is what fun means to me....

- flies low and slow
- Side by Side seating
- can get into small grass fields
- good STOL performance
- Dependable
- Relatively decent number of planes available to buy
- low operating costs
- OK if it tie down outside
- Homebuilt or Certified OK
- Under $30k

I learned to fly when I was 12 in a C-152 and am now a 40 year old ATP
rated pilot with several thousand hours. I've done a ton of XC
flights in Mooneys, twins, etc. Cool but not viceral fun. Looking
back over the years, flying my friends Piper Cub into grass fields,
small airports and such was probably some of the best shear joy
moments in my flying career.

I want to get my 7-year old EXCITED about aviation and don't have many
ideas outside of a J-3 cub. I'd greatly appreciated any thoughts on
aircraft that I should consider.

Thanks for your thoughts

"Carl Orton" wrote in message
...
Sonex. $26,000, sonexaircraft.com amateur-built, 150MPH, LSA-qualified


Max airspeed for LSA is 138mph.

tater wrote:
"Carl Orton" wrote in message
...
Sonex. $26,000, sonexaircraft.com amateur-built, 150MPH, LSA-qualified


Max airspeed for LSA is 138mph.



Yes, but that is TAS not MAS

Charles