I’m a new guy here first post, so I’m real ignorant, but want to learn.
I apologize if this is asked adnaseum
I’m Retired now and am looking for another airplane and desire some advice from owners. I have a 46 C-140, it’s nice but old and slow, not a traveling machine at all.
First a little about me, I’m a 30 yr A&P, was an IA until last year when I didn’t renew as I was caught in the Bahamas during the lockdown.
I’m Commercial Instrument airplane single engine and Helicopter, fixed and rotary, seaplane
I’ve got a lot of hours, a few thousand tailwheel, Maules, C-140 and everything Thrush aircraft built for 15 years, so I am partial to a tailwheel, nothing wrong with a nose dragger, I just like the little wheel behind me.
I want to go with an Experimental, but not build, or not yet anyway, maybe later?
Certified is just too expensive for the return
95% of my flying is single pilot, and just flying for the fun of it, very light aerobatics is nice, but I don’t have the stomach for any real acro, just like an airplane that’s stressed for it and hopefully recoverabkefrom an upset
I’m 5’10” and 250 lbs, wife is 5’5 or so and close to 200 lbs, if we ever meet, please don’t tell her I said that, but I assume it’s real important in aircraft selection.
Anyway if we travel one small bag is plenty, much less than 50 lbs, if needed we can ship anything else, we won’t travel often, that’s why shipping is an option.
I’m IFR rated and actually enjoy it as I’m good at it, but IFR isn’t a requirement now, I’d like gyros though for inadvertent IMC recovery, but don’t need an IFR platform.
Now for the real relevant part, budget is 50’s ish, maybe 60K if that really gets something well above what 50 gets you.
I think I want an RV4, but don’t know enough about any of them to have formed a real opinion. I think I want a 180 HP CS, but if it’s not really needed I’d be fine with fixed and 160 HP, performance is nice, but I know there is a point where each kt gets more and more expensive, weight goes up, useful load goes down etc. I want to stay down where it’s affordable speed and decent useful load.
Can I get a good RV for that budget, good being defied as well built airframe, mid time engine with no issues, I don’t need bells and whistles, just a good solid dependable airframe with good, not perfect P&I, but not bad either.
finally, what if anything is available within my budget.
Time to buy is soon, not pie in the sky dreaming, gathering info stage now.
Oh, and we live in Central Fl, just South of Ocala.
I hope this post is acceptable, and not improper.
I apologize if this is asked adnaseum
I’m Retired now and am looking for another airplane and desire some advice from owners. I have a 46 C-140, it’s nice but old and slow, not a traveling machine at all.
First a little about me, I’m a 30 yr A&P, was an IA until last year when I didn’t renew as I was caught in the Bahamas during the lockdown.
I’m Commercial Instrument airplane single engine and Helicopter, fixed and rotary, seaplane
I’ve got a lot of hours, a few thousand tailwheel, Maules, C-140 and everything Thrush aircraft built for 15 years, so I am partial to a tailwheel, nothing wrong with a nose dragger, I just like the little wheel behind me.
I want to go with an Experimental, but not build, or not yet anyway, maybe later?
Certified is just too expensive for the return
95% of my flying is single pilot, and just flying for the fun of it, very light aerobatics is nice, but I don’t have the stomach for any real acro, just like an airplane that’s stressed for it and hopefully recoverabkefrom an upset
I’m 5’10” and 250 lbs, wife is 5’5 or so and close to 200 lbs, if we ever meet, please don’t tell her I said that, but I assume it’s real important in aircraft selection.
Anyway if we travel one small bag is plenty, much less than 50 lbs, if needed we can ship anything else, we won’t travel often, that’s why shipping is an option.
I’m IFR rated and actually enjoy it as I’m good at it, but IFR isn’t a requirement now, I’d like gyros though for inadvertent IMC recovery, but don’t need an IFR platform.
Now for the real relevant part, budget is 50’s ish, maybe 60K if that really gets something well above what 50 gets you.
I think I want an RV4, but don’t know enough about any of them to have formed a real opinion. I think I want a 180 HP CS, but if it’s not really needed I’d be fine with fixed and 160 HP, performance is nice, but I know there is a point where each kt gets more and more expensive, weight goes up, useful load goes down etc. I want to stay down where it’s affordable speed and decent useful load.
Can I get a good RV for that budget, good being defied as well built airframe, mid time engine with no issues, I don’t need bells and whistles, just a good solid dependable airframe with good, not perfect P&I, but not bad either.
finally, what if anything is available within my budget.
Time to buy is soon, not pie in the sky dreaming, gathering info stage now.
Oh, and we live in Central Fl, just South of Ocala.
I hope this post is acceptable, and not improper.