I was thinking the other day, (ADD sucks)
and as much as I like gyros, and even the cross country euro tubs, ( I.E. AR-1 and the Tango)
I would like to be able to go places, even when I get the 2 place done it will be an open machine good only for short hops with a passenger,
If I wanted to go fly over and visit the kids in South Carolina, or Tennessee, it would be nice to be able to fly over and visit, it would be nice to have something that cruised at 100mph+ with a 4 stroke engine and weather/wind protection, just kicking around ideas, the gyro stuff is just So.....expensive, I could pick up a used airplane for $15k-$25K and not have to build, I could even get insurance...

I need/want a 2 place, already built, that will cruise at 100+ mph, and that I can fly off a grass strip, under $25K
preferably high wing.

Mama and I were talking it over trying to look around and see what would work out best.

The euro tubs are too expensive, even the Tango comes in over $30k after you build the kit.

I am not getting any younger would like to do some of this stuff before I am too old.


Any suggestions? I do kind of like the Titan Tornado II, it is small and fast.
really not turned on by 1960's Cessna 150's.

I'll keep a lookout for you; Phil who is building my Aircam, just sold a beautiful Cherokee 160 from the estate of a friend for $22k. He is also trying to sell his wife's Cessna 150

Shirley's machine is very well maintained....by of course the highly OCD sufferer Phil

Yes, used to have employee's do this for our FBO = find real bargain aircraft.
However my brother was an IA and could make any aircraft airworthy, well almost any he did turn down a one Beachcraft customers telling him to scrap it! The poor man had tears in his eyes, I felt bad for him.

We would look for aircraft not being flown by flying to airport and seeing the ones with weeds around and ASKING the local shops and tenants.
That was the old days now with the new registration laws you only have to look for all the unregistered planes in the model you are looking for and then contact them one by one and inspect them.
Make a list of what it will take to fix them at the per-purchase inspection and then offer WHOLESALE BLUE BOOK less the cost of repair. I'd offer 1/2 of WHOLESALE 1st as I cannot go down after my 1st offer and once the shock of how little it may be worth to the seller any price higher seems better.

You can make a good living doing this even if you pay to have the aircraft repaired. Everything you can do like paint means you make even more off of your own labor!!!

The only suggestion is for 25K or less I would look at 4 place aircraft as it great to have two more seats when you need them and it will climb and perform so much better as it was designed for 4 people but you fly mostly 2.
If you like high wing I would go with a Cessna 182/172 as there are more of them on the market and that means, the price will be lower as they are not scarce.

PS:
I have a 4 place Archer that I mostly fly by myself or one passenger and it is great to have when I need to just get there and I can take 4 when I need to. Also it cost me about the same price as an airline ticket to fly two people. However it costs only 50% of the airline ticket price when I fly four people. But I can get much closer to my destination saving me rental car and sometimes hotels as I do not have to stay until the airline leave the next morning or night.

The FW is like driving a truck to just get there often at 10K + and is like being in the belly of the bird but the gyro is much more like a religious experience down low with the birds and is like being the bird!

That's the thing, since I work for an airline, if I want to go cross country, I can for cheap, any weather..

Mama said airplanes are boring last time she rode in a 172, she does like the gyros and she liked the Challenger she got a ride in, and of course really liked the RV-4 ride, and the Huey....

But in all reality it is probably much more fun to fly low and see stuff on short trips in a gyro...

But Dang, you can get a used Cessna 150 dog for less than $15k.... or a piper colt, etc.

I helped a friend find a 150 that he just bought for 8K and it only need paint!
I bought patches for 8K but my brother fixed her for free just to fly her and I will paint her one day and she will be done and worth about $22K.

There are a lot of deals to be made if you offer a embarrassing low price and keep looking until they say yes.
Also call them back in a week. They often change their minds especially if you kept it all friendly explaining it's a business you have to support.

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

FUSHIA!

If I want a tango, I will wait for the high HP option...

