Plane for the kids

Jim Macklin had some good ideas.
I would agree that you might want to consider having someone else be the
CFI to avoid conflict. You can supplement Mooney time for practical
experience on family trips.
Definitely consider the taildragger for primary training. It is much
more fun, they will learn more, and you can have fun with it, also.
Train for the PPL in the taildragger. The skills acquired in the
taildragger will benefit them in future flight training. The
high-performance can be added later in the Mooney.
Buy or lease will depend on you finances.

You might as well scratch anything with a tailwheel off the list. If,
and that's a BIG IF, you could actually find an insurance company
willing to insure a tailweel plane for a student solo, you'd be paying
through the nose for it.

I'll second the "older 172" vote. Here's why:

1. Cheap to buy
2. Cheap to insure (although you'll be paying a premium for anything
with student pilots on the insurance)
3. Doesn't need a hanger
4. Cheap to pay taxes on
5. Called the "land-o-matic" for a good reason
6. Difficult to spin (a C150 spins easily)
7. Cheap to fuel - runs on mo-gas as well as 100ll
8. Easy to jump start (12v jumps off your car or Farmer Joe's tractor)
9. Versitile enough to let your kids hang on to it and grow into it.
They can pack camping gear and enjoy some fun trips. Or you the three
of you can go for a hop together.
10. Easy to get parts for
11. Easy to work on

The 50's 172 are great VFR trainers. The mid to late 60's planes can
also do IFR training if you are looking towards that.

Helen

What Helen says!!
My brother and I have a '67 172H and my kids love it. I plan on teaching
them both to fly in it here in a few years after I get off my butt and get
my CFI.
Even my 13 year old daughter thinks "it's pretty cool"...You gotta know
that's priceless! My 9 year old son loves it, but only when he gets to sit
up front...


"Helen Woods" wrote in message
...
You might as well scratch anything with a tailwheel off the list. If, and
that's a BIG IF, you could actually find an insurance company willing to
insure a tailweel plane for a student solo, you'd be paying through the
nose for it.

I'll second the "older 172" vote. Here's why:

1. Cheap to buy
2. Cheap to insure (although you'll be paying a premium for anything with
student pilots on the insurance)
3. Doesn't need a hanger
4. Cheap to pay taxes on
5. Called the "land-o-matic" for a good reason
6. Difficult to spin (a C150 spins easily)
7. Cheap to fuel - runs on mo-gas as well as 100ll
8. Easy to jump start (12v jumps off your car or Farmer Joe's tractor)
9. Versitile enough to let your kids hang on to it and grow into it. They
can pack camping gear and enjoy some fun trips. Or you the three of you
can go for a hop together.
10. Easy to get parts for
11. Easy to work on

The 50's 172 are great VFR trainers. The mid to late 60's planes can also
do IFR training if you are looking towards that.

Helen

Helen Woods writes:
You might as well scratch anything with a tailwheel off the list. If,
and that's a BIG IF, you could actually find an insurance company
willing to insure a tailweel plane for a student solo, you'd be paying
through the nose for it.

Huh. I am coming up on my first solo in the Citabria I am training
in. The club I am with (West Valley Flying Club, wvfc.org) has a few
of them, all used for primary training.

I have heard that larger clubs have much less trouble insuring
taildraggers, since they tend to have more experienced taildragger
instructors to go with them. (But what do I know, I am just a
pre-solo newbie.)

Chris
--
Chris Colohan Email: PGP: finger
Web: www.colohan.com Phone: (412)268-4751

I have head that larger clubs have much less trouble insuring taildraggers

Only if they don't allow solo.

-Robert

"Robert M. Gary" writes:
I have head that larger clubs have much less trouble insuring taildraggers

Only if they don't allow solo.

In which case, I am very thankful that I belong to a club which has
managed to jump through the right hoops. :-)

Chris
--
Chris Colohan Email: PGP: finger
Web: www.colohan.com Phone: (412)268-4751

IF, you could actually find an insurance company willing to insure a tailweel plane for a student solo

Since we're not talking about a lot of money, I may just insure it for
liability. If the boys crash the plane, oh-well, it wasn't an enourmous
amount of money to begin with. Besides, it never, ever stops amazing me
how much wrecked airplanes go for. I saw a flap off a Bonanza go for
almost $500.

-Robert

Robert M. Gary wrote:

IF, you could actually find an insurance company willing to insure a tailweel plane for a student solo


Since we're not talking about a lot of money, I may just insure it for
liability. If the boys crash the plane, oh-well, it wasn't an enourmous
amount of money to begin with. Besides, it never, ever stops amazing me
how much wrecked airplanes go for. I saw a flap off a Bonanza go for
almost $500.


That's because they are over $3K new.

We needed a flap for our Aztec. I called a guy that is in the business of
rebuilding flaps and ailerons. A used/rebuilt/newly skinned Aztec flap runs
$2800, plus a $250 deposit on the shipping crate. He offered us $1000 for
our wrecked flap. We found a used flap from Wentworth in like new condition
for $1200, that was the best price we could find.
Jim

"Newps" wrote in message
. ..


Robert M. Gary wrote:

IF, you could actually find an insurance company willing to insure a
tailweel plane for a student solo


Since we're not talking about a lot of money, I may just insure it for
liability. If the boys crash the plane, oh-well, it wasn't an enourmous
amount of money to begin with. Besides, it never, ever stops amazing me
how much wrecked airplanes go for. I saw a flap off a Bonanza go for
almost $500.


That's because they are over $3K new.

I'm looking forward to that day. My son will be 12 in a couple months and
we kid each other about buying him a SuperCub someday (ok Dad, time to sell
the house, pitch a tent, and buy a SuperCub) But seriously, I kick that
question around all the time.... which airplane would be a good trainer for
him to learn in yet provide Dad with something fun, reasonably fast, and
that would ultimately get Dad off his arse and finally build that grass
strip and hanger in front of the house? SuperCubs being priced what they
are, I keep leaning towards a C170 with a 180hp conversion and C180 gear
legs.

Jim

"Robert M. Gary" wrote in message
oups.com...
My kids have flown around in my Mooney their entire lives. Now they are
getting close to the teen years and I'm thinking of buying them a plane
and teaching them to fly in it. I've got a few years before they are
old enough but I'm starting to think about it. Some group suggestions
would be appreciated...

1) If I buy the plane just long enough for them to learn to fly can I
aviod California sales/use tax by being a dealer? How long can a dealer
hold the plane? If I only need the plane for 12 months or so, it would
be sad to have to pay 9% sales tax on the plane.
2) I'm throwing around the best plane to teach them in that would be
fun and not too expensive for dad. I'm thinking maybe a Taylorcraft or
a Lucsome. I learned in a Cessna 140 so that might be a good choice
too. I could just buy them a C150 but having something fun for dad to
fly (i.e. Aeronca, etc) would make it all the better!
3) Has anyone else on the list taught their kids to fly? I do know of
two other CFIs that have done this. The kids loved it. However, once
they finished their private life seems to prevent much other flying
until they establish in a career. I figure the boys will be pretty busy
with scouts, high school, and trying to get into a good college they
will want to earn their private and then set it aside for some years.

-Robert, CFI