Sold My Plane

[flyguy]

Re: Sold My Plane

I for one have to admit that there are days throughout the summer here, what with our gusty 20 knots plus crosswinds, that I would like to have something that I can get back on the ground without landing on the cross taxiway and helio pad. I also really, really enjoyed flying at night in a brand new one we had where I learned to fly.

I'll add that there are some pretty insane things that can be done with a C-150 using it's full capabilities, particularily those barn-door flaps.

My favorite for looks (and I guess performance) was a bright red straight-tailed one with the custom cowling around a 320 Lycoming that was parked at Sonoma Skypark for a while. Real pretty.

But you don't get moments like the other day when some guys were standing around a Citabria when I took off in my -85. I couldn't resist doing a max angle climb and had about 600 feet at the end of the runway. One of the guys got on the radio and asked what kind of engine I had. Wonder why he asked that? Chuckle.

Good luck, fly, enjoy, come back and visit some time.
Darryl

[SkyHigh]

Re: Sold My Plane

Hey all. How are things in the world of the Taylorcraft? My wife and I welcomed our fifth son last June. I am still enjoying my 150 and have picked up a few flight students with it.

Skyhigh

[akndrifter]

Re: Sold My Plane

Hey all. How are things in the world of the Taylorcraft? My wife and I welcomed our fifth son last June. I am still enjoying my 150 and have picked up a few flight students with it.

Skyhigh

Congrats! Tell me your secret. How are you able to afford to fly with 5 kids???

[SkyHigh]

Re: Sold My Plane

Congrats! Tell me your secret. How are you able to afford to fly with 5 kids???

My secret is that I now own a 1976 Cessna 150M. Cheap to fly. Cheap to own. Easy to find parts.


Skyhigh

[pasture_pilot]

Re: Sold My Plane

Hi Skyhigh, glad to hear you are coming out of your "shell" and getting more "yoke" time in...(sorry guys,... just had to "crack" one here...guess I better stop before I get "scrambled" or "fried" by someone else....)

As a C150M owner for over 10 years and 200 hours I can tell you that it will serve you well.
May I suggest you invest in a gap seal kit and high lift wingtips if you don't have them now?
I have found these to be relatively inexpensive and on mine made quite a difference. Full stall landings at 40-45K indicated, down and stopped with average braking, in 300 ft or less, in a shifting 60 degree 10 K crosswind, are fun to do, especially when all the taildragger pilots on the field are watching you, noses pressed to the window glass, from the comfort of the pilot lounge.

And no boys, the bird is reusable after these landings, nothing bent or broken, no repairs required. Gotten so use to flying in the gusty crosswinds we have around here now, have trouble landing in no wind conditions.
Oh, did I mention that those landings are almost always done, without the use of flaps?
Gap seals and hi-lift tips really help.

If I remember correctly, the 76 was the last year with the 40 degree barndoor flaps, the 77 152 that replaced it didn't have them, those flaps will let you come in at an insanely steep approach, go practice sometime with someone familar with the aircraft's performance envelope, you'll be amazed at what a skilled pilot can do with them. You can definitely get safely into fields you won't get out of with the stock engine/prop setup.

Someday I'll finish my T-craft, unless someone buys it out from under me first, (as they say, everything is for sale for the right price).
It has been in storage in my shop here now 10 years, I'm slowly gathering a few parts for it, it doesn't need much, just some time and money to finish.

In my experience, C150's are much easier to service, and less to insure (my insurer charges me around $500 a year with full hull coverage for the 150)

I've learned each plane has it's strengths, so enjoy whatever you have to the fullest, even if it is an ultralight.
Maybe you can send some pics of your 150 when you can.

Happy flying with the students, we need more folks to interest the next generation in this adventure.

Best Regards

Pasture Pilot
1976 C150M N9402U
1946 BC-12D N43204 s/n 6863

[perryv1]

Re: Sold My Plane

Allright,That just means we have anonther T-Craft owner.Did you tell him,or her about the Great people and info that is available right here in the greatest forum for airplanes!
Join um up
PV

[DanBrown]

Re: Sold My Plane

As a C150M owner for over 10 years and 200 hours I can tell you that it will serve you well.
...
in a shifting 60 degree 10 K crosswind, are fun to do, especially when all the taildragger pilots on the field are watching you, noses pressed to the window glass, from the comfort of the pilot lounge.
...
Pasture Pilot
1976 C150M N9402U
1946 BC-12D N43204 s/n 6863

Yes, any airplane is better than none and each has its benefits. Around here, there is no hanger availability within reasonable driving distance, so an all metal ship has definite advantages. I end up taking a half hour on each end of a flight to take her covers off and on again.

I too love those 40 degree flaps on the older Cessnas -- especially before the flap handle was replaced with an electric switch. But none are within the LSA limits. With the low stall speed and good slipping performance, the Taylorcrafts can handle a pretty steep approach. So I'm very happy with my T-Craft -- when 10-15 knot crosswind component is forecast, it is a fun time to practice takeoffs, landings and S turns over a road.

Maybe, if I win the lottery, I'd think about a new LSA amphibian.

[SkyHigh]

Re: Sold My Plane

Last summer I decided that I needed new fuel caps for my Cessna 150. I found the part number in my cessna manual typed it into my parts suppliers web site. $21.50 each later they were on their way to my door.

I owned my Taylorcraft for 13 years. The entire time I searched every hardware store and fly-in for a new fuel cap gasket in vein. Now I can find most any part after a few key strokes.

The last year I bought insurance for my Taylorcraft Avamco wanted over $1100. Now I pay $519 per year to insure the 150. It is a different world for sure. I just like everything to work well and to be affordable. Buying factory new parts beats trolling through junk yards and patching together parts of my own efforts.

Skyhigh

[SkyHigh]

Re: Sold My Plane

Allright,That just means we have anonther T-Craft owner.Did you tell him,or her about the Great people and info that is available right here in the greatest forum for airplanes!
Join um up
PV

I told the new owner about you guys but so far I have not seen him on these forums.

Skyhigh

[Robert Lees]

Re: Sold My Plane

I owned my Taylorcraft for 13 years. The entire time I searched every hardware store and fly-in for a new fuel cap gasket in vein.
Skyhigh

Aw, searching the junkyards & Wheelbarrow supply stores is part of the fun!

(I did buy new fuel cap gaskets from one of the regular aviation suppliers at Oshkosh last year...but I forget which, possibly B & B or Airparts).

I do like the 150, much better than the 152.

[freightpilot27]

Re: Sold My Plane

My secret is that I now own a 1976 Cessna 150M. Cheap to fly. Cheap to own. Easy to find parts.

'76 is the best year (other than the ole strait tails)
Still has the O-200
Still has the 40* flaps
1" wider cabin
Taller "152" tail

The swept tail looks kinda goofy when its converted to tailwheel though.

[flybikefarm]

I had a 64 D model. Strait tail, back window, 40 degrees on the flaps. Owned it for six years flew off my farm strip. Put a little over six hundred hours on it, both pleasure and some instuction. Paid $6000 for it, put in new radios stipped all the paint then new red and white Imron paint. Sold it for $20,000 and bought a cub project. I like the cub better, but my wife liked the 150. The 150 is easier to get in and out of, much warmer and a lot more comfortable. Still here about selling it without asking her first.


George

[lfries]

Re: Sold My Plane

Just be prepared for some repairs not required in a Taylorcraft. I replaced the Alternator and the Heading Indicator this year. That was an ouch on the pocket book. The Taylorcraft won't need these repairs.
We have a beautiful sunset tonight and flying the 150 to observe it would be legal.