Is a cub something for poor people?

[rumpletumbler]

I've been thinking as I'm about to celebrate my third year of unemployment that I'd like to have a cub someday. I've never flown a taildragger of any kind but I just keep having this thought that if I got the chance to own an aircraft that is what I would want. Flying around with the door off about 50 ft over the trees dropping water ballons on folks...j/k. I don't see myself ever making tons of money so can poor folks own and operate a cub or should I think about something else? It will be a long while before anything transpires I'm just curious. Maybe it will leave my brain if I talk about it.

 

[ThomasR]

Don't feel lonely, rumpletumbler dude. I don't know what poor people can afford but I know what is affordable and maybe employable: Ultra Light Aircraft. Low cost, low maintenance, low level, but not so slow anymore. Some are able to reach 300 knots. Carter Copters got a gov. contract from the Army to complete their research and test flights. FAA now has regs. for ultra light in general aviation.

Weekend kits can go for 4 or 5K. Check it out. Or you can buy one on the market for lots less. Talked with a guy from Ohio flys back and forth to Texas in a fix wing homebuilt.

I like gyros myself, best of both fix wing and rotor. There is also an emerging market for heavy lift gyros that get both high speed and low end utility.

I send resumes out to all the U.S. manufactures hawking the idea of barnstorming to air shows, fly ins, national guard and military bases, Dawn Patrol projects, Civil Air Patrol, etc. to introduce the product and make sales. I can't say there is much interest in the idea by those who might benefit.

The industry might turn into a bunch of elitist jack asses. But, you never know. Take a look at the site and let me know what you think.

PERSONAL PROFILE / Call Any Time / Available
Management / Professional / Personal / Resort​

 

[CSY Mon]

A Cub is a nice toy plane.
A Super Cub is a serious work horse in Alaska and other places.

Got my float rating in a J-3.

Go for it if ya can afford it.
I would.

(Actually the ultimate toy plane is a C-185, but much more expensive and a bit more challenging..Take out a second mortgage.. )

 

[El Cid Av8or]

Most Cubs that I have seen are priced about the same as a C-150. It's also one of those "you get what you pay for" things too; usually lower cost airplanes have high time engines or major corrosion problems. This is based on my very limited aircraft buying knowledge. Just remember that there is only one thing that makes an airplane fly.... money! I am with you though since my loving wife keeps saying that we will own our own plane and most likely live on a fly-in community. I haven't gotten that on tape yet though. It will be a while though since she is about 7 months into "building" the son of a pilot in her "hangar"

On edit: Taildragger flying is a lot of fun and will make you realize exactly what a coordinated turn feels like. I got my endorsement in a Citabria (with my spin training) and I have been in a few other including a Cub. All were fun!

 

[ThomasR]

Hey, tumbleweed, don't listen to that cisyMoney guy he is only trying to get you to buy a Cessna or a Super Cub and go to Alaska. Too much money. Start low and work your way up. Hey, listen, I know what I am talking about. Hey, listen, tumbleweed are you there?

Just Kidding..

PERSONAL PROFILE / Call Any Time / Available
Management / Professional / Personal / Resort​

 

[Vector4fun]

A Cub is just a blast. Unfortunately, nice Cubs are $20k or more it seems. I took my first lessons in a J-3. Everybody's different, but I can't think of many things more enjoyable than cruising at 500' on a summer morning with the window off and the door open in a real Cub. I can smell the freshly cut grass hay right now.


My fantasy is a hanger home on 20 acres, with a homebuilt Cuby from Wag Aero. An O-200 engine for a better climb, and an alternator for a single nav-com and transponder so I can go to the big airport if necessary. I'd fly every suitable morning for 30 minutes or so, right after coffee and the paper. Then I'd go play golf.


A nice Waco UPF-7 would really be the only thing better.


Unfortunately, they cost as much as a house...

 

[Sniper Bob]

Here's a cheap way to build multi time. With the right mods, you can build multi turbine as well.



http://www.flight.cz/cricri/english/index.php

 

[CSY Mon]

Hey, tumbleweed, don't listen to that cisyMoney guy he is only trying to get you to buy a Cessna or a Super Cub and go to Alaska.

Not really trying anything Thomas, just saying that a C-185 is a blast.
A Cub is uh, a low and slow blast.
Perhaps a gentlemans plane...

The C-185 however is a hair-on-yer-chest builder....

Money of coures is a factor, if not, I would certainly get the 185 and enjoy the full power blast on a short strip with a full load and just yank it off with dirt flying and the prop going thru the sound barrier..Mucho adrenaline machine..

 

[dseagrav]

Here's a cheap way to build multi time. With the right mods, you can build multi turbine as well.



http://www.flight.cz/cricri/english/index.php

Talk about marginal single-engine performance... !

I bet even an MU-2 is safer than that thing ^_^

 

[ThomasR]

Not really trying anything Thomas, just saying that a C-185 is a blast.
A Cub is uh, a low and slow blast.
Perhaps a gentlemans plane...

The C-185 however is a hair-on-yer-chest builder....

