Cardiff Kook
PATRON
Sisters, OR
I'm overthinking a decision again
I am very low time pilot. I've done my PPL training in a Citabria 160 and a J3. I bought a hangar last year- and want a plane to put into it.
I have my heart set on a low horsepower (115 or less) cub. I want a low power plane for the same reason I decided to do my PPL in a tailwheel- someone told me it would make me a better pilot (whether or not that is true is not what I want to debate here
I started looking for a J3, then PA-11, then at PA-18-95 (which I thought was going to be in my hangar but I missed it.) It's been alot of work- and tring to buy a 80 year old plane there is alot to figure out (damage, title, maintenance, STC, A/D, etc.) One thing was I wanted a cream puff- something that had been refurbished in the last ten years. Given this Bob turner said maybe I should look at a Legend Cub since I wanted something nice/new with little headache. Seemed like a good idea (though it doubled my budget.)
So I found a nice 2009 Legend Texas Sport Cub with an 0200. I liked it, but it was experimental. I say "but it was experimental" because I knew nothing about experimentals and they kind of scared me- mostly fear of the unknown. What were my fears:
1. Safety- was this built right?
2. Resale- how hard is it going to be to sell this plane if I'm the 3rd owner?
3. Insurance for a new pilot- can I get insurance
4. Will the A&P on my field work on it? - I read somewhere that some shops wont' touch them due to liability.
5. Instruction- which I guess is being sorted out by FAA right now
Added note to original post: This was a home built kit aircraft- not a factory build.
As I was lementing the experimental stuff- some people pointed out all the benefits- no red tape, work on it yourself, no STC's, etc. It would be nice to be able to work on the plane a bit, but realistically I don't think I have time to both fly and learn to work on a plane right now- so I probably would hand most stuff off to the pros.
So now that my budget doubled- I said, "what's a bit more" and I found the Cubrafters Sports Cub. Its a TC aircraft, and costs alot more than the experimental- about 50-60% more, but it's a cubcrafter factory build so.... it's real nice.
Both the legend experiemental and the CC Sport Cub are about 12 years old with less than 500 hours.
My mission is mostly just becoming a better pilot, and having fun within 200 miles of my house- I can rent for things other than that. I want to focus on flying- not on maintenance.
So- Legend Texas Cub 0200 Experimental or similiarly equipped Cubcrafters Sports Cub 0200 (or maybe 115.) Both are LSA.
In order of importance to me:
1. Safety
2. Joy to fly
3. Not outgrowing it in 3 years
4. Low headache to get things done(maintenance, FAA, etc.)
5. Resale value and ability to sell with ease- is an experimental going to be hard to sell? Is the more expensive plane going to drop in value more with time?
6. Maintenance/upkeep costs
7 Insurance costs
8. Upfront cost
Input appreciated.
(I am going to try to go fly both so that may make the decision for me.)
Added note to original post: This was a home built kit aircraft- not a factory build.
I am very low time pilot. I've done my PPL training in a Citabria 160 and a J3. I bought a hangar last year- and want a plane to put into it.
I have my heart set on a low horsepower (115 or less) cub. I want a low power plane for the same reason I decided to do my PPL in a tailwheel- someone told me it would make me a better pilot (whether or not that is true is not what I want to debate here
I started looking for a J3, then PA-11, then at PA-18-95 (which I thought was going to be in my hangar but I missed it.) It's been alot of work- and tring to buy a 80 year old plane there is alot to figure out (damage, title, maintenance, STC, A/D, etc.) One thing was I wanted a cream puff- something that had been refurbished in the last ten years. Given this Bob turner said maybe I should look at a Legend Cub since I wanted something nice/new with little headache. Seemed like a good idea (though it doubled my budget.)
So I found a nice 2009 Legend Texas Sport Cub with an 0200. I liked it, but it was experimental. I say "but it was experimental" because I knew nothing about experimentals and they kind of scared me- mostly fear of the unknown. What were my fears:
1. Safety- was this built right?
2. Resale- how hard is it going to be to sell this plane if I'm the 3rd owner?
3. Insurance for a new pilot- can I get insurance
4. Will the A&P on my field work on it? - I read somewhere that some shops wont' touch them due to liability.
5. Instruction- which I guess is being sorted out by FAA right now
Added note to original post: This was a home built kit aircraft- not a factory build.
As I was lementing the experimental stuff- some people pointed out all the benefits- no red tape, work on it yourself, no STC's, etc. It would be nice to be able to work on the plane a bit, but realistically I don't think I have time to both fly and learn to work on a plane right now- so I probably would hand most stuff off to the pros.
So now that my budget doubled- I said, "what's a bit more" and I found the Cubrafters Sports Cub. Its a TC aircraft, and costs alot more than the experimental- about 50-60% more, but it's a cubcrafter factory build so.... it's real nice.
Both the legend experiemental and the CC Sport Cub are about 12 years old with less than 500 hours.
My mission is mostly just becoming a better pilot, and having fun within 200 miles of my house- I can rent for things other than that. I want to focus on flying- not on maintenance.
So- Legend Texas Cub 0200 Experimental or similiarly equipped Cubcrafters Sports Cub 0200 (or maybe 115.) Both are LSA.
In order of importance to me:
1. Safety
2. Joy to fly
3. Not outgrowing it in 3 years
4. Low headache to get things done(maintenance, FAA, etc.)
5. Resale value and ability to sell with ease- is an experimental going to be hard to sell? Is the more expensive plane going to drop in value more with time?
6. Maintenance/upkeep costs
7 Insurance costs
8. Upfront cost
Input appreciated.
(I am going to try to go fly both so that may make the decision for me.)
Added note to original post: This was a home built kit aircraft- not a factory build.
Last edited: