What to buy...what to buy?

The more that I ask around and the more that I look into this...the more I
realize that I need to negotiate rides from people at the airport. I don't
want to bother a lot of sellers by kicking tires for a ride. I need to buy
a lot of lunches. I am all over the place with the types of planes I am
considering that one would deduce that I don't know what my mission is. [It
is kind of like my motorcycle theory, you can't have just one...a dirt bike,
a sport bike, a cruiser, etc.] I am stressed about going in the wrong
direction.

Any cyber buddies feel like a free lunch and some gas? I'm looking for
rides in:

Luscombe 8
Grumman Yankee
Grumman AA5
Swift
Pacer
Champ
Navion
Long-Eze
C-170
Etc...

Thanks,
Carl

You've got two from my short list, grumman yankee and aa5. I was very
close to getting an AA5. The seller changed his mind about selling so I
didn't even fly it. Then he called me to tell me he would sell it. I
didn't bother with it. Ultimately the realization that I will almost
never need four seats made me go back to the 7ECA. I've never actually
flown an AA5. I've got quite a few hours in tigers and yankees. The
little yankee is a nice flyer. Much more fun than a 150/152.

One other nice thing about the citabrias is the baggage area. Although
it's difficult to access, there plenty of room for soft luggage. I
haven't made any weekend trips but it can handle my golf clubs or my
folding bike with room to spare. The newer models have a baggage door
that can be added to an older model.

Dave
68 7ECA


Carl J. Hixon wrote:
The more that I ask around and the more that I look into this...the more I
realize that I need to negotiate rides from people at the airport. I don't
want to bother a lot of sellers by kicking tires for a ride. I need to buy
a lot of lunches. I am all over the place with the types of planes I am
considering that one would deduce that I don't know what my mission is. [It
is kind of like my motorcycle theory, you can't have just one...a dirt bike,
a sport bike, a cruiser, etc.] I am stressed about going in the wrong
direction.

Any cyber buddies feel like a free lunch and some gas? I'm looking for
rides in:

Luscombe 8
Grumman Yankee
Grumman AA5
Swift
Pacer
Champ
Navion
Long-Eze
C-170
Etc...

Thanks,
Carl

Dave,

The only reason that the Citabria wasn't listed on my "ride list" is that I
have plenty of time in them to know exactly how great they are. Of course,
if anybody is offering rides....I wouldn't decline.

On Mon, 8 Nov 2004 12:25:30 -0800, "Carl J. Hixon"
wrote:

Where are you at? I own a C-170B, and it's one of the best all-around
airplanes ever built (one could argue the C-172 might fit that bill,
but I have a weakness for taildraggers....). A & B model 170s are all
metal (you can tie them down outside), they're not a lot of $ to buy
(relatively speaking of course), they are dirt cheap to operate &
maintain + there are very few ADs. They have passable performance
(for a stock-engined bird), especially no problem if you're doing
pretty much flat-land flying. I like Luscombes, but the cabin is so
danged small (+ you can't see out of the thing). The Swift is really
cool as well, but won't be as cheap/easy to operate (parts
availability, plus that retractable gear will cost you). The Champ is
also a blast to own/fly as long as you're not in any great hurry to
get anywhere. Aside from the Pacer, the rest of the airplanes on
your list don't "float my boat". 8^)

Bela P. Havasreti

The more that I ask around and the more that I look into this...the more I
realize that I need to negotiate rides from people at the airport. I don't
want to bother a lot of sellers by kicking tires for a ride. I need to buy
a lot of lunches. I am all over the place with the types of planes I am
considering that one would deduce that I don't know what my mission is. [It
is kind of like my motorcycle theory, you can't have just one...a dirt bike,
a sport bike, a cruiser, etc.] I am stressed about going in the wrong
direction.

Any cyber buddies feel like a free lunch and some gas? I'm looking for
rides in:

Luscombe 8
Grumman Yankee
Grumman AA5
Swift
Pacer
Champ
Navion
Long-Eze
C-170
Etc...

Thanks,
Carl

Bela P. Havasreti wrote:
Where are you at? I own a C-170B, and it's one of the best all-around
airplanes ever built (one could argue the C-172 might fit that bill,
but I have a weakness for taildraggers....).

I agree...I've got about 35 hours in a 170 (really the only taildragger
time I have since someone else groundlooped the one I was flying and I
went out and bought the Navion before the thing got back on the line).

