What Light Aircraft Would You Private Pilots Buy?

[jyl]

So, just for fun, as a topic I like to hear about but don't know anything myself -

For the private pilots -

What airplane would you get, if you had - how about let's say $250K? I figure that lets you name some interesting stuff, but no-one can say ''why, a Mig-25'' ''No, a Supermarine Spitfire''. Keeps us in the realm of mere mortals.

Why that choice, and pictures a plus.

[Embraer]

J3 cub would be fun. or a citabria. or one of the Van's RV series

[pwd72s]

Funny you mentioned that...my retired pilot (USAF-American) buddy just completed his RV7A...

Van's Aircraft - Total Performance RV Kitplanes

[Dottore]

Subscribed....this may help me with my bucket list.

[fred cook]

if I was in the market for a light aircraft, I would look long and hard at a Maule. They are built in Georgia, are short take off and landing capable and built like tanks.

[widgeon13]

It all depends on what you want it for, speed, cargo capacity, aerobatics? Do you want to work at flying or something that does the work for you? Conventional gear or tricycle gear?

[Dottore]

Anyone have any experience with a Pilatus?

[widgeon13]

It won't fit in my hangar.

[speedracing944]

I flew in my Professor's Vans tandem. He is quite the aviation buff and touted all the benefits such as low stall speed combined with a fairly high cruise and top speed, 9G capable, easy on fuel and reliable.

It was an amazing flight and was very sensitive to the stick, almost telepathic.

*Disclaimer* I am not a pilot and know almost zip about flying.

Speedy

[Seahawk]

I have a few that I would love to have: T-34B, but a C would be nuts!

Vans in the home built category, RV-8 please I have been to the factory in Oregon and the kit quality is the best I have seen. A friend of mine has a Harmon Rocket that I have flown.

What I have to have in an a/c:

- Cruise at a minimum of 150kts.
- Light aero to aero capability
- Tandem Cockpit
- Flight controls are stick
- Low wing

Nice to have:

- Diesel engine
- FADEC

[Tim Hancock]

I would love to restore a late 50's straight tail Cessna 310.... the exhaust note taxiing is pure sex to me. Would make a nice pane to travel in if money and time were of no object to me. For under 150k I could restore one quite nicely.

For a simpler antique plane, I would really like to perfectly restore a Cessna 165 Airmaster.... I could restore an Oshkosh winning caliber plane for under 100k.

Any of the modern aerobatic planes like the Extra 300, Staudacher/Panzl, Edge 540 etc would be fun and could be had in the 150-250k range new or nearly new.

Of course there are others I have lusted over through the years, but the above airplanes are what I have spent the most time dreaming about restoring or owning over the past 10 years or so.

[9dreizig]

Super cub with tundra tires and gun rack

[widgeon13]

Turbine Maule on amphibs, better than a helicopter.

[KarlCarrera]

Super Cub, or a Tri Pacer. The piper cause it was my first flight. I still remember my eyes welling up when I got to "drive". That was a long time ago.

Karl
88 Targa

[HardDrive]

I grew up flying around the midwest in my grandfathers J-3 Cub. On my bucket list.

[widgeon13]

Twin Bonanza would be nice if you had 300K for a restoration.

[Tim Hancock]

Originally Posted by KarlCarrera

Super Cub, or a Tri Pacer. The piper cause it was my first flight. I still remember my eyes welling up when I got to "drive". That was a long time ago.

Karl
88 Targa

Even though I have a "Pacer", Tripacers are high on my list of ugliest airplanes.

The d@mn does pretty good on 150hp and does not eat up much hangar space.

[rattlsnak]

A Pilatus PC12 is on my bucket list for sure but they are much higher than $250k. But yes, you have to define your mission as described above. What would you be using it for? Me? I would probably go with a nice Bonanza or Cirrus. I havent reached that stage in my life where i want low and slow. I use flying more as a mode of transportation than anything else and would not enjoy taking 3 hours to go somewhere that i know would take 1 1/2 hours in something faster. I also dont get the taildragger thing. Although i do respect all forms of aviation, they are just not my style.

[Eric Coffey]

Probably one of these (now owned/produced by Cessna):

http://www.trade-a-plane.com/detail/Single+Engine+Piston/2000/Lancair/IV-P/988189.html

Twin turbo IO-550.
Pressurized cabin.
Cruise @ 330+ mph.

[mossguy]

Aeronca Champ!