Money of coures is a factor, if not, I would certainly get the 185 and enjoy the full power blast on a short strip with a full load and just yank it off with dirt flying and the prop going thru the sound barrier..Mucho adrenaline machine..

I am just letting off some pent up restraint from the day. Nice thing about flying is that no matter what kind of day you have had once you strap on those wings everything seems right.

 

[Cat Driver]

I own a Cri Cri and they are a fantistic little airplane, very, very strong and fully aerobatic. +9 and - 6 G's.

The only downside is the French PUL engines.
However there are new engines availiable that I am planning on buying as soon as I get a little more mad money.

Cat.

 

[414Flyer]

I nice Cub would have fetched over 20K ten years ago..Probably closer to at least 30 or more now.

I would give my left nut to have one too, they just really are not that easy to find anymore, at least a good one for sale. I think they would probably go for more than a C-152..

 

[Tired Soul]

The Piper Cub

Oh My LORD

The venerable Pa-18..
I did my PPL on a Piper Cub long ago in a country far away from here.
Absolutely the most fun you can get for your buck.
I've been longing for a CUB the last 4 years.
Almost impossible to insure for a flight school.
It will make you a pilot instead of a driver.
Go for it.....
The Pa18-150 is a hoot..

 

[RightPedal]

The cub is truly a lot of fun to fly. I had the best of both worlds in that a friend owned the one I flew. You can do some amazing things in a cub once you become one with it.
The champ is a much better craft, IMO, in that it solo's from the front seat, and good champ can be had for less money than a comparable cub to. The super cub is a real man's airplane but way over priced. You can buy a stearman for the same money as a super cub, but you can own and operate a J3 for what the fuel and oil will cost you to run a round motor on the stearman. Ahh the stearman, now that's got to be the most fun you can have in a flying machine.

Check out http://www.cubcrafters.com/cc/home.asp

 

[weekendwarrior]

Don't forget about a C-140. Bang for the buck, it's a great airplane. Lots of them out there too..Mine had a full electrical system, lights, etc and sold for $18000. Here is a picture of it:

http://www.kitlog.com/cessna140.htm

It is not for sale, so please don't inquire. I just never took down the webpage.

 

[FearlessFreep]

There are a number of low cost high wing fabric covered aircraft that would be suitable for your needs and desires.

Aeroncas, Cubs & other short winged Pipers, Stitsons, Citabrias, Taylorcrafts, Funks, etc.

If you can live with something other than a taildragger a Tri-Pacer might be a good deal for you. They are very economical to operate and a relatively capable airplane and have a bit of a cult following.

I like the idea of some of the little experimentals. The Cri Cri sounds interesting. For me if I was to get an airplane it would have to have at least two seats, you have to share your fun with someone.

There are a couple of things that you might want to take into consideration with these types of aircraft. 1. Insurance on tailwheel aircraft is going to be substantially more than what it would be for tricycle gear aircraft. 2. Almost exclusively all the aircraft that you are interested in are fabric covered. You really should keep those type aircraft hangered to protect them from the ravages of the weather. Getting some of these aircraft recovered by reputable and skilled individual or shop will run between 15-20K. Ouch!

If you are going to get one of these type aircraft you will have to get someone who is very knowledgeable to check it out very thoughly. You might find an aircraft that appears to be a great deal but is in reality one big can of worms.

Take Care, Good Luck & Fly Safe!

 

[FlightTraker]

My Dad has a Stinson 108 "Flying Station Wagon." You can get one for 20K or so and it is faster than a Cherokee 180 or Cessna 172 and it has more room on the inside than any other 4 place single I have ever been in.


FlightTraker

 

[Snakum]

Count me in for a low-time all-metal Cessna 140 with an O-200, a basic IFR panel, and the long-range tanks. Long TBO ... economical to operate ... fun to fly (so I've heard) ... an all-around solid ship ... seen 'em for around $25K. It must, of course, be polished aluminum with red or blue retro striping.

Minh
(I'd prefer a C170 with an O-360, but it's outa my price range. )

 

[weekendwarrior]

Count me in for a low-time all-metal Cessna 140 with an O-200, a basic IFR panel, and the long-range tanks. Long TBO ... economical to operate ... fun to fly (so I've heard) ... an all-around solid ship ... seen 'em for around $25K. It must, of course, be polished aluminum with red or blue retro striping.

2 things I would stay away from in a C-140 is the metal wing and the polished finish. The metal wing is not a necessity. It adds weight that is not necessary. Modern Ceconite fabric wings will last 20 years if you take care of them. Polished airplanes require constant polishing, or it will eventually corrode. Painted, fabric wing version will give you the least maintenance (assuming good fabric), and a higher useful load.

 

[weekendwarrior]

...and they are fun to fly, but only for short morning trips for breakfast. It is NOT a cross country airplane. Turbulence is a b!tch in that plane, and if you have a headwind you might as well drive.

I loved flying around to small dirt strips, and flying along at 500' AGL (of course in non poplulated areas) with my arm out the window doing touch and goes on dirt ag strips. Can't beat it for about $12/hour.