Certainly, combines the best of the taildragger and the pseudo-four place
172. It's also old enough to get you preferred parking at flyins but not
so unusual that you'll have trouble finding maintenance.

How much are these going for these days?

As for Navions, I'm sort of partial to them, but you're going to have
a harder time finding one for $30K these days. Mine ran about $35
ten years ago (but it was a fairly nice one when I got it). The maintenance
is a bit more involved than the many of the others.

If you want all out speed, bet either the long-eze or the AA5B (again I don't
know how well you're going to do finding one of those for $30K). I'm partial
to the looks of the Swift as well, but they have problems of their own.

I pasted some classifieds in here to answer the following question:

How much are these going for these days?

As for Navions, I'm sort of partial to them, but you're going to have
a harder time finding one for $30K these days. Mine ran about $35
ten years ago (but it was a fairly nice one when I got it). The
maintenance
is a bit more involved than the many of the others.

Yes and the fuel burn is a bit higher. But boy, they are built like tanks.

If you want all out speed, bet either the long-eze or the AA5B (again I
don't
know how well you're going to do finding one of those for $30K). I'm
partial
to the looks of the Swift as well, but they have problems of their own.

I've ridden in a long-eze and I love the speed but I didn't find it very
comfortable. Also, I don't seem to find Long-ezes that the interior has a
nice finish. Not sure why. AA5B's are a bit of a stretc as well.

1948 CESSNA 170 - POLISHED ALUMINUM . $31,500 . OFFERED FOR SALE . A very
nice 170. Polished aluminum and paint. New interior, C-145 w/300-D case TT
3829, SMOH 1049.5, 360 SPOH All AD's and Good Paper work. Clevelands Scott
Tailwheel, Spin-on oil filter Slick Mags, McCauly Prop. 76X53 - STC MoGas
75-76-73-74-73-77 over 80, Good radios, VOR/Loran/Mode/EGT/CHT More

1955 CESSNA 170B IFR . $53,000 . FOR SALE . 4600TT, 1800 SMOH, 600 STOH with
New Cylinders, IFR Certified aircraft, C180 gear legs, Stall Fences,
Met-Co-Air Wing Tips, Gap Seals, V-Brace, KX155 with G/S, Approach Certifed
GX50 GPS, New Panel, AT155 Transponder, Annual 10/2004, EGT, Carb Temp.,
Digital Volt/Amp Meter, Stobe Lights.

CESSNA 170A, 1950 . $35,187.50 . FOR SALE BY OWNER . 1950 C-170A, 3700 TTAF,
O-300A, 1400 SMOH, 5 STOH, new pistons, rings, valves, wiring, starter, 35
amp generator, 25 amp RG battery, Collins 250/251 Nav/Com, Mode C
transponder, electric T&B, double venturii, IFR certified 6/03, Hooker
shoulder harness, interior two years old, oil filter, quick drain, external
power plug, Cleveland wheels and brakes, (wheel pants shown, not included)
auto gas STC, McCauley Prop 7653, new lower rudder skins and mainspring,
4-place Sigtronics SPA-400 intercom wired for two-place, complete original
logs and keys, all manuals and placards per TCDS, annual, engine top
overhaul and anti-corrosion completed 1/04. Interior-8, Exterior-5.

1949 CESSNA 170A . $31,900 . AVAILABLE FOR SALE . 4988TT,1320SMOH on Cont.
o300, At50 transponder W/encoder, MK12DNAV/COM, 4 place intercom, wheel
pants, one piece windsheild. Looks and flies good .

CESSNA 170B . $41,000 . ASKING PRICE SLASHED . IF you are not a tire kicker
and are truly wanting a 170 this is the Best "B" model for the money period.
See earlier ads, click on "Show all previous ads" to see pictures. If you
see it and fly it you will buy it.

1948 RYAN NAVION A . $57,500 . FOR SALE . 225 HP, 2920 TTAF, 135 TSMOH, 30hr
New Porp, n/windshield, n/panel, collins 720 w/GS, Val 760, Audio Panel,
GX55 moving map in-route IFR, DME, mod-c, 60gal fuel, Neo-Air Downdraft
cooling, Leading edge vents, PA tail, Military Paint,Hangered,NDH, Logs
s/new

1949 NAVION . $55,000 . AVAILABLE FOR IMMEDIATE SALE . recent
paint(military), E-225 engine approx 600 hrs SMOH with new recent cylinders,
new prop w/100hrs, cleveland brakes, fuel computer, engine analyzer, nice
interior,60 gals fuel,Mk 12DNav/com w/G/S, GPS Garmin Pilot III;Brittain
auto pilot..flys beautifully... a/c located in North Florida........