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

I vote titan tornado. Hey and since we are spending your money, let's spring for the SS model.

Go the 150 ... they are awesome...land anywhere a tub could

Do one of your flash paint jobs and flip it... get another and repeat... enjoy flying it in the meantime

I've got a nice SkyBoy I'll let go for a deal!
Currently has a 582 on it but I've been looking for a 912 to swap it out.

Barry

I bought my Cessna 140 for $15,000. Only cost me a couple hundred to rebuild the tailwheel and it was good to go.
Cruise at 100 MPH and 5.5 GPH.
It'll hit 120 flat out.
Day/night VFR.
4 hour range.
And about $550 a year full coverage insurance.

I can't see paying Eurotub prices for a gyro. I guess I like em simple and light.

That's exactly how I like my....

women

Making anorexia great again

Thanks, still on the fence, I'll mull it over for the next few months..
I need to get mama a ride in a few more types..

Those Titans look pretty cool.
I am on the fence about selling mine. Since it's a certificated aircraft, I can't tinker with it like I could with an experimental.
I really like the Zenith 701's.

I tend to shy away from the certified stuff, just because I work on part 123 and 145 stuff all day, and spend 1/3rd of my time doing paperwork, don't want to do that for fun...

Plus the performance of some of the experimentals is so good compared to "other" makes..

Cessna 150

Span 33ft
Weight 1120 lbs
Climb 670 fpm
cruise speed 94 mph

Tornado with 912

Span 23.5ft
weight 590lbs
climb 1600 fpm
cruise 110-125 mph


Just not sure if the fixed wing deal is for me and the wife, or not....

If I were an aircraft mechanic who can legally work on spam cans, I would rather buy a 150 or 152 for $20K than pay that for a rotax motor and still have to buy the prop and plane and assemble it all?


I would rather spend a few hours doing paperwork and know the job is done properly.... than take it to someone else who may or may not do a good job and charge like a wounded bull as well... to do something I could do myself without even having to take the plane to him....

Same as I don't take my cars t mechanics,,,,

Mike, can you not let the damn thing run out of certification and keep it as experimental? Then you can tinker with it no problem!

Just a couple of examples, I can find cheaper but these two are in the same price range for comparison.

GREAT LOOKING CESSNA 150L • $23,000 • AVAILABLE • Cessna 150L for sale 4752.0 actt 70hr SMOH engine was overhauled 7/2015, ths time will change as the airplane does currently fly. will sell with a fresh annual. please call or text for more information. has TKM 300 nav/com, Garmin Area 510 GPS and signtronics ICS. 215-450-6887 • Contact Scott W. Yerk - FIX' N TO FLY INC, Owner - located Quakertown, PA USA • Telephone: 2154506887 . • Fax: 2154506887 • Posted April 3, 2017
http://www.barnstormers.com/listing_ima ... id=1237218



TITAN TORNADO 2 • $24,500 • PRICE REDUCED • 2007 Titan Tornado 2, TTAE 275, Rotax 912 ULS 100 HP, Avmap, Ultra EFIS with GPS navigation Jepp data base, G meter, EIS, Mode S Transponder, Becker VHF COM, Intercom, Led NAV and LDG lights, Night VFR, Paint 9, Interior 9, Bully Hawk Soft Start, Cabin heater, TANIS preheat, 15 gal fuel tank, removable 15 auxiliary fuel tank, Dual controls, Dual PTT Switches, ELSA so you can do your own Annual Condition Inspection with FAA 16 HOUR REPAIRMAN CERTIFICATE, CLIMB AT 1200 FPM, CRUISE 115 MPH, 4.6 GPH AUTO OR 100LL. CONTACT ME FOR HIGH RESO. PICS, VIDEO, AND AIRCRAFT SPEC SHEET. FLIES REGULARLY!! • Contact Mike D. Reenders, Owner - located Spring , TX USA • Telephone: 559-309-2789 . • Posted March 13, 2017
http://www.barnstormers.com/listing_ima ... id=1230810