1948 NAVION A FOR SALE . $50,000 . MAKE OFFER . 2795 TT, 1538 SMOH, 92 on
new MV prop. Palo Alto tail, MX12 with VOA-8 CDI, SL-60 gps/com connected to
KI-202 CDI, KT-78 with AK-350 encoder, KA-134 audio pannel and AK-450 ELT.
Nice interior, good paint, no damage history, always hangered and all
records from factory test flight on


1977 AA5A CHEETAH . $47,000 . FOR SALE . 1977 AA5A Cheetah, TTAF 2950, SMOH
648, 2 MX11 coms, Narco 11 & Narco 12 w/GS slaved to AP, Narco audio panel,
Century I AP, KLN90 GPS slaved to AP, Garmin 195 GPS, digital tach, digital
OAT, quad CHT, IFR cert, new paint, auto fuel STC, wingtip strobes & more!
Always hangered.

1974 AA5 GRUMMAN TRAVELER . $38,500 . PRICED FOR FAST SALE . 160HP
conversion TTESMOH 915, TTAF 2810, TTSPOH 120, IFR equipped, fresh annual,
Narco MK12 digital nav/com w/GS, KX125, AT50A, Loran, Century 1, wingtip
strobes, canopy cover, P&I-7, cruise @129kts, useful load 905.

REFURBISHED TRAVELER . $45,000 . AVAILABLE FOR SALE . this airplane has been
completally restored and upgraded all parts such as brakes glass exhaust
ect. are new, entire airframe was flush rivited before shot with white
polyurethane and ready for your custom paint scheme, tou will not find a
sweeter traveler anywhere.

On Tue, 09 Nov 2004 08:34:17 -0500, Ron Natalie
wrote:

I think C-170B model prices start at around $30K-$35K for one that
starts, flies and stops up to $50K - $55K+ for show quality examples.

I always thought it would be neat to move the main gear forward of
the spar on a Navion and stick a tailwheel on the back (has anyone
done this?).

Bela P. Havasreti


Bela P. Havasreti wrote:
Where are you at? I own a C-170B, and it's one of the best all-around
airplanes ever built (one could argue the C-172 might fit that bill,
but I have a weakness for taildraggers....).

I agree...I've got about 35 hours in a 170 (really the only taildragger
time I have since someone else groundlooped the one I was flying and I
went out and bought the Navion before the thing got back on the line).

Certainly, combines the best of the taildragger and the pseudo-four place
172. It's also old enough to get you preferred parking at flyins but not
so unusual that you'll have trouble finding maintenance.

How much are these going for these days?

As for Navions, I'm sort of partial to them, but you're going to have
a harder time finding one for $30K these days. Mine ran about $35
ten years ago (but it was a fairly nice one when I got it). The maintenance
is a bit more involved than the many of the others.

If you want all out speed, bet either the long-eze or the AA5B (again I don't
know how well you're going to do finding one of those for $30K). I'm partial
to the looks of the Swift as well, but they have problems of their own.

Bela P. Havasreti wrote:

I always thought it would be neat to move the main gear forward of
the spar on a Navion and stick a tailwheel on the back (has anyone
done this?).

Not to my knowledge. The most radical structural changes I know of
whas turning them into twins and there was a once off built to compete
against Beech for what became the T-34 that was a two place with sticks.
I believe someone actually "recreated' one of these after Ryan scrapped
the original.

The other Navion wierdness was one done I think originally at Princeton,
last seen at Univ. of Tennessee which put a lot of extra junk in and
around a Navion to allow it to simulate other aircraft behavior.

Where are you at?

I am in San Diego, CA.

A & B model 170s are all
metal (you can tie them down outside), they're not a lot of $ to buy
(relatively speaking of course), they are dirt cheap to operate &
maintain + there are very few ADs.

All of this sounds very good!

The Swift is really
cool as well, but won't be as cheap/easy to operate (parts
availability, plus that retractable gear will cost you).

Yeah, but the swift cool factor is pretty compelling. I need to look at the
experimentals a bit more too. Don't know much